BUS508 Complete Course

                                                              BUS508 Complete Course

Week 1 Discussion

"Corporate Responsibility" Please respond to the following:

•           From the case study and the e-Activity, determine two (2) key reasons why people value the customer service that Nordstrom provides. Examine Nordstrom’s current corporate social responsibility activities, and suggest one (1) additional action that the company could take to further strengthen its corporate social responsibility efforts.

•           From the scenario, suggest two (2) reasons why you believe it is important for Walters Aeroworks to take its corporate community into consideration when addressing social responsibility. Assess the value of a reputable corporate image when considering expanding the company’s current operations. Provide a rationale for your response.

            Journal Entry 1: Prepare a one to two (1-2) paragraph journal entry that examines your learning experiences with ORION in Week 1 of this course, that addresses the following:          

1.         Determine the primary manner in which ORION has increased your business knowledge in the related subject area.

2.         Discuss specific challenges that you may have experienced with any of the subject matter presented, and point out the areas for which you would like more information.

3.         Suggest at least two (2) possible applications of this week’s material to the company that you currently work for or hope to work for in the future.

* Note: To access ORION please see instructions in the Week 1 area.

Week 2

Week 2 Discussion

"Dealing with the Global Workforce"  Please respond to the following:

•           From the scenario, assess the importance of developing and adhering to a strategic plan when a company attempts to expand beyond its domestic business operations. Suggest two (2) best practices that a company should follow when attempting to complete such an expansion. Justify your response.

•           From the “Business Etiquette: Dealing with the Global Workforce” reading in Chapter 3 of the text, determine two (2) reasons why using the identified tips are important when you are using virtual team members for your organization. Provide at least two (2) examples of where these recommendations would be effective for a company that operates internationally.

•           Journal Entry 2: Prepare a one to two (1-2) paragraph journal entry that examines your learning experiences with ORION in Week 2 of this course, that addresses the following:

1.        

1.         Determine the primary manner in which ORION has increased your business knowledge in the related subject area.

2.         Discuss specific challenges that you may have experienced with any of the subject matter presented, and point out the areas for which you would like more information.

3.         Suggest at least two (2) possible applications of this week’s material to the company that you currently work for or hope to work for in the future.

* Note: To access ORION please see instructions in the Week 1 area.

Week 3

Week 3 Discussion

"Successful Entrepreneurship" Please respond to the following:

•           From the scenario, evaluate the importance of a business plan that is both well-written and based on desired outcomes. Suggest two (2) ways in which a well-written business plan could assist a business owner like Cliff Walters in continuing with his vision for Walters Aeroworks.

•           From the case study, evaluate the effectiveness of Lee Rhodes’ business decisions based on the manner in which such decisions have impacted the success of her business from an entrepreneurial point of view. Recommend two (2) additional strategies that Rhodes could utilize to increase her chances of continued success. Justify your response.

•           Journal Entry 3: Prepare a one to two (1-2) paragraph journal entry that examines your learning experiences with ORION in Week 2 of this course, that addresses the following:

2.        

1.         Determine the primary manner in which ORION has increased your business knowledge in the related subject area.

2.         Discuss specific challenges that you may have experienced with any of the subject matter presented, and point out the areas for which you would like more information.

3.         Suggest at least two (2) possible applications of this week’s material to the company that you currently work for or hope to work for in the future.

* Note: To access ORION please see instructions in the Week 1 aree

Week 3 Assignment 1 Submission

Assignment 1: Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies

Due Week 3 and worth 240 points

Use the Internet to research the Apple Corporation, its current position and reputation regarding ethical and social responsibility, and the strategies that it currently employs to market its products.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1.         Examine Apple’s current position on the company’s ethical and social responsibilities, and determine whether or not the company has met these responsibilities. Provide two (2) examples that support your position.

2.         Determine the impact that the publication of ethics and social responsibilities violations made by Apple’s suppliers has had on Apple’s reputation. Support your response with examples of the impact in question.

3.         Suggest two (2) methods that Apple can utilize to ensure that its suppliers adhere to wage and benefits standards going forward. Justify your response.

4.         Determine whether or not you believe that Apple’s customers would be willing to pay more for its products if Apple had to increase selling prices in order to provide better wages and benefits for suppliers’ workers. Provide a rationale for your position.

5.         Analyze Apple’s current overall marketing strategy. Recommend two (2) actions that Apple can take in order to improve its competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Support your response with examples of instances where your recommendations yielded the desired results.

6.         Use at least five (5) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia does not qualify as an academic resource.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

•           Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

•           Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

•           Examine the private enterprise systems, drivers of change on the system, ethical and social responsibilities of business, and the requirements for success in today’s business environment.

•           Analyze the factors that drive supply and demand, different types of market structures in a free enterprise system, and factors of stability in a nation’s economy.

•           Use technology and information resources to research issues in contemporary business.

•           Write clearly and concisely about contemporary business using proper writing mechanics.

BUS508 Week 4 Discussion

"Consumer Lawsuits" Please respond to the following:

•           From the e-Activity, provide a brief, two (2) sentence summary of the background of the case and the outcomes of the lawsuit. Examine both the positive and negative effects that the company in question experienced. Suggest two (2) actions that the company could have taken in order to mitigate the impact of the lawsuit on the company’s business operations and reputation.

•           From the scenario, assess the importance of understanding tax laws and governmental regulations that may have an impact on the expansion plans for Walters Aeroworks. Predict the manner in which Walters Aeroworks’ potential pursuit of international expansion could impact these plans.

•           Journal Entry 4: Prepare a one to two (1-2) paragraph journal entry that examines your learning experiences with ORION in Week 2 of this course, that addresses the following:

1.        

1.         Determine the primary manner in which ORION has increased your business knowledge in the related subject area.

2.         Discuss specific challenges that you may have experienced with any of the subject matter presented, and point out the areas for which you would like more information.

3.         Suggest at least two (2) possible applications of this week’s material to the company that you currently work for or hope to work for in the future.

* Note: To access ORION please see instructions in the Week 1 area.

 Week 5

Week 5 Discussion

"Using Business Students as Consultants"  Please respond to the following:

•           From the scenario, formulate a strategy to maintain the corporate culture for Walters Aeroworks during expansion activities. Include strategies that focus mainly on methods of communicating the decisions for expansion, along with keeping current employees motivated while hiring staff to fill new positions.

•           Examine the four (4) managerial functions and determine which one (1) you believe to be the most important. Provide two (2) examples to support your choice.

Assignment 2: Mergers and Acquisitions

Due Week 6 and worth 200 point

Use the Internet to research a publicly traded company in the United States that has undergone a merger or acquisition within the last three (3) years. Take note of the circumstances surrounding the merger or acquisition.

Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you:

1.         Examine the circumstances that resulted in the merger or acquisition for the selected company. Speculate on two (2) reasons why the resulting decision to merge or to acquire / be acquired was made.

2.         Assess the significant positive (or negative) effects of the merger or acquisition. Provide at least two (2) examples of those effects now that the merger or acquisition has been completed.

3.         Examine the organizational structure that has resulted from the merger or acquisition. Analyze the major differences between the resulting company and the original two (2) organizations.

4.         Determine whether or not the human resources management practices of the company were modified to reflect the outcome of the merger or acquisition. If no changes were necessary, speculate on the reasons why they were not. Provide a rationale for your response.

5.         Use at least four (4) academic quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia does not qualify as an academic resource.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

•           Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

•           Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

•           Evaluate the different forms of business ownership to determine the optimal structure in different scenarios and the process for a business start-up.

•           Integrate the core human resource management functions and considerations into viable recommendations to meet the organization’s operating requirements.

•           Use technology and information resources to research issues in contemporary business.

•           Write clearly and concisely about contemporary business using proper writing mechanic

Week 6 Discussion

"Customer Service" Please respond to the following:

•           From the case study and e-Activity, determine the key reasons why Southwest Airlines has such high customer satisfaction ratings in comparison with other airlines. Provide two (2) examples that illustrate instances of customer satisfaction to support your position.

•           From the scenario, formulate at least two (2) strategies that a company in the midst of strategic change may use in order to provide continued motivation to its employees. Provide a rationale for your response.

•           Journal Entry 5: Prepare a one to two (1-2) paragraph journal entry that examines your learning experiences with ORION in Week 2 of this course, that addresses the following:

4.        

1.         Determine the primary manner in which ORION has increased your business knowledge in the related subject area.

2.         Discuss specific challenges that you may have experienced with any of the subject matter presented, and point out the areas for which you would like more information.

3.         Suggest at least two (2) possible applications of this week’s material to the company that you currently work for or hope to work for in the future.

* Note: To access ORION please see instructions in the Week 1 area.

Week 7 Discussion

"Marketing Strategy"  Please respond to the following:

•           From the e-Activity and the “Hit & Miss: Kodak Ignores the Digital Picture” reading in Chapter 12 of the text, examine the main reasons behind Kodak reinventing itself in order to stay in business. Evaluate the level of success of Kodak’s reinvention attempts. Support your position with two (2) examples of Kodak’s success or failure in its efforts.

•           From the scenario, assess the importance of a company’s ability to understand its customers when creating its marketing strategy. Determine the degree to which this understanding factors into distribution strategies for its products and services. Provide a rationale for your response.

•           Journal Entry 6: Prepare a one to two (1-2) paragraph journal entry that examines your learning experiences with ORION in Week 2 of this course, that addresses the following:

5.        

1.         Determine the primary manner in which ORION has increased your business knowledge in the related subject area.

2.         Discuss specific challenges that you may have experienced with any of the subject matter presented, and point out the areas for which you would like more information.

3.         Suggest at least two (2) possible applications of this week’s material to the company that you currently work for or hope to work for in the future.

* Note: To access ORION please see instructions in the Week 1 area.

Week 8 Discussion

"Information Needs"  Please respond to the following:

•           From the scenario, evaluate the importance of a company having a robust information management system strategy. Recommend two (2) actions that a company may take in order to protect its information assets from potential disruption and loss.

•           From the case study, examine the major advantages and disadvantages of Microsoft charging businesses to use Skype. Determine whether or not it would be beneficial for Microsoft to charge businesses for the use of Skype. Provide a rationale for your response.

•           Journal Entry 7: Prepare a one to two (1-2) paragraph journal entry that examines your learning experiences with ORION in Week 2 of this course, that addresses the following:

6.        

1.         Determine the primary manner in which ORION has increased your business knowledge in the related subject area.

2.         Discuss specific challenges that you may have experienced with any of the subject matter presented, and point out the areas for which you would like more information.

3.         Suggest at least two (2) possible applications of this week’s material to the company that you currently work for or hope to work for in the future.

* Note: To access ORION please see instructions in the Week 1 area.

Week 9 Discussion

"Financial Systems"  Please respond to the following:

•           From the case study and e-Activity, determine the importance of bankers having good working relationships with their clients. Support your response with two (2) examples that illustrate such importance.

•           From the scenario, examine the four (4) main accounting statements and determine which statement you believe to be the most critical in understanding a company’s current financial position. Provide a rationale for your response.

•           Journal Entry 8: Prepare a one to two (1-2) paragraph journal entry that examines your learning experiences with ORION in Week 2 of this course, that addresses the following:

7.        

1.         Determine the primary manner in which ORION has increased your business knowledge in the related subject area.

2.         Discuss specific challenges that you may have experienced with any of the subject matter presented, and point out the areas for which you would like more information.

3.         Suggest at least two (2) possible applications of this week’s material to the company that you currently work for or hope to work for in the future.

* Note: To access ORION please see instructions in the Week 1 area.

Assignment 3: Promotional and Advertising Strategies

Due Week 9 and worth 240 points

Select one (1) of the following categories of products to research: sports apparel, automobiles, home furnishings, or televisions. Use the Internet to research at least two (2) companies within the selected product category. Take note of the leading companies in this product group, as well as the types of marketing, pricing, and consumer-oriented promotional strategies that these leading companies within the product group use.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

•           Compare and contrast the promotional strategies used by two (2) different companies for a similar product within the category that you selected.

•           Recommend two (2) ways in which a company within the selected product group could use marketing information to differentiate itself in the marketplace to gain an advantage over its competitors. Provide a rationale to support your recommendations.

•           Propose two (2) uses for consumer-oriented promotions that could assist a company in both the short and long term for the product group that you selected. Provide a rationale for your response.

•           Analyze the strategic manner in which the leading company in this product group has made its pricing decisions by using one or more of the four (4) pricing objectives. Suggest two (2) actions that other companies within the same product group may take in order to differentiate themselves and gain a competitive advantage. Provide a rationale for your response.

•           Determine the most effective advertising medium for a company in the selected product category. Support your response with two (2) examples of the effectiveness of the chosen medium.

•           Use at least five (5) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia does not qualify as an academic resource.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

•           Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

•           Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

•           Apply the core marketing concepts and marketing orientation to develop viable marketing strategies that fit a variety of market environments, domestic and international.

•           Analyze information technology applications and the application of decision support systems to gain a competitive advantage and more effectively control operations.

•           Use technology and information resources to research issues in contemporary business.

•           Write clearly and concisely about contemporary business using proper writing mechanics.

Week 10 Discussion

"Financial Management"  Please respond to the following:

•           From the case study and e-Activity, determine whether or not you agree with Meg Whitman’s approach for Hewlett-Packard to spend more funds on research and development, rather than on continued acquisitions. Provide a rationale for your response.

•           From the scenario, rate the recommendations that Tammy Partridge made to expand product lines at the current production facility and to take the company public in order to provide additional capital for expansion of the business (1 meaning that you highly disagree with her recommendations; 5 meaning that you highly agree with her recommendations). Determine whether or not the recommended approaches seem to be viable. Provide a rationale for your response.

•           Journal Entry 9: Prepare a one to two (1-2) paragraph journal entry that examines your learning experiences with ORION in Week 2 of this course, that addresses the following:

8.        

1.         Determine the primary manner in which ORION has increased your business knowledge in the related subject area.

2.         Discuss specific challenges that you may have experienced with any of the subject matter presented, and point out the areas for which you would like more information.

3.         Suggest at least two (2) possible applications of this week’s material to the company that you currently work for or hope to work for in the future.

* Note: To access ORION please see instructions in the Week 1 area.

Week 11 Discussion

"Transfer It" Please respond to the following:

•           Propose two (2) applications of knowledge that you have learned in this course to your current or a future position.

•           Create a list of three (3) best practices to follow in the field of contemporary business.