3 part paper

This assignment consists of conducting detailed research and analysis on a specific organization that has a homeland security mission and writing a strategic plan for that organization; taking it from where it is today to where it needs to be in three to five years from now.

Task: Students will select an organization that has a homeland security mission. Remember this is an organization not a subject/topic.

Citations: Students must use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition format to cite their research. Students are required to research and cite a minimum of three online sources, three print sources, and at least one reference from the course texts (seven-source minimum). Students must give others credit for others' work by properly citing it. The university's plagiarism policy applies to all written assignments for this course.

Research: Students must conduct academic research to substantiate their papers. The best source of this information resides in scholarly articles. These sources may be found in the course required readings, the UMUC Library, or any other scholarly sources that students identify. While Internet websites may be used as part of the research, students must be very cautious, as the content is often biased and represents someone's personal opinion rather than academic research. Wikipedia is not a valid academic source and students must not use it. Papers with only Internet research will receive lower grades.

The Strategic Plan Project for this course requires students to apply the knowledge and concepts learned to a real-world work environment by developing a strategic plan for a homeland security organization. It is accomplished through the completion of three separate assignments.

1.  Essay 1: Introduction and Executive Brief - Describes the Organization and the need for a strategic plan (5 pages - not counting the Cover Page, Table of Contents and Reference Page). This essay will also describe the organizations current strategic plan if one is available. Format: The Chapter 1/Essay 1 - Introduction/Executive Briefing must be five pages of double-spaced pages of narrative. Photographs, bulleted lists, and other inserts do not count toward the minimum page requirement. Students must include separate title and reference pages, which do not count toward the minimum page requirement. The paper will be in an executive briefing format (as outlined in the Course Content modules) and the second will be in standard American Psychological Association (APA) research paper format. This introduction will be the first Chapter to your Strategic Plan. A format will be provided to all of you to follow.

2. Essay 2: Literature Review - Provides an overview with no less than 6 separate reference sources on the need to accomplish a strategic plan for this organization. This essay will include the previously written Chapter 1 (with any corrections that were noted at grading - points taken off if corrections not made), and the new Chapter 2. This should be a total of no less than 10 pages (not counting the Cover Page, Table of Contents and Reference Page).

3. Essay 3: Strategic Plan - This will include all the major parts of the strategic plan (Chapter 3) as well as a Conclusion/Recommendations Chapter (Chapter 4). Chapters 3/4 should be a total of no less than 10 pages; making the whole plan (All Chapters) no less than 20 pages

During this course, students will learn how strategic planning enables homeland security organizations to establish strategy, make decisions, allocate resources, and manage programs safely, effectively, and efficiently. Students will examine the basic strategic planning requirements that all homeland security organizations must complete: prepare to plan; establish mission, vision, and core values; assess the situation; develop goals, strategies, initiatives, work plans, and objectives; and complete the written plan.

Students must develop a detailed strategic plan for a federal, state, local governmental, or private homeland security organization. The organization selected must have a clear homeland security mission.

Citations: Students must use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition format to cite their research. Students are required to research and cite a minimum of three online sources, three print sources, and at least one reference from the course texts (seven-source minimum). Students must give others credit for others' work by properly citing it. The university's plagiarism policy applies to all written assignments for this course.