| Criterion | Weight | Max Points | Exemplary | Very Good | Proficient | Opportunity for Improvement | Unacceptable |
| | | 0.00% | 100.00% | 93.00% | 85.00% | 75.00% | 0.00% |
| Element 1: Evaluation of Critical Issues and Trends Facing the Organization | 15.00% | 41.25 | Student presents a robust and diverse set of the most important/critical issues facing the organization and basis his/her conclusions on facts and evidence, including a strong rationale. Assumptions that the student made are stated and justified. Student has clearly considered all of the varied topics covered in the course as apparent through the coverage of the issues in the presentation. | Student presents a set of the most important/critical issues facing the organization and basis his/her conclusions on facts and evidence, including a rationale. Assumptions that the student made are stated and justified. Student has clearly considered all of the varied topics covered in the course as apparent through the coverage of the issues in the presentation. | Student presents set of important/critical issues facing the organization and basis his/her conclusions on facts and evidence. The rationale for why the issues are presented as critical to the organization is presented. Student has clearly considered several of the topics covered in the course as apparent through the coverage of the issues in the presentation. | Student presents several issues facing the organization but does not evaluate which are most important. Alternatively, the student may focus on only one area, omitting discussion issues outside a narrow area of focus. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 2: Summary of Most Critical Findings | 10.00% | 27.50 | Student thoroughly summarizes the most important findings based on his/her critical evaluation of the critical issues he/she presented and defends his/her conclusions based on a carefully throughout rationale supported by evidence and experience. | Student summarizes the most important findings based on his/her evaluation of the critical issues he/she presented and defends his/her conclusions based on a carefully throughout rationale supported by evidence and experience. | Student summarizes some findings based on the critical issues he/she presented. Student includes some rational as to why he/she has identified the final set of critical findings. | Student attempts to identify the more important findings, but does not include any rationale. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 3: Effective Argument to CEO or Business Owner | 8.00% | 22.00 | Student assesses the issues facing the company and uses objective criteria to evaluate them to develop his/her final set of most critical findings. Assumptions that the student made are stated and justified. Through the slides and notes, the student builds a compelling and cogent argument to the CEO or business owner. | Student assesses the issues facing the company and uses objective criteria to evaluate them to develop his/her final set of most critical findings. Assumptions that the student made are stated and justified. Through the slides and notes, the student builds a compelling argument to the CEO or business owner. | Student builds a compelling argument intended to influence decisions that will be made by the CEO or business owner. | Student does not effectively make a good case for his/her findings | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 4: Recommendations to the CEO | 8.00% | 22.00 | Student presents a robust and detailed final set of well-reasoned recommendations to the CEO/business owner that addresses the most critical issues facing the organization and makes clear connections between the recommendations and the issues they address. | Student presents a final set of well-reasoned recommendations to the CEO/business owner that addresses the most critical issues facing the organization and makes clear connections between the recommendations and the issues they address. | Student presents a final set of recommendations to the CEO/business owner that will address the issues facing the organization. | Student presents recommendations meant to help the organization. It may not be clear why the recommendations were suggested or to which issues they pertain. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 5: Builds Case For Recommendations | 8.00% | 22.00 | Student makes a detailed, compelling case as to why the recommendations will be effective in addressing the most critical issues and provides detailed and specific examples where the recommendations were effective in other similar organizations or suggests specific steps that the organization can take to ensure the recommendations will lead to the desired changes/results. Assumptions that the author made are stated and justified. | Student makes a compelling case as to why the recommendations will be effective in addressing the most critical issues and provides examples where the recommendations were effective in other similar organizations or suggests specific steps that the organization can take to ensure the recommendations will lead to the desired changes/results. Assumptions that the author made are stated and justified. | Student makes a compelling case as to why the recommendations will be effective in addressing the most critical issues. | Student does not effectively make a good case for his/her recommendations. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 6: Implications of the Recommendations | 8.00% | 22.00 | Student identifies and critically evaluates the major implications of his/her recommendations, including specific required changes in the organization or its processes, giving consideration to a broad range of potential consequences including the impact to all stakeholders, the required communication requirements and other potential effects that the recommendations will have on the organization. Assumptions made are stated and justified. | Student identifies and evaluates the major implications of his/her recommendations, including required changes in the organization or its processes, giving consideration to a broad range of potential consequences including the impact to all stakeholders, the required communication requirements and other potential effects that the recommendations will have on the organization. Assumptions made are stated and justified. | Student identifies the implications of his/her recommendations, including required changes in the organization or its processes, the impact to all stakeholders, the required communication requirements and other potential effects that the recommendations will have on the organization. | Student briefly discusses a few implications to the organization. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 7: Risks and Mitigation Strategies | 8.00% | 22.00 | Student identifies the major risks of both taking action on his/her final set of recommendations as well as what could happen if the organization fails to address the issues it faces or follow the recommendations. Student presents a thorough and detailed analysis of his/her ideas for mitigating the identified risks and presents a convincing case as to why such approaches would be effective. Assumptions that the author made are stated and justified. | Student identifies the major risks of both taking action on his/her final set of recommendations as well as what could happen if the organization fails to address the issues it faces or follow the recommendations. Student presents an analysis of his/her ideas for mitigating the identified risks and presents a convincing case as to why such approaches would be effective. Assumptions that the author made are stated and justified. | Student identifies the risks of both taking action on his/her final set of recommendations as well as what could happen if the organization fails to address the issues it faces or follow the recommendations. Student presents his/her ideas for mitigating the identified risks. | Student briefly discusses a few risks to the organization. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 8: Presentation Format | 5.00% | 13.75 | Student presents 10 to 12 thorough and detailed slides and each slide is purposefully designed containing no more than 6 bullets or 1 figure per slide. The slides are edited and presented in a professional way. Student presents detailed supporting evidence and arguments in the notes. | Student presents 10 to 12 slides and each slide is purposefully designed containing no more than 6 bullets or 1 figure per slide. The slides are edited and presented in a professional way. Student presents supporting evidence and arguments in the notes. | Students presents 10 to 12 slides with no more than 6 bullets or 1 figure per slide. Student presents notes that generally support the content of the slides. The slides are edited and presented in a professional way. | Student presents a presentation of the issues and recommendations, but may have failed to follow the instructions or carefully edit the slides. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 9: Presentation Flow and Organization | 5.00% | 13.75 | Student throughly summarizes the issues and resulting recommendations that were developed as requested by the CEO for this project. The flow and organization of the slides clearly communicates the issues and recommendations and the salient points of the final project. Student presents detailed and sound evidence and basis for his/her presentation in the slides and notes. | Student summarizes the issues and resulting recommendations that were developed as requested by the CEO for this project. The flow and organization of the slides clearly communicates the issues and recommendations and the salient points of the final project. Student presents sound evidence and basis for his/her presentation in the slides and notes. | Student outlines the main issues and recommendations that the CEO requested be addressed as part of the project. The flow and organization of the slides communicates the salient points of the project. | Some of the important information is not included or extraneous information is provided that may distract the reader from the central argument for the project. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 10: Annotated Bibliography | 5.00% | 13.75 | An annotated bibliography of the references that follows APA style guidelines is included. Student critically analyzes each reference source and discusses the relevancy of the source to the final project. | An annotated bibliography of the references that follows APA style guidelines is included. Student briefly describes each reference source. | A list of references is included following APA style guidelines | References are provided, but may not align to APA or may not include all references or include references that are not used. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 11: Completeness and Cohesiveness of Final Project | 5.00% | 13.75 | The final project is succinct (of appropriate length to meet requirements and communicate central arguments and recommendations), in-depth, and comprehensive. The issues and proposed recommendations incorporate course readings, concepts, and activities; and additional research from the Walden Library or other credible resources. Overall, the proposal includes all important required components that are well organized and create a logical flow. | The final project is (of appropriate length to meet requirements and communicate central arguments and recommendations) in-depth, and comprehensive. The issues and proposed recommendations incorporate course readings, concepts, and activities; and additional research from the Walden Library or other credible resources. Overall, the proposal includes all important required components that are well organized and create a logical flow. | The final project is comprehensive. The proposal incorporates course readings, concepts, and activities; and additional research from the Walden Library. Overall, the proposal includes all important required components. | The project lacks some detail and is somewhat vague or appears rushed that indicates that the author did not consolidate the various required sections to create a cohesive document. Some ideas or important points are not effectively integrated and some resources may not have been effectively used. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 12: Written Communications | 5.00% | 13.75 | Writing is clear, logical, well-organized and appropriate. Work is free from spelling and grammar/syntax errors. Tone is professional and free from bias (i.e., sexism, racism). There are no errors. | Writing is mostly clear, logical, and organized. Few, if any spelling and grammar/syntax issues are noted. Overall, a few sections need additional editing, but generally, work appears proofread. Tone is professional and free from bias (i.e., sexism, racism). There are one or two minor errors. | The main points are clear and organized. Some spelling, grammar/syntax issues are noted. Tone is professional and free from bias (i.e., sexism, racism). | There are key sections that lack organization or logical flow. Many spelling, grammar/syntax issues are noted. Work requires additional proofreading. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 13: Critical Thinking, Analysis, and Synthesis | 5.00% | 13.75 | Writing exhibits strong evidence of thoughtful critical analysis and thinking; careful examination is made of assumptions and possible biases, with detailed supporting rationale. Writing synthesizes the classroom experiences and content; analyzes patterns or connections between theory and practice; and draws logical conclusions based on well-reasoned arguments. New questions may be presented based on synthesis of ideas and input. | Writing exhibits evidence of thoughtful critical analysis and thinking. Examination is made of assumptions and possible biases, with supporting rationale. Writing synthesizes the classroom experiences and content; analyzes patterns or connections between theory and practice; and draws logical conclusions based on well-reasoned arguments. New questions are presented based on synthesis of ideas and input. | Writing exhibits some evidence of thoughtful critical analysis and thinking. Examination is made of assumptions and possible biases, with some supporting rationale. Writing synthesizes the classroom experiences and content; analyzes patterns or connections between theory and practice; and draws logical conclusions based on well-reasoned arguments adequately, but not superbly. New questions are not presented based on synthesis of ideas and input. | Writing exhibits little or no evidence of thoughtful critical analysis and thinking. Examination is not made of assumptions and possible biases. Writing neither synthesizes the classroom experiences and content; nor analyzes patterns or connections between theory and practice. Logical conclusions based on well-reasoned arguments are not exhibited. New questions are not presented based on synthesis of ideas and input. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| Element 14: Formal and Appropriate Documentation of Evidence, Attribution of Ideas (APA Citations) | 5.00% | 13.75 | Student demonstrates full adherence to scholarly or credible reference requirements and adheres to APA style with respect to source attribution and references. There are no APA errors. | Student demonstrates full adherence to scholarly or credible reference requirements and adheres to APA style with respect to source attribution and references. There are one or two minor errors in APA style or format. | Student addresses guidelines for scholarly or credible references and/or APA style with respect to source attribution and references. Some errors in APA format and style are evident. | Student demonstrates inconsistent adherence to scholarly reference requirements and/or inconsistent adherence to APA style with respect to source attribution and references. Significant and/or numerous errors in APA format and style are evident. | Not submitted or little to no evidence of addressing the criterion. |
| | 100.00% | 275.00 |
antoinette.rbawaaara
week07_finalprojectrubric.xls
