Question

443

Discussion 1

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read Chapters 13 and 14 in the course textbook, and the weekly lecture.

Understanding and assessing your organization’s culture can mean the difference between success and failure in today’s fast changing business environment.

In your discussion post, answer the following questions:

· What is organizational culture and how are cultural values reflected in organizations?

· What impact does organizational culture have on total quality management (TQM) practices and principles?

· Can an organization change its organizational culture to promote TQM practices and principles?

· Is it easy to change organizational culture?

· What are common barriers to change?

· What are some questions that organizations must ask and steps they must take in change management process?

Also address the following in your post:

Imagine you were asked to describe your organization What 10 words would you use to describe your company? What is really important? What does your organization reward and recognize? How would you assess your organization’s culture?

Finally, what is a learning organization? Select an organization of your choice, and explain why you think they are or are not an effective learning organization.

Guided Response: Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ posts in a substantive manner, and provide recommendations to extend their thinking. Support your position by using information from the week’s readings, examples from current events, and/or other scholarly or credible resources. Properly cite any references, if needed, according to the Writing Center's resources  APA: Citing Within Your Paper  (Links to an external site.)  and  APA: Formatting Your References List  (Links to an external site.) .

Please Response to both classmates

Hello Class,

What is organizational culture, and how are cultural values reflected in organizations?

A company's culture can be defined as a system made up of shared values, assumptions, and beliefs that contribute significantly to the organization's strength. All aspects of a business's operation are reflected by how people should behave according to the business principles and what is acceptable behavior. A great deal of importance is placed on organizational culture due to its ability to create a competitive advantage for an organization.

What impact does organizational culture have on total quality management (TQM) practices and principles?

· "A positive environment that is quality-oriented and creates satisfied customers

· A natural emphasis on continual improvement

· Employees  who  not  only  follow  quality  procedures  but  also  consistently  work  with  others to take quality-focused actions

· Employees  who  observe  quality  in  all  aspects  of  their  work  and  make  quality  a  top  priority

· Employees who take ownership of quality initiatives."

(Evans, J. R., & Lindsay, W. M. 2020. pg. 692).

Can an organization change its organizational culture to promote TQM practices and principles?

The answer to that question is no, in my opinion, because the value is the cornerstone of any organization, just as it is the cornerstone of any organization. If a company wants to promote Total Quality Management, the organization's culture doesn't have to be changed or compromised.  

Is it easy to change organizational culture?

No, it is not an easy task. When it comes to change, employees are always resistant because they fear losing something they value. This strategy aims to communicate with the employees so they can understand why changes are necessary or to make them aware of the magnitude of the change. 

What are common barriers to change?

1. Lack of Employee Involvement

· This is perhaps the most common barrier to change management. Employees always fear change, and unless they are involved in the change process, even the most loyal member of your employees will likely resist the change.

2. Lack of Effective Communication Strategy

· Some organizations have no effective communication strategy. Some top leaders always assume that people will adjust and be ready to start the new development once they announce the change. This is the silliest way to introduce change, hence forceful resistance to the change.

3. A Bad Culture Shift Planning

· Sometimes the planning team has no idea how the change will affect people. Of course, the team at this state will only concentrate on planning administrative structure, work area responsibilities, job responsibilities, and work reporting structure.

4. Unknown Current State

· Change is always difficult for organizations that lack the idea of their current state. Trying to introduce and implement change without assessing and understanding the organization's existing blueprint is a common habit by many entities.

5. Organization Complexity

· There comes a time when organizations begin to develop complex processes, making planning and implementing change a bit more complicated. The complexities include complex processes, products, and systems, all of which contribute to change barriers because they are often difficult for the organization's members to understand.

(Smith, Christopher. 2015).

What questions must organizations ask, and what steps must they take in the change management process?

   Following are some questions organizations often ask before taking action. What is its purpose, and why is it necessary when there is a change? How does change affect the organization's culture positively or negatively? How does a shift affect employees in the workplace? The Change Management process requires both internal and external changes to be addressed during the change management process. An organization, for instance, may change its business strategy because it happens to be more effective than its current strategy. The adoption of more effective best practices can also be achieved by the use of cutting-edge technology, as an example. A change in government policy resulted in the company adopting new changes last year. 

What ten words would you use to describe your company?

1. Lean 

· Decrease Excess Steps in the process / Get the job done faster with less movement

2. Innovative / Continous Improvement

· Review processes that could use fine-tuning (Black holes) and work to find solutions for a better flow.

3. Quality

· Manufacture parts while handling with care with the mindset to provide the customer with the best products possible.

4. Competitive

· Parker has competitive wages that it provides to its staff.

5. Winning Culture

· "We insist on integrity and ethical behavior, and we value compassion, respect, and inclusion in all aspects of our global business. We seek to raise the quality of life through responsible, global stewardship" (The Parker Values. 2022).​

6. Team Player

· Working together as part of a team to achieve the same goal(s)

7. Safety

· Take precautions to remain safe throughout our day.

8. Passionate People

· "We are empowered – every idea counts, and every role has a voice. We are committed to safety and realize the value of our collective efforts. We believe our strength comes from the relationships and trust we establish with each other, our customers, suppliers, distributors, and the world we serve" (The Parker Values. 2022).

9. Valued Customers

· "We partner with our customers to increase their productivity and profitability, ensuring their success as well as ours. We are committed to serving our customers through innovation, value creation, and the highest quality system solutions" (The Parker Values. 2022).

10. Engaged Leadership

· "We lead by example, demonstrating our values in all circumstances and at all times. Our character, experience, and abilities are the foundation of Parker's operational excellence. We hold ourselves accountable for achieving the results our stakeholders expect. We listen to and encourage one another, and take pride in our growth and accomplishments" (The Parker Values. 2022).

What is important? What does your organization reward and recognize? 

My organization is Parker Hannifin Corp (PH).

Parker, recognize team members through a program called "Wincredible." I have been honored to receive this award six times. Do I think that was enough? My answer is no; most people do not have access to submit one, and obtaining access requires training to use it properly. This process needs to level up and get better; recognition is critical. To receive a compliment or words of encouragement on a process done correctly is s a great place to start. 

How would you assess your organization's culture?

1. "Determine Your Preferences."

· Minimum supervision

· Team Work

· fast-paced work environment."

2. "Research the Company.

· Professional Work Environment

· Work Flexibility

· Competitive Benefits

3. "Evaluate Its Online Presence"

· Values Employees

· Values Customers

4. "Observe the Work Environment"

· Office Areas: Business Attire

· Production Areas: Casual Attire

5. "Ask Questions"

· What typically happens when errors or issues are discovered?

· What drew you to this company?

· Why did you choose to work here?

6. "Put It All Together."

· Compile facts to see if this company is the right company for you

· Reflect on the Pros and Cons

(Howington, Jessica. n.d.)

Reference:

Evans, J. R., & Lindsay, W. M. (2020).  Managing for quality and performance excellence  (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Smith, Christopher. (2015). 5 Barriers to Change Management and How to Easily Overcome Them. Walk Me. Para 2, 

https://change.walkme.com/5-barriers-to-change-management-and-how-to-easily-overcome-them/  (Links to an external site.)

The Parker Values. (2022). Parker Hannifin Corp. Para 3, 4, 5, 6

https://www.parker.com/portal/site/PARKER/menuitem.34d97bf947aa18280787535d4256d1ca/?vgnextoid=92a2939afeb10710VgnVCM100000e6651dacRCRD&vgnextchannel=a7e384eaf5b73510VgnVCM100000e6651dacRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&vgnextcat=The%20Parker%20Values  (Links to an external site.)

Howington, Jessica (n.d.) 6 Ways to Assess a Company's Culture. Flex Jobs. 

https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/how-to-analyze-a-companys-culture/  (Links to an external site.)

Thank you Jamie McConnell

2. Brandy Breidenbach

BUS 443

Week 5 Discussion 1

· What is organizational culture and how are cultural values reflected in organizations?

Organizational culture is the atmosphere the organization functions within for it's internal employees that in turns extends to its consumers and community. The atmosphere is set by a culture guide line that may be written in detail and known in an unspoken way. Internal customers are expected to cultivate the culture and treat each other with these expectations. This creates a personality for the organization that extends to its brand with consumers and the community.

· What impact does organizational culture have on total quality management (TQM) practices and principles?

Customer feedback determines the success of the efforts of the organization. When using total quality management, the concept is designed to think of all parts of the organization (total) functioning successfully. The practices and principles of TQM are designed to think of planning, the customer, and the quality of these processes. Communication is a key principle. Communication between departments, personal, customers, and communities is vital for the quality of the functioning success of the organization. The plan the organization designs for its culture plays are large role in communication and planning decision making.

· Can an organization change its organizational culture to promote TQM practices and principles?

An organization can absolutely change its organizational culture to promote TQM practices and principles though it maybe a long road to do so and many suggestions within TQM advise to keep a base line of the culture will implementing gradual change and growth as they develop. As community needs and perceptions change it is important for an organization to grow the same. If feedback from internal and external customers show that the culture within an organization is causing them to not want to do business with the organization, then it would be in full alignment with TQM practices and principles to evaluate and solve for this concern.

· Is it easy to change organizational culture?

Changing organizational culture has many moving parts. It is easy to make the decision to start a change. Though culture can become habitual by employees and it is tied to an organizations brand in the community, it can be done to make a drastic change or incremental changes. Though for employees and the brand it may take time for the view and behaviors to catch up with the decision that was made.

· What are common barriers to change?

"Numerous  barriers  exist  to  successfully  transform  organizations  to  a  sustained  culture  of  performance excellence" (Evans & Lindsay, 2020). Constancy of purpose is one that I will highlight for this question. This is describing quality implementation can become conflicted by individual goals and the momentum to initiate the change can be lost by this confliction.

 

Resources:

Evans, J. R., & Lindsay, W. M. (2020).  Managing for quality and performance excellence  (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Discussion 2

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, review Chapters 13 and 14 in the course textbook and the weekly lecture.

In your discussion post, assess key supplier-management approaches. What are their strengths and weaknesses? What approach do you think the institution you selected uses? How does your selected institution benefit from the approach, and, if it does not benefit from their approach, why not. Apply at least two supplier-management approaches or models to your institution, and explain the benefits and drawbacks particular to your selected institution.

Guided Response: Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ posts in a substantive manner, and provide recommendations to extend their thinking. Support your position by using information from the week’s readings, examples from current events, and/or other scholarly or credible resources. Properly cite any references, if needed, according to the Writing Center's resources  APA: Citing Within Your Paper  (Links to an external site.)  and  APA: Formatting Your References List  (Links to an external site.) .

Please Response to both classmates

1. LENNY DRY Hello Class,

It is important to evaluate a comprehensive assessment program of a suppliers business management performance, meeting the expectations of management ethics (selecting), sorting, maintaining supplier profile, categorizing, ranking in those categories of who is the best and worst suppliers are flexible with scheduling, technical issues, cost, and quality.

What are their strengths and weaknesses? A supplier will ensure you get what you need in products and services. They will let you know about the availabilities. They will assure you that their products and services are available. The weakness of a supplier, for example, is that if they do not have the product, it is on back order because of the vendor. They have a search engine system that will locate the vendor and check their system for product and service availability, which usually takes weeks to months. The cost is limited if the product and service are unique.

What approach do you think the institution you selected uses? They use the ISO quality system that evaluates and ensures that the suppliers are qualified. Mesa itself approaches their clients with supplier satisfaction surveys and voice-of-the-customer gathering methods.

How does your selected institution benefit from the approach, and if it does not benefit from their approach, why not? Mesa’s attitude towards their suppliers is that they are engaged with their suppliers, who are embedded and integrated as crew members.

Apply at least two supplier-management approaches or models to your institution, and explain the benefits and drawbacks particular to your selected institution. Mesa uses a scoring model to rank themselves. They utilize the ISO quality system (International Organization for Standard) that suggests the consistency of quality products and services, improved customer satisfaction, and reduced risks. They also use the NCR (Nonconformance Report) that gives their suppliers feedback during transactions. It is understood that suppliers are required to provide root cause analysis in case there is a problem with the service or product and take immediate action to rectify the issue. (Evans, Lindsey, 2020)

reference

Evans, J. R., & Lindsay, W. M. (2020).  Managing for quality and performance excellence  (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.

DOMINQUE

· Supplier management is a part of vendor management where organizations segment their supplier and determine important supply categories to develop a strategy that manages all their suppliers and supplies efficiently. " Key suppliers might provide unique design, technology, integration, or marketing capabilities that are not available within the business, and therefore can be critical to achieving such strategic objectives as lower costs, faster time-to-market, and improved quality" (Evans & Lindsay, 2020). With a properly constructed contract between the buyer and the seller can eliminate the barriers of waste and effective service. A weakness can be that long-term relationships with suppliers that build dependencies can be an obstacle to switching supplier, once you have invested in a things such as a shared IT system.

·

· Apple has built long term relationships with their contract manufacturing supplier and with that they have establish trust and mutual respect. Apple ensures that their supplier share the commitments for sustainability. Apples long-term relationships with their suppliers help create innovative products responsibly. Their approach also supports better outcomes for their suppliers, the people in the supply chain and for the environment.

·

· Evaluating the supplier performance is one of the most essential benefits of having supplier management. The organization needs to know how their supplier is performing because how they are performing will determine the success or lack of with your organization. When establishing a long-term relationship if would be beneficial to develop programs to support your suppliers. This will help the organization evaluate and identify areas for improvement with the supplier.

400

Discussion 1

Prior to beginning work on this week’s discussion, read Chapters 12 and 13 in your textbook and all of this week’s assigned articles.

Transportation decisions are becoming more complex due to greater distances between origin and destination points; multiple choices for transportation modes and carriers; and greater opportunities, as well as risks, across global supply chains.

For this discussion, assume the role of a transportation manager for the ABC Logistics Company. You are asked to evaluate the potential for reducing transportation and warehousing costs by utilizing intermodal transportation and shipment consolidations for large quantities of freight (25,000 pound and more). You must propose at least one new process or rule for transportation cost savings. Be sure to cover the following considerations in your proposal:

· Describe the equipment to be utilized, such as truck trailer-on-flatcar, container-on-flatcar, or intermodal-surface containers.

· Analyze freight rates, and choose between full-truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) rates.

· Explain possible ways to reduce administrative costs through the use of technology, and specify a tool or a software application that will be more efficient and effective.

· Describe the impact of intermodal transportation and shipment consolidation on the use of warehouses.

· Specify two practices that may potentially help the organization’s supply chain become more “green.”

Your proposed process must contain two specific areas of savings. Examples of cost savings may include, but not be limited to, reduced fuel costs, reduced freight rates, reduced lead times, savings gained due to new materials handling, order management, or any “green” processes.

Your 200- to 250-word proposal is due by Day 3 of the week. Support your proposal with the data from credible sources, such as your textbook, professional business publications, and articles assigned in this week’s required and recommended readings. Reference your sources of information in a proper APA style according to the guidelines suggested by the Writing Center.

Guided Response: Read the proposals posted by your peers, and respond to at least two of them. In your responses, analyze whether your peers’ recommended processes or rules could be also utilized by the company that you selected for your initial post. Explain how your peer’s proposal or rule may be applied in your company to achieve the transportation-related cost savings that improve the company’s bottom line. Back up your conclusion with some evidence. Your required responses are due by 11:59 p.m. on Day 7 of the week and must be a minimum of 125 words.

Please respond to classmates

Johnathan Roberts

1. Describe the equipment to be utilized, such as truck trailer-on-flatcar, container-on-flatcar, or intermodal-surface containers.

As the transportation manager of ABC company I’m proposing several changes that will be implemented that will be beneficial in regards to cost savings and shortening lead times. One of the modes that will be utilized within the company is introducing equipment such as intermodal-surface containers. “For our purposes, intermodal transportation refers to transportation when using a container or other equipment that can be transferred from the vehicle of one mode to the vehicle of another mode without the contents being reloaded or disturbed” (Murphy & Knemeyer, 2018).

Analyze freight rates, and choose between full-truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) rates.

After analyzing both rates between full-truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) I’ve determined that lighter material less than 10,000lbs will utilize the less-than-truckload (LTL) rate since the material will not fill up a whole up a whole truck and will be routed through terminals. Any material that is over 10,000 lbs will utilize the full-truckload (TL) rate since it will fill a whole truck and these will be used for direct delivery from the warehouse to the consignee which is also known as the customer.  

Explain possible ways to reduce administrative costs through the use of technology, and specify a tool or a software application that will be more efficient and effective.

Technology can help reduce administrative costs in a way by making it simpler to keep track of material and ensuring its getting to the customer as quickly as possible. Keeping up with new technology and improving the logistical programs that are utilized to track and trace material for customers will be vital and will continue to be something where we continuously interact with customers. “Tracking refers to determining a shipment’s location during the course of its move, and the ability to track shipments directly affects expediting, which involves the need to rapidly move a shipment to its final destination. Today, many transportation carriers have information systems that provide real-time information about shipment status, and this information is widely available to customers through the Internet and smartphones, thus making it fast and easy to trace shipments” (Murphy & Knemeyer, 2018).

Describe the impact of intermodal transportation and shipment consolidation on the use of warehouses.

Intermodal transportation and shipment consolidation is very vital since it can save time and money for the warehouse and also the receiving unit. If there are multiple small shipments that are going to the same location it makes sense to consolidate the various materials on one truck in order to reduce transportation costs.

Specify two practices that may potentially help the organization’s supply chain become more “green.”

Two practices that could help ABC company become more green would be to abide by the guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and also the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS). “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a U.S. federal regulatory agency that was established to protect human health and the environment, influences transportation in a number of different ways. A major transportation-related concern of the EPA involves various types of pollution such as noise and air pollution” (Murphy & Knemeyer, 2018). The Office of Pipeline Safety is in place to ensure hazardous material that is being shipped does not interfere and clog our pipelines. 

Reference

Murphy, P. R., & Knemeyer, A. M. (2018).  Contemporary logistics  (12th ed.). Pearson: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Retrieved from https://www.vitalsource.com/ 

Response 2 RONICA

Increasing distances between origin and destination points, different modes of transportation, and increasing opportunities and dangers across global supply chains are making transportation decisions more difficult (Maiyar & Thakkar, 2019). 

Containers used in intermodal transportation

They are shipping containers of various sizes, such as the 20-foot-long, 8-foot-wide, and 8-foot-tall TEU containers. Dry freight, insulated, open-top, flat rack, and refrigerated are a few of the varieties.

Charges for transport

When deciding between full truckloads and less-than-trucks, keep in mind the dimensions, classification, and special services of the freight. It would be better in this circumstance of transporting a 25000-pound additional load, even though freight prices for full trucks fluctuate.

Technical expenses, as well as administrative expenses

Since the advent of technology, multimodal transport has become more efficient, resulting in lower administrative expenses. With the help of a transportation management system like Transport Management Systems, a business can make an informed decision on the most cost-effective and high-quality carrier in real time (Maiyar & Thakkar, 2019). Tracking devices and APIs in logistics provide real-time delivery locations to the consumer. Moreover, it has reduced shipping costs by providing more accurate routing. Digitization of papers has also resulted in significant savings in both time and money.

Warehouses and intermodal transportation

Logistics play a critical role in a warehouse's ability to operate at maximum efficiency. Intermodal transportation's enhanced time-to-warehouse and time-to-customer delivery has increased product quality as well. More and more customers are benefiting from the usage of less-than-truck deliveries, especially those who live in the same geographic area. Delivery of goods at the warehouse and throughout shipment has been made more efficient through automated cargo shipping services as well.

Generally, when compared to the use of diesel and petroleum, a company's supply chain can conduct environmentally friendly practices by embracing the use of renewable energy sources like biofuels and wind power. When computers are used in place of manual paperwork, there will be less waste of materials that harm the environment.

 

Reference.

Maiyar, L. M., & Thakkar, J. J. (2019). Modeling and analysis of intermodal food grain transportation under hub disruption towards sustainability. International Journal of Production Economics, 217, 281-297.

Assignment

Creating a Logistics Plan for International Transport and Warehousing of Goods

 Strategic Logistics Management, Inc. (SLM) is a U.S.-based third party company whose primary business is to deliver logistics services. Currently, SLM manages several warehouses in Los Angeles and the New York/New Jersey area. SLM provides expertise in air and ocean shipping, customs clearance, forwarding, warehousing, and ground transportation. Over the past five years, SLM has built a successful logistics information system (LIS) that includes personnel, equipment, and technology. The decision-support systems included in the LIS are a transportation management system (TMS) and a warehouse management system (WMS).

SLM employs experienced personnel in the United States to handle a wide range of logistics activities and provide customized logistics solutions and services. The company is considering expanding their global operations to provide the same range of services in Australia, including:

· Imports: A network of offices and trade connections to support import consolidation, provide warehousing of goods prior to customs clearance, and manage import documentation for customs formalities.

· Door-to-door services: Cargo pickup from supplier locations and transportation of goods directly to the customer, as well as freight bookings with airlines and ocean lines to handle cargo exports from both the United States and Australia.

· Exports: Handling of various types of cargo exports by ocean and by air, ensuring the timely movement of goods at the most competitive rates. Complete export documentation is provided.

SLM is working to secure two contracts in Australia that will go into effect next year. The first contract is with Greer Wire Company in Melbourne, Australia, to transport two million pounds of stainless steel brushfire mesh used in protecting homes in brushfire prone areas. This cargo will be shipped to Los Angeles, California. The stainless steel wire mesh is supplied in five-meter rolls with an outside diameter of 500 mm, and each roll weighs 50 kg.

The second contract is with Brooks Brothers, a clothing company located in New York City, for warehousing and transportation of clothing in various sizes of cardboard boxes that easily assemble in one unit load on a 48-inch by 40-inch pallet. The goods will be shipped from New York, New York, to Sydney, Australia. For the purpose of this assignment you can make reasonable assumptions about the weight of the boxes.

SLM will manage a rapid flow of goods to and from Australia. The proposed warehouses in Australia will be located in proximity to two large metropolitan areas, Sydney and Melbourne. In the first year of its operations in Australia, SLM plans to handle an average of 200 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of imports and exports between the United States and Australia every month.

You are a Logistics Manager at SLM. As part of the company’s goal to strengthen its competitiveness in the global marketplace, the CEO has asked you to design a logistics plan for the proposed warehouse operations in Australia and transportation of goods between Australia and the United States.

In your report (allowing for reasonable assumptions when necessary),

· Select one of the two SLM contracts described above.

· Analyze the product’s physical properties, volume, and quantities to determine if the product’s shipment size is small (150 to 500 pounds) or a larger (consolidated) shipment (at least one TEU).

· Evaluate at least two modes of transportation that best support the organization’s supply chain for shipping the product from one country to another, door-to-door, in a multimodal shipment. Explain your reasoning.

· Identify the type of warehouses that SLM should employ in Australia to ensure a rapid movement of goods. Recommend either public, private, or contract warehousing and explain how your recommendation supports SLM’s supply chain management.

· List and describe the necessary commercial, banking, and shipping documents that comply with export and import procedures in the United States. These may include a commercial invoice, certificate of origin, shipper’s export declaration, shipper’s letter of instruction, bill of lading, freight bill, and letter of credit.

· Determine the appropriate Incoterms® 2010 rule, depending on the shipment mode and buyers’ and sellers’ responsibilities.

· Select a process (Lean, Six Sigma, Just-in-Time, or Kanban) and explain how the process can be implemented to ensure effective and efficient warehouse operations techniques are in place that support the company’s supply chain design.

· List a minimum of four additional budget line items in the table below with a rationale to ensure smooth warehouse operations in Australia. Support your rationale by including various logistics activity measures, cost drivers, profit models, and the role of inventory and how they influence SLM’s financial outcomes.

Budget line item	Rationale
Shipment consolidation	Cost savings management
Warehouse safety and security	Efficient and safe warehouse operations
Software implementation	Order management, customer relationship management, and load-planning for a truck trailer.

The Final Paper

· Must be 2,400 to 3,000 words (not including title and references pages), double-spaced, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the  Writing Center  (Links to an external site.) . Contextual (Level One) headings must be used to organize your paper and your thoughts.

· Must include a title page with the following:

· Title of paper

· Student’s name

· Course name and number

· Instructor’s name

· Date submitted

· Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.

· Must include and integrate supporting information and reasoning from at least five scholarly, peer-reviewed, or other credible business sources in addition to the course text (see the Writing Center’s  Integrating Research  (Links to an external site.)  for assistance).

· The  Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources  (Links to an external site.)  table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.

· Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the  Writing Center  (Links to an external site.) .

· Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the  Writing Center.  (Links to an external site.)

Carefully review the  Grading Rubric  (Links to an external site.)  for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.