Week 1 Individual

Research Applications Paper

Write a paper of no more than 700 words discussing the research principles found in the assigned reading and their application to research in human resources. Include the following in your paper:

·         The goals of research in HR

·         A comparison of the applications of primary and secondary research

·         An explanation of how reliability and validity are used and why they are important to human resource research

Week 2 Individual

Evaluation Criteria Paper

Bradford Enterprises has experienced rapid expansion over the last 12 months, growing from 10 locations and 3,000 employees in one state to 22 locations and 8,000 employees in seven states. Bradford Enterprises has decided to upgrade its HR approach and raise it to a new level to be more competitive. The company’s owner is looking to implement three specific HR tools to help the HR do its job well and manage this expansion. The tools are selection tests, a Human Resource Information System (HRIS), and succession planning tools. As an HR manager, you have been asked to sit on the committee to identify which selection tests, HRIS, and succession planning tools should be considered. Your task is to identify specific criteria for the selection process of each tool.

Write a paper of no more than 1,050 words identifying which selection criteria you feel is most valuable for each tool; use references to support your choice. The conclusion must include an analysis of the chosen criteria for the three tools and how they differ from each other.

Week 2 Learning Team Discussion Question

Respond to learning team discussion question as team and post your collective response to gradebook.

Question: What criteria are most important when evaluating HR research tools? Explain why.

Week 3 Individual

Motivating and Compensating Employees Simulation

Log in to the student website and access the Motivating and Compensating Employees simulation via the following link:

https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource/vendors/tata/UBAMSims/hr_management1/hr_management1_motivating_compensating_simulation.html.

After finishing the simulation, assume that you are the Human Resources Director for Magic Graffix.

Write an evaluation of Magic Graffix’s behavior and performance initiatives in no more than 1,050 words. Include the following in your evaluation:

·         What is the appropriate interviewing technique to address the attrition problems and hire the appropriate employees? Explain why.

·         Is Magic Graffix using a specific selection test or technique? If not, would you recommend one? What criteria would you use and why is it appropriate for Magic Graffix?

·         Provide an analysis of three performance appraisals and identify which one is the best tool to use at Magic Graffix.

·         Discuss other corrective measures that you would recommend.

Week 3 Learning Team Discussion Question

Respond to learning team discussion question as team and post your collective response to gradebook.

Question: Please review the enclosed article regarding a recent federal court ruling against the City of Chicago Fire Department. Given the tenuous financial state of most city governments and governmental agencies a ruling of this magnitude can be devastating.

As you review this articles/web site, consider and provide your response, what could the Department have done proactively to avoid this ruling?

Do you think the Department gambled that they would receive a favorable ruling
in court? Support your position.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/5357156-418/city-must-hire-111-bypassed-black-firefighter-candidates-court-rules.html

http://www.cfd1995testlitigation.com/

Week 4 Learning Team

Market Analysis

Conduct market research for an organization chosen by the members of the Learning Team. The purpose of the research is to explore the reliable websites available online and to write a market analysis of no more than 1,400 words. Resources available include the Department of Labor (www.dol.gov), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), and the statistical abstract of the United States (www.census.gov/compendia/statab/), as well as any industry reports available that are nonproprietary. You may use charts and graphs to support the analysis. Include the following:

·         A discussion of labor trends for your organization’s market

·         Salary structure and compensation packages

·         Forecasting

·         Availability of labor in the workforce

·         Are there other tools appropriate for your analysis? What are the appropriate tools to use for forecasting, pricing, and labor market analysis for your organization?

·         Provide projections with statistics to support your analysis.

·         What external pressures will your corporation face in the next three years?

Week 5 Individual

HR Statistical Techniques Paper

You are the new HR Director of Ayles Networks, an established IT networking company. The company currently employs over 3,000 people across the Southwestern United States. The HR office is centrally located, but is as much as 500 miles from several of the corporate offices. Some of your primary duties include recruiting, training, and performance management. The CEO has asked you to use HR statistical techniques to assess the staffing, training, and HR assessments that the company currently has in place.

Write a paper of no more than 1,050 words discussing each of the statistical techniques that follow. Determine what type of data you would need; how you would use the techniques to assess the effectiveness of the staffing, training, and HR assessments; and provide a brief example of an application of each technique: t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis. What other statistical methods might you use to analyze the effectiveness of your training and staffing programs?

Week 5 Learning Team Discussion Question

Respond to learning team discussion question as team and post your collective response to gradebook.

Question: You are the HR manager at a resort, and you are examining data for housekeeping positions. You believe that performance evaluation scores are directly related to turnover. You want to test whether or not you might predict the turnover in an office based on the performance evaluation scores. What type of statistical technique would you use? Explain why.

Week 6 Learning Team

HR Team Evaluation

Read the HR Team Evaluation Scenario posted on the student website.

Write three separate memos, no more than 700 words each, regarding the status of the training, retention, and forecasting programs. In each memo, provide a recommendation to improve the program.

Write a summary of no more than 700 words explaining your recommendations for the training, retention, and forecasting, and how they, together, will affect the company as a whole. Use the data in the HR Team Evaluation Scenario to develop your evaluation.