HR Assessment

AVADO Learning Limited. Registered in England with number 06177616.

Registered office: Landmark House, Hammersmith Bridge Road, London, W6 9EJ. VAT Registration number: 918560018.

Authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – Interim Permission Number 611566

Candidate Assessment Activity

Title of unit: Business Issues and the Contexts of Human Resources

Unit No: 5CHR

Level: 5

Credit value: 6

Assessment method: Report

Learning outcomes: Assessment criteria:

1 Understand the key contemporary business issues

and main external factors

affecting different

organisations and the impact on

HR.

1.1 Assess a range of different factors which impact on an organisation’s business and its HR function.

2 Understand how organisational and HR strategies and practices

are shaped and developed.

2.1 Analyse the forces shaping the HR agenda.

2.2 Compare different tools for analysing the business environment.

2.3 Explain the key stages in strategy formulation and implementation and the role of HR.

2.4 Examine HR’s contribution to business ethics and accountability

3 Know how to identify and respond to changes in the

business environment.

3.1 Evaluate business performance and the role of HR in business planning and the change management agenda.

3.2 Assess and utilise different sources of business and contextual data for planning purposes

 

AVADO Learning Limited. Registered in England with number 06177616.

Registered office: Landmark House, Hammersmith Bridge Road, London, W6 9EJ. VAT Registration number: 918560018.

Authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – Interim Permission Number 611566

Assessment activity Assessment Criteria

You have been asked by the CEO to compile a report on ‘The developing role of HR within present day business’. Your report should include;

 

• An analysis of internal forces which can shape the HR agenda, you could include for example; structure/model of the HR function, HR strategies, strategic objectives and stakeholder expectations.

2.1

• An assessment and summary of a range of different external factors impacting on an organisation’s performance and explain how they affect the HR function.

1.1

• A table comparing two different environmental analytical tools e.g. SWOT, PESTLE, Porter’s 5 Force’s, etc.

2.2

• A summary of the key stages of strategy formulation and implementation. You should refer to the role of HR in each of the stages summarised. You should also highlight HR’s role in; i) Business Ethics and ii) Accountability. You should reference all key models and literature used.

2.3, 2.4

• A table or chart illustrating a range of ways business performance is measured in the organisation for different purposes. You should also highlight with examples, the role of HR in; i) Business Planning and ii) Change Management.

3.1

• An assessment of how different sources of business/internal and contextual/external data should be considered and used when planning e.g. internal information within the organisation including HR metrics, industry information e.g. trends in HR, competitive information, government information.

3.2

Evidence to be produced: A report equating to 4000 words in total. Remember to relate academic concepts, theories and professional practice to the way organisations operate, in a critical and informed way, and with reference to key texts, articles and other publications and by using organisational examples for illustration. All reference sources should be acknowledged using Harvard-style referencing, and a bibliography provided where appropriate (these should be excluded from the word count).

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Jim Poss Case

75-150 words please.

 

 

Jim Poss Case, pages 107-120 in the text His company, Seahorse Power Company, is an engineering startup specializing in environmentally friendly methods of power generation.

 

Poss had designed and done initial test marketing of a trash compactor, designed to reduce the frequency and energy expense of trash collection. The case discusses the opportunity and the technology and poses the following questions:

1.    Apply the Timmons entrepreneurship framework (entrepreneur-opportunity-resources) to analyze this case

2.    Discuss Jim Poss’ fundraising strategies. What other options might be considered for raising the funds SPC needs? Is this a good investment?

3.    Discuss the growth strategy. What additional market(s) should Poss pursue?

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Midterm Exam: HRM360.98.SP.17 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

  • Question 1

2 out of 2 points

Which of the following is a mandatory collective bargaining subject? (Labor Unions and Employee Benefits: The National Labor Relations Act of 1935)
  • Question 2

2 out of 2 points

Workers are classified as key employees if they meet one of which three criteria? (The Internal Revenue Code)
  • Question 3

2 out of 2 points

Which legislative act made benefit and contribution limits permanent? (Qualified Plans)
  • Question 4

2 out of 2 points

Retirement benefits are generally distributed in one of these three ways. (Qualified Plans)
  • Question 5

0 out of 2 points

In 2009, which age group had the highest average total medical expenditures? (Cost Advantage)
  • Question 6

2 out of 2 points

Under the Equal Pay Act of 1963, what are skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions are referred to as? (The Equal Pay Act of 1963)
  • Question 7

2 out of 2 points

What is the 3% rule used to determine? (Defined Benefit Plans)
  • Question 8

2 out of 2 points

These types of insurance plans are set up to cover things like dental care, vision care and prescription drugs (Specialized Insurance Benefits)
  • Question 9

0 out of 2 points

What are the four main classes of health insurance programs that employers have to choose from to offer its’ employees? (Health Protection Programs)
  • Question 10

2 out of 2 points

Which is the following is NOT the reason for companies to adopt various benefits plans? (Defining and Exploring Employee Benefits)
  • Question 11

2 out of 2 points

Which of the following is not an accrual criteria? (Defined Benefit Plans)
  • Question 12

2 out of 2 points

Which one of these is not a defined contribution plan? (Types of Defined Contribution Plans)
Profit sharing
  • Question 13

2 out of 2 points

This type of hybrid plan is based on income and years of service, uses individual accounts, passes the IRS’s cross-testing rules and the total benefits are based on the investment performance of the plan’s assets. (Target Benefit Plans)
  • Question 14

2 out of 2 points

What are the three common forms of managed care plans? (Managed Care Plans)
  • Question 15

2 out of 2 points

What are the three specific forms of prepaid group practices? (Prepaid Group Practice Model)
  • Question 16

2 out of 2 points

Which of the following is not closely associated with the nature of transactional psychological contracts? (Psychological Contracts)
  • Question 17

2 out of 2 points

Under NLRA, subjects for collective bargaining fall into one of which three categories? (Labor Unions and Employee Benefits: The National Labor Relations Act of 1935)
  • Question 18

2 out of 2 points

What is another name for a pay-for-knowledge plan? (Adjustments to Core Compensation)
  • Question 19

2 out of 2 points

Which of the following is not a fundamental employee goal? (Legal and Regulatory Influences on Discretionary Benefits Practices)
  • Question 20

2 out of 2 points

Being able to spread the administrative costs to larger groups of employees to reduce the health insurance cost per employee is referred to as what? (Cost Advantage)
  • Question 21

2 out of 2 points

This consumer-driven health care option contains contributions made by employers and the balance can be carried-over to the next year. (Consumer-Driven Health Care)
  • Question 22

2 out of 2 points

Which three are the three fundamental roles that characterize discretionary benefits? (Discretionary Benefits)
  • Question 23

2 out of 2 points

This term refers to an unfunded deferred compensation plans for a select group of highly compensated employees? (The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974)
  • Question 24

2 out of 2 points

Which of the following are considered the five core compensation elements? (Adjustments to Core Compensation)
  • Question 25

2 out of 2 points

State health instructor laws address all BUT which of the following (State Regulations)
  • Question 26

2 out of 2 points

Companies can generally choose from which four programs for financing their discretionary benefits plans. (Basic Design Considerations for Discretionary Benefits)
  • Question 27

2 out of 2 points

Which of the following employee benefit might fulfill both transactional and relational expectations of employees? (Psychological Contracts)
  • Question 28

2 out of 2 points

Which is the following is NOT the element of discretionary benefits? (Discretionary Benefits)
  • Question 29

2 out of 2 points

This equal employment opportunity law prohibits illegal discrimination against protected class individuals in employment. (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964)
  • Question 30

2 out of 2 points

The FLSA of 1938, contains provisions concerning which three topics? (The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938)
  • Question 31

2 out of 2 points

This consumer-driven health care option allows employees to contribute pre-tax wages annually to pay for qualified medical expenses, but they will lose the balance not used at year’s end. (Consumer-Driven Health Care)
  • Question 32

2 out of 2 points

In 2011, what was the average total employer compensation costs for private industry workers? (Employer Costs for Compensation and Benefits)
  • Question 33

2 out of 2 points

This law sets minimum standards for the length of hospital stays for mothers and newborns. (Maternity Care)
Answers: Family and Medical Leave Act
Description: Correct

Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act

Pregnancy Discrimination Act
Newborns’ and Mothers’ Discrimination Act
  • Question 34

2 out of 2 points

When the employee bears the entire costs of discretionary benefits it is referred to as which type of financing? (Basic Design Considerations for Discretionary Benefits)
  • Question 35

0 out of 2 points

Savings incentive match plans for employees (SIMPLEs) have the following characteristics (Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLEs))
  • Question 36

2 out of 2 points

These types of insurance plans provide protection against health care expenses in the form of cash benefits paid to the insured or directly to the provider after the services are rendered. (Fee-For-Service Plans)
  • Question 37

2 out of 2 points

Which of the following are characteristics of the flat benefit formula used in defined benefits plans? (Defined Benefit Plans)
  • Question 38

2 out of 2 points

Information for strategic benefits planning comes from these two environments. (Information Used in Strategic Benefit Planning)
  • Question 39

2 out of 2 points

These are the most popular approaches used by employers to offer consumer-driven health care. (Consumer-Driven Health Care)
  • Question 40

2 out of 2 points

The PBGC program recognizes these three types of benefit plan terminations (Title IV: Plan Termination Insurance)
  • Question 41

0 out of 2 points

FASB 106 does not do which of the following? (Retiree Health Care Benefits)
  • Question 42

2 out of 2 points

Prime-age workers are in what age group? (Who Pays for Benefits?)
  • Question 43

2 out of 2 points

Which of the following employee benefits is more relevant for relational psychological contracts? (Psychological Contracts)
Answers: Legally required benefits
Health insurance
Life insurance
Description: Correct

Accommodation and enhancement benefits

  • Question 44

2 out of 2 points

According to NLRA, which of the following is NOT the subject for mandatory bargaining? (Labor Unions and Employee Benefits: The National Labor Relations Act of 1935)
  • Question 45

0 out of 2 points

What is coinsurance? (Features of Fee-For-Service Plans)
  • Question 46

2 out of 2 points

This type of group insurance plan offers health insurance and other benefits to the employees of two or more unaffiliated employers, except for any arrangements established by a collective bargaining agreement. (Exhibit 5.2, Types of Group Plans)
  • Question 47

2 out of 2 points

The federal government funds the Social Security Old-Age, Survivor and Disability Insurance Program using which tax? (The Internal Revenue Code)
Answers: Federal Insurance Collections Act
Federal Income Contributions Act
Description: Correct

Federal Insurance Contributions Act

Federal Insurance Tax Act
  • Question 48

2 out of 2 points

A person with this title manages employee benefits plans and pension plan funds to ensure the welfare of participants and beneficiaries while defraying reasonable plan expenses. (Title I: Protection of Employee Rights)
  • Question 49

2 out of 2 points

Which ERISA Title contains terms for pension insurance programs and includes the establishment of the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation? (Title IV: Plan Termination Insurance)
Answers: I
II
III
Description: Correct

IV

  • Question 50

2 out of 2 points

Which of the following is not true for medical reimbursement plans? (Prescription Drug Benefits)
 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Paper 8

Strategy Decisions, Alignment, and Change

Share your organization’s mission and vision (or an organization’s mission and vision with which you are familiar). Evaluate how well aligned recent organizational changes are with the vision and mission of the organization. What strategies would you recommend as a change leader or change agent to ensure future alignment with any change initiatives?

  • -Embed course material concepts, principles, and theories, which require supporting citations, along with at least two scholarly peer-reviewed references in supporting your answer. Keep in mind that these scholarly references can be found in the  Digital by conducting an advanced search specific to scholarly references.
  • Answering all course questions is also required.
  • Use APA style guidelines.

Required readings:

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Discussion 1: Compare And Contrast The Four Models For Proposal Development

My project idea is developing a grant that will assist with disruptive/unruly high school students. Once this proposal is developed and funded it will assist schools and their teachers with methods that will allow them to be more in control of their classrooms which will ultimately promote effectiveness and a higher graduation rate. Better classroom management techniques will be more appealing to stakeholders and other organizations because it will make education in the public school system more marketable when compared to private schools.

Discussion 1: Compare and Contrast the Four Models for Proposal Development

When developing and implementing a grant proposal, the grantee must consider the project structure and four models for proposal development. Understanding this framework helps to fine tune the proposal and ensure that consideration has been given to selecting the appropriate resources required to carry out the project.

There are four models that can be used for proposal development and implementation: individual, consultative, cooperative, and collaborative. Working as an individual may be sufficient for smaller projects or a pilot. However, the consultative, cooperative, and collaborative models may be required to carry out more complex work. Each of these models involve careful consideration of the required level of resources, collaboration, and partnerships.

In preparation for this Discussion, consider the four models of proposal development as well as when each type of design is appropriate. Review this week’s Learning Resources that focuses on these models. Reflect upon the characteristics of persuasive writing learned in Module 2.

By Day 3 of Week 6

Post the following to the Discussion board:

  • In a 2- to 3-slide PowerPoint presentation with recorded voiceover (Do not do recorder voice over. I will do that part once I get the slides), compare and contrast the four models of proposal development (individual, consultative, cooperative, and collaborative) and how each model would work in your grant-funded project. Persuade your classmates why your choice of one of these four models is most appropriately aligned with your proposed project.

Be sure to support your analysis and conclusions with citations and references in APA format from the Learning Resources and your own research.

References

Gitlin, L. N., & Lyons, K. J. (2014). Successful grant writing: Strategies for health and human service professionals (4th ed.). New York, NY: Springer.

  • Chapter 13, “Four Project Structures,” pp. 183–198
  • Chapter 14, “Understanding the Process of Collaboration,” pp. 199–212
  • Chapter 15, “Forming a Collaborative Team,” pp. 213–226

Brownson, R. C., Colditz, G. A., Dobbins, M., Emmons, K. M., Kerner, J. F., Padek, M., . . . Stange, K. C. (2015). Concocting that magic elixir: Successful grant application writing in dissemination and implementation research. Clinical Translational Science, 8(6), 710–716. doi:10.1111/cts.12356

http://www.strengtheningnonprofits.org/resources/guidebooks/Partnerships.pdf

Lindquist, R., & Hadidi, N. (2013). Developing grant writing skills to translate practice dreams into reality. Advanced Critical Care, 24(2), 177–185. doi:10.1097/NCI.0b013e31828c8b58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGxGK31qjxg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Md5bsXAenY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf_FHBwk6CA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYi-PdolSEw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q7O7_2U-hE

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

14 Discussion Questions

Question 1

David Perkins, left a successful career in the NFL after two head injuries his doctors recommended for his safety to leave the sport if he wanted to live past the age of 30.  David not one who sits around without anything to do decides to open a sports bar, The Wing Shack  After 5 years the restaurant concept gained momentum and he was opening his fifth restaurant in the Michigan area.  David is proud of himself being socially responsible for creating jobs in the community and feeding the homeless. If David is doing so well he shouldn’t be sitting in his attorney’s office spending money he could be using to help his community on as David expressed an unwarranted lawsuit. David is being sued for discrimination by two waitresses from Roseville, Michigan:  Mindy Simpson and Laura Walker. Simpson received positive performance evaluations and was promoted to shift supervisor within 6 months of being hired.  However, in her last evaluation Simpson who is 5’8” says she was advised by her manager to lose weight and join a gym, she was given 30 days to lose weight despite her losing 13 pounds on her own after working on the job for 2 months.  After the 30 day period of not losing weight she was fired.

Walker on the other hand, who is 4’10’ and weighs 120 pounds says she was put on weight probation and then fired even though she lost 20 pounds.

David gives his attorney his side of the story, “I run a successful business and pride myself on hiring women who fit the image of a sports bar.  I give guidelines on my website about hair, eyes, skin, makeup and exercise.  All of my female wait staff have to attend image classes and pass the exam.  Employees are hired based on the image you have when they are hired.”  Please respond to the following questions and give your reason for each position you share

· The woman are suing because they are being fired for being too heavy, is that illegal under state and federal law?

· Is David’s claim the woman were fired because the image of the Wing Shack that is central to his business which allows him to discipline and fire waitress for not maintaining the image he wants to uphold for the sports bar accurate?

· Mindy further claims since giving birth to her two month old son, she has had problems maintaining her weight.  In other words having children changes a woman’s physique, making it more difficult to return to one’s pre-baby weight.  Could she possibly have a legal case on the basis of the Americans with Disability Act?

Question 2

Organizations  have to develop an international Human Resources Management Strategy, when they expand globally.  Which do you think is more critical for international Human Resource Management:

· Understanding the cultural environment, or

· Understanding the political and legal environment?

Please choose (1) position and give a rationale; examples are also a way to demonstrate your understanding of the learning concepts.

Question 3

Two Olympic Gold Medalist in skiing married in 2014, Jason and LeAnn Benson opened Adventurers and Explorers (A&E) outdoor sporting store that sales gear and clothing.  The couple’s concept is different than many of the other sporting goods stores, they design and sell their own lines of specialized products.  LeAnn’s focus is on the design of products and Jason’s focus is on the financials; therefore, no one is worrying about the organizational policies or controls.

Jason and LeAnn encourages their employees to continue their favorite outdoor sport from skiing, mountain climbing, white-water rafting, etc. Employees are given two weeks of paid vacation. However, many employees were allowed to take up to two months off at half pay so they could fulfill their life-long dreams.  Samantha just returned from a successful climb of Mount Everest.  Beth will use her two months off to backpack around Europe. Around the office there was a joke of having the weekend flu where employees would take (Friday-Monday off) to enjoy the outdoors.  The office often ran below staffing levels depending on the season. In addition, because Jason and LeAnn were Gold Medalist they attract more employees who are interested in skiing.  The skiers want time off during the peak season.  This is also the peak time for A&E orders and service requests.

In the last three (3) years the company has grown from 30 employees to 100.  Jason and LeAnn need advice on controlling the daily staffing levels so A&E are able to meet or exceed customer expectations for responsiveness without sacrificing its own identity as a company.  Choose one of the issues facing A&E and propose a solution and rationale for your response.

· Paid vacation along with the most valuable times for vacation (peak season time off)

· Attendance Issue-The Weekend Flu (Friday-Monday)

· A&E needs to know whether customers are satisfied with the products and responsive to their needs as outdoor enthusiasts

Question 4

Organizations have to ensure they find the best candidate for the job among a pool of many applicants.  Which of the basic selection criteria do you feel is the most critical in hiring?  Give a rationale for your decision along with examples.

· Education and experience

· Skills and abilities

· Personal Characteristics

· Hiring for fit

Question 5

Choose whether you believe a company should hire for diversity or the best qualified individual.  Explain your rationale.  Determine how your current (or future) place of work could benefit from a diverse workforce.

Question 6

Managers are often times overwhelmed with their day-to-day activities and postpone important aspects of their jobs including performance appraisals. What is the purpose of performance appraisals within organization?  Do you think performance appraisals are effective? Give a reason for your position. What components should be included in a performance appraisal?

Question 7

Three months ago, you decided to hire freelance workers because the company was overloaded by the amount of data processing due to the growth of the company.  Today is the last Friday of the month and you have to process the invoices from the freelance workers. The freelance workers are doing an excellent job processing the invoices; however, the amount of hours used to complete the work increases each month.  Last month, the freelancers timesheet showed they spent an average 18 hours to go through the data for one client.  This month, the freelancers spent an average of 25 hours per account.  This is troubling since it took in-house processing 5-7 hours to go through the data for one client.  The most inexperienced employee on the team took 9 hours to process one client’s account.

You discussed with another manager the situation and he suggested using a software program called EyeSpy that takes pictures of freelancers computer screens, records keystrokes and mouse clicks periodically throughout the day.  At the end of each week, you can drill down by worker their productivity to give you an accurate report of whose doing what while on the clock.

· Should the company be allowed to install the EyeSpy software to monitor performance?  If not what are other suggestions on finding out why there are variations in the freelancers timesheet.

· Is it legal for organizations to monitor the performance of its employee’s without telling them.  Why or why not?

Question 8

Your company promoted you to a management position in the new research facility in India.  Surprisingly you have adjusted to the new culture, language and navigating the city since you have never lived outside the country. You arrive to work early to get a jump start of your day and noticed on the payroll report there are a few employees who have taken an occasional three-day weekend; however, none of the employees have taken a full week off.  You know from previous management training classes overworked employees are more prone to stress related health issues and less safe at work plus you have to think about the company’s bottom-line. You want your employees to take more time off work to enjoy time with friends and family but how? Please respond to the following questions.

· Which motivation theory(s) do you think would help communicate the importance of vacation time to your employees?

· How would you convince your employees taking time off work is more beneficial for them and the company?

Question 9

Among the many challenges managers face they have to provide accurate, timely and effective feedback to employees.  As a manager how will you ensure you are giving employees the feedback they need to be successful on the job while still carrying out the strategic plan of the organization.  You are a district manager who manage 25 employees in the Southeast: South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. You try to see your managers once a month but when there are issues you have to constantly change your plans.Please respond to the following questions?

· How will you connect with your managers when you don’t see them on a daily basis?

· How do you monitor performance and give feedback both positive and negative?

Question 10

Take a moment to reflect on your knowledge of human resource management prior to taking this course and what you have learned during the 10 Weeks of the course.  Chose one of the concepts below and how you plan to apply them to your current or future position.

· The Human Resource Management process

· The Legal HR Environment

· How HR fits into the overall business level strategy of the organization?

Question 11

1. Select one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website and state your position on the issue.

2. From the Procon.org Website, identify three (3) premises (reasons) listed under either the Pro or Con section — whichever section opposes your position.

3. For the three (3) premises (reasons) that oppose your position on the issue, answer these “believing” questions suggested by Elbow:

o What’s interesting or helpful about this view?

o What would I notice if I believed this view?

o In what sense or under what conditions might this idea be true?”

o

Question 12

Use the Internet to search for an example of an enthymeme in the media (e.g., Internet, television, radio, newspapers, etc.).

· You may find an op-ed, political piece, advertising, et cetera.

· Identify the implied premise in the enthymeme.

· Why did you choose this example?

Question 13

There are several types of fallacies – equivocation, false authority, ad hominem, appeal to ignorance, and bandwagon. Please provide two (2) different examples of advertising that show any of the above topics. Which of the above fallacies is used in each advertisement? Why do you think the advertisers used that fallacy in the ad? Did the advertisers use the fallacy effectively? If you were an advertiser, what would you have done differently to better use the fallacy?

Question 14

Find an online article (news, magazine, journal, etc.) on any subject that interests you that uses statistics to make its conclusion. Share a link in this thread.

Now answser these questions about that article:

· What is the premise and conclusion of the argument based on statistics?

· Determine whether or not the argument uses any deceptive statistics.

· Give your opinion on whether or not the argument has persuaded you. Explain why or not.

· Determine the primary ways in which statistics or authority are used in your current position in developing persuasive arguments and provide examples here.

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Health Information Systems And The Electronic Health Record

neehr_final_r

 

Neehr Perfect Activity: Communication Within the EHR

Overview

This activity is designed for the beginning EHR student user. The focus of the activity is how clear documentation in an EHR can facilitate communication among the healthcare team. The student will look at diagnoses and problems documented in a patient chart and the use of approved, and unapproved, abbreviations.

Prerequisites

1. Completion of Scavenger Hunts I – III

Student instructions

1. If you have questions about this activity, please contact your instructor for assistance.

2. Document your answers directly on this document as you complete the activity. When you are finished, save this document and upload it to your Learning Management System (LMS). If you have any questions about submitting your work to your LMS, please contact your instructor.

3. Screen displays are provided as a guide and some data (e.g. dates and times) may vary.

Additional resources

1. You may use any of the following resources to complete this activity:

a. The EHR: The Lexicon search on the Problems tab.

b. Websites.

c. Your textbooks.

Objectives

1. Demonstrate ability to locate necessary data from a patient chart.

2. Apply diagnosis codes according to current guidelines.

3. Identify errors in documentation within a patient chart.

 

Glossary

ICD-10 – The 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), a medical classification list by the World Health Organization (WHO). It codes for diseases, signs and symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances, and external causes of injury or diseases. ICD-10s are very detailed in their descriptions, compared to the ICD-9s that are no longer in use.

Problem – A current or a historical health care problem. Sometimes called a diagnosis or a “complaint.”

The activity

Patient problems: communicating with the healthcare team

For patients with a 3 to 5-day hospital stay, a study revealed that an average of 30.8 clinicians could access the electronic chart, including 10.2 nurses, 1.4 attending physicians, 2.3 residents, and 5.4 physician assistants (Vawdrey et al, 2011). With those numbers alone, the importance of accurate and timely documentation in the EHR is imperative.

A problem list can summarize patient medical information, such as a patient’s major diagnoses, symptoms, past medical and/or surgical history, and recurrent complaints. This problem list can be seen by those involved in the patient’s care allowing for communication within the patient’s medical record. When documented correctly, this can ultimately lead to continuity of care, improved patient safety, and a thorough interdisciplinary approach. There are many times that healthcare team members never see one another, and the only way to communicate to others caring for the same patient is through the documentation in the patient’s medical record.

Go to the chart of Warren Olson. Notice that his active problems are listed as ICD-9 codes. In this activity, you will be updating all of the current ICD-9s to ICD-10s. Notice how the ICD-10 terms are more specific and there is a different code for left, right, and so on.

1. To update the Problems, you will be filling in the blanks in the table below. You may use any of the following resources to complete the table.

(You may be prompted to choose an Encounter Provider. Choose your instructor and click OK).

· The EHR: On the Problems tab click on New Problem. You can enter the ICD-10 code or the diagnosis. Click on Search. Once you have your answer click on Cancel to enter a new diagnosis or code. DO NOT CLICK OK AND DO NOT SAVE ANY PROBLEMS TO THIS CHART. You will not be documenting in Warren Olson’s chart. You will be entering your answers in the table below.

· Websites.

· Your textbooks.

 

Current diagnosis ICD-9 Updated diagnosis term ICD-10 List your resource
Coronary Artery Disease 414.9   I25.9  
Carotid Stenosis 799.9 Occlusion and stenosis of unspecified carotid artery    
Cerebrovascular Accident 436.0 Occlusion and stenosis of right posterior cerebral artery    
Peripheral Vascular Disease, Unspecified 443.9   I73.9  
Hypertension 401.9   I10  
Hearing Loss 389.9 Unspecified hearing loss, bilateral    
Syncope 780.2 Syncope and collapse    

 

 

2. Looking at the Problems tab in Mr. Olson’s chart, do you feel this is enough information to accurately explain why the he was admitted to the hospital? Does it present a clear enough picture to the healthcare team? Explain why or why not?

 

3. Mr. Olson also has symptoms that are documented in the admission notes that can be used to communicate presenting complaints and immediate concerns on the Problems tab. When a patient arrives to the emergency room, and before a diagnosis is entered, there are symptoms that tell the healthcare team what is going on. For example, “The patient came in complaining of being dizzy and nauseated.” These symptoms lead to assessments and tests, which in turn produce a diagnosis.

 

Complete the table below. This information was gathered from the MEDIC: ADMIT NOTE documented when the patient first arrived at the hospital. Using the same resources from question #1, locate the medical term, or problem, that would be coded with an ICD-10 code.

 

Symptom Medical term (or Problem)

(Use the term associated with the ICD-10 code)

ICD-10 code List your resource
Weakness Muscle weakness (generalized)    
Slurred speech      
Lightheaded Dizziness and giddiness    
SOB (shortness of breath)      

 

 

4. Should Mr. Olson’s symptoms have been included on the Problems tab? Explain why or why not?

 

Errors in communication

A study at a large urban hospital found that while pediatricians were able to understand 56-94% of the abbreviations used, physicians from other fields understood only 31-63% of those same abbreviations, highlighting the ambiguous nature of many abbreviations. Another study looked at a selection of abbreviations from recent hospital admissions and asked different members of a multidisciplinary care team to decipher them. They found that the average correct response rate was only 43%, with specific abbreviations better known by the professionals who used them the most. A third study in Australia that looked at error-prone abbreviations in medication orders found that of the 8,296 medication orders, 1,162 error-prone abbreviations were found, with an average of 2.4 per patient (Rodwin, B. 2013). Not only do abbreviations make it difficult for healthcare team members to understand fully what is occurring with their patient, but abbreviations are a major safety concern for the patient.

5. Go to the Notes tab of Mr. Olson’s chart and look at the following notes, MEDIC: CONSULTATION REPORT and the MEDIC: ADMIT NOTE. Read the notes. Notice the abbreviations and use of symbols. Using online resources or your textbook, decipher the following. Write your answers in the table below.

 

 

Abbreviation What it means List your resource
“s/p 3V CABG”    
“s/p L CEA”    
“SVG->OM”    
“MJ and

shrooms but no IVDU”

   
“Abd soft, NT/ND”    
“check TTE to eval LV fxn and valvular dz”    
“HEAD: NCAT”    
“sig b/l weakness X 4 limbs LE more pronounced”    

 

6. Having completed the table in #5, answer the following question. Do you feel that healthcare providers should not use abbreviations when documenting, or should they be limited on the abbreviations they can use, such as a standardized abbreviations list? Explain your answer, and provide references if any were used.

 

Submit your work

When you finish the activity, you will submit this Word document with your answers to your instructor through your Learning Management System (LMS). If you have questions about submitting your work, please contact your instructor.

 

References

 

Rodwin, B. (2013). Why you should think twice about using medical abbreviations. Clinical Correlations. Retrieved from http://www.clinicalcorrelations.org/?p=6304

 

Vawdrey, D. K., Wilcox, L. G., Collins, S., Feiner, S., Mamykina, O., Stein, D. M., Stetson, P. D. (2011). Awareness of the Care Team in Electronic Health Records. Applied Clinical Informatics, 2(4), 395–405. http://doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2011-05-RA-0034

 

2 Neehr Perfect Activity: Communication Within the EHR v4

Archetype Innovations LLC ©2017

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Human Resources And Management

Answer each case question according to the information given in the case.

Each answer should be between 150-200 words.

1. Understanding Your Employee Benefits: Qualifying for Unemployment Benefits

During the three years that you have worked at your current company, the company has had some success, but mostly, it has not done well. The most recent downturn in business has made you concerned about the future of the company. Several employees who work in your department were laid off in the past six months due to lack of work, and you are concerned that you may be next on the list. It seems that others feel the same way, as company morale is at an all-time low. In fact, the overall company morale, coupled with the poor attitude of your supervisor, is making your job miserable. You aren’t sure if it is worthwhile at this point to try to stick it out.

Every day you dread getting up and going to work. Your supervisor is frustrated about trying to get work done with a lean staff, and you feel that he is taking it out on you. He criticizes you constantly and sometimes makes it seem that it is your fault that things are going so poorly. He has mentioned several times that the department will likely be closed within the year. You know that he is under a great deal of stress, given the impending lay offs, but the situation is becoming unbearable. You still show up to work and do your best, but you’re not sure how much longer you can do it. It seems inevitable that you will lose your job, so you are starting to think that it might be a better idea to resign your position now.

You know that you are going to need to look for a new job soon, regardless of what you do, but it is hard to even think about a job search while you are working full time. You are thinking that maybe quitting your job now will relieve some stress and give you the time you need to conduct a job search. However, you rely on your weekly paycheck, and you aren’t sure what you will do if it takes you very long to find a new job. A former coworker who was laid off last year told you that the unemployment insurance payment that he received helped bridge the gap between the lay off and finding a new job. After a one-week waiting period, he received a weekly benefit that helped him pay his bills until he found another job. As the job market is uncertain, you think that you need the support of unemployment insurance to sustain yourself until you find another job.

You are pretty sure that you will be eligible for unemployment insurance if your company does ultimately lay you off. However, you’re not sure if you can still qualify for unemployment insurance if you resign. If you are able to collect unemployment insurance,214you would like to quit soon so that you can move on with your job search, and you must do some research to understand the unemployment insurance benefit.

1. Are you eligible to receive unemployment if you resign?

2. Should you resign or wait to find out if and when you are laid off?

2. Managing Employee Benefits: Social Security and Retirement Planning at Taylor Foods

As Gavin Jackson leaves the monthly professional luncheon for human resource executives in his area, he starts to consider how the information he learned will affect his company, Taylor Foods. The program speaker provided an update on the Social Security system and how challenges in financing the system may affect organizations. As the director of human resources at this large food-processing and distribution company, Gavin must plan the retirement benefits for the organization’s employees. Gavin had been aware that the Social Security system is in trouble, but now has some clear ideas about how it will affect both the retirement benefits offered by Taylor Foods and the retirement plans of its employees.

Gavin learned that the current Social Security system is unstable and that the future of benefits to be provided is uncertain. In particular, the Old-Age, Survivor, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), which provides retirement benefit payments to retired workers, is under a strain. Retirement benefits comprise a majority of the payments made by the Social Security system, and the instability of the system suggests that current workers may not be able to rely on the Social Security system as it exists today to support them in retirement. Gavin knows that this information affects the retirement benefit planning at Taylor Foods.

The speaker also noted that employees retiring in the relatively near future may base their retirement decisions to some extent on the Social Security benefits available to them. While employees may receive their retirement benefits from Social Security starting at age 62, the amount is reduced if they haven’t reached the full retirement age, which is determined based on year of birth. For example, the age for full retirement is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Further, the system contains other incentives to encourage individuals to delay retirement. This is important to Taylor Foods, as the age at which employees plan to retire affects the company’s human resource planning process. Annually, Gavin creates staffing plans that include estimates for turnover of employees, and employee retirements are included in those estimates. This information, coupled with a current downturn in the economy, leads Gavin to believe that Taylor Foods may experience a lower level of turnover as employees delay retirement.

Gavin is considering both of these issues as he considers retirement benefits, as well as staffing planning at Taylor Foods. While the company currently offers a competitive retirement plan, he knows that he needs to reexamine the benefits in the context of his new understanding of the Social Security system. He also needs to consider how employees planning to delay retirement will affect the organization and the human resource planning process.

1. How does the instability of the Social Security system affect retirement benefit planning at Taylor Foods?

2. Should Gavin consider the possibility of employees delaying retirement in the company’s human resource planning process?

 

1. Understanding Your Employee Benefits: The Decision to Work from Home

As you make the nearly hour-long commute home from your job at your company’s downtown office, you think about today’s announcement with some excitement. The director of human resources introduced a new company policy that permits employees to apply to telecommute. The company is doing well and is hiring new workers. As a result, management recently reviewed company policies and practices to accommodate the needs of the growing workforce. The company is looking to save some facility costs and also respond to employee requests for more flexible work options. The company will allow people in certain positions, including yours, to work from home either full time or a just a few days each week.

With high gas prices, daily parking expenses, and the logistics challenges that the two hours a day you spend commuting causes, you see this as a great opportunity. You have two children, and, although they are in school full time, it is almost impossible for you to attend your children’s special events at school without taking a full day off and using one of your limited vacation days. Further, when your children get sick, you have to use a sick day to stay at home taking care of them and not working.

The new company policy states that employees who telecommute must use their own computers and provide evidence that they have a safe and quiet work environment. The company will provide you with any other work supplies that you need. All of the information you need to do your job is available to you via an online connection, so the transition to working at home should be fairly easy. You already have an office at home with a computer, so you could begin telecommuting as soon as your request is approved.

It seems like the perfect solution to your daily challenges, but you worry about how telecommuting will affect your career. You’ve heard from others that old adage, “out of sight, out of mind” and have concerns about your chances for future promotions if you aren’t in the239office every day. Further, you have high productivity expectations and you consider whether working at home alone will allow you to work harder, as you would not have the typical office distractions, or whether you would be distracted by work that needs to be done around the house. You also think that you might feel somewhat isolated, as you generally are a social person and enjoy seeing your coworkers each day. As you consider some of the negatives of telecommuting, your excitement wears off, and you aren’t sure what you should do.

1. Should you apply to telecommute? If so, should you pursue a part-time or full-time work-at-home arrangement?

2. If you do telecommute, what can you do to make sure that the arrangement does not negatively impact your career? Are there any other concerns you should have?

2. Managing Employee Benefits: Transitioning to a Paid Time-Off Bank

Human Resources Manager Stan Gomez finds that he is spending a lot of time talking with supervisors about employee absences. Stan is the Human Resource Manager works for Custom Call Services, a contract customer service-call center that provides year-round online and telephone service to the customers of a wide variety of clients. Staffing levels are essential to meet the demanding level of calls and inquiries the center receives each day. The company offers paid time-off options to its employees to allow them to balance work and nonwork interests. A goal of the time-off program is to keep unscheduled absences to a minimum in order to keep productivity and service quality high. Unscheduled absences create a problem, as the company has to cover the workload of the absent employee with little advance notice.

Custom Call Center offers a generous paid time-off program to allow employees to have time off to rest and relax, to meet personal obligations, and to manage unexpected illnesses. Currently, employees receive 10 vacation days, 3 personal days, and 5 sick days per year. Due to the nature of the business and the need to provide service to clients every day, the company does not close on any holidays. Thus, in addition to other time-off benefits, the company provides seven floating holidays and encourages employees to take these on or near traditional holidays.

The time-off program currently creates some challenges for the company. While the company uses an automated system to track employees’ time off, supervisors still need to record and properly allocate time off as it is taken. This requires the supervisors to know the reasons for each absence and the scheduling policy for each type of absence. For example, employees must schedule vacation and floating holidays in advance. They are encouraged to schedule personal days in advance, but personal days may be taken without advance notice if necessary. Finally, sick days do not require advance notice, but they may require a doctor’s note if an employee uses a few days in a row, or if the supervisor questions the need for the absence.

The sick days create the most challenges for supervisors, as sick days are typically taken without advance notice. Many supervisors suspect that not all last-minute call-offs are necessary. Some employees have admitted that they use sick days even if they are not sick when they have exhausted all of their other time-off options. Essentially, they plan to take a day off, but because the policy does not allow them to schedule sick days in advance, they call off shortly before they are scheduled to work. As a result, supervisors must quickly arrange to cover those shifts.

To overcome these challenges, Stan is considering transitioning the company to an integrated paid time-off (PTO) policy in which all time off is grouped into one bank. Instead240of the current time-off allotments, the company would offer 25 PTO days each year. Under this policy, employees could still call off on the same day due to illness, but they would be encouraged to schedule most of their time off in advance. Further, supervisors would not need to know the reasons for the absences; they only would need to track the number of days taken off by employees. Stan thinks that the PTO bank would eliminate many unscheduled absences and ease the administrative burden of the company’s current time-off policies.

1. Should Custom Call Services switch to a PTO policy? What are the pros and cons of doing so?

2. If Custom Call Services does transition to a PTO policy, what are some things that Stan should consider including in the policy to address concerns about absenteeism?

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

RECRUITING RECREATIONAL VEHICLE SURVEYORS CASE

Case Study 2 Instructions: Recruiting Recreational Vehicle Surveyors

You will complete the “Recruiting Recreational Vehicle Surveyors” case in the Nkomo et al. text (#34 on p. 109, 2011). You will write a 3–5-page essay (total does not include title page or reference page) that answers the 3 questions (1–3) on p. 111. Do not simply answer the questions. This is an essay and must be written to include an introduction, body, and conclusion. It may prove helpful to use the topic of the questions (recruiting needed employees, evaluation of recruiting suggestion, etc.) as section headers in your essay. Your response must be supported by at least 2 peer-reviewed resources. These resources must have been published within the last 5 years. Do not use other textbooks. The essay must be written in current APA format and include a title page, reference page, and in-text citations.

 

Assignment will be sent through SafeAssign as a draft to check for plagiarism.

 

Book: https://www.cengage.com/dashboard/#/login

 

Case 34

Recruiting Recreational Vehicle Surveyors

Liberty Engineering Company is located in a large suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The company was founded during the 1940s and does a considerable amount of drafting and design work for the major automotive companies and their suppliers. When sales in the auto industry are high, Liberty Engineering experiences a significant volume of work. However, when recessions hit the automotive marketplace, work at Liberty also sharply decreases.

In an attempt to stabilize revenues, the president of Liberty Engineering decided it would be prudent to diversify the company by bidding on government contracts. The company had little experience in these areas, but the president felt that this would not preclude it from bidding on contracts and obtaining them.

Within a six-month period, the company had bid on and lost two contracts. However, a third bid pertaining to the safety and use of recreational vehicles proved to be successful. The contract was for several hundred thousand dollars and was granted on a cost-plus basis. The government was interested in obtaining information regarding how people actually use recreational vehicles such as pick-up truck campers, motor homes, and various kinds of camping trailers. Ultimately, the purpose of the study was to determine what additional safety rules, if any, should be established relating to the manufacture and use of recreational vehicles. Among the pieces of information desired by the government were how much weight citizens place in their recreational vehicles, what kinds of trailer hitches are in use, whether recreational vehicles have proper suspension systems, and to what extent citizens are aware of the safety features of their recreational vehicles.

In Liberty Engineering’s proposal to the government, the company stated that it would recruit, select, and train qualified individuals to survey over 1,000 recreational vehicles. The surveying would be done at three different sites: in the desert, at the seashore, and in the mountains. At a meeting with government officials, three locations were selected: Lake Mead, Nevada; Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; and Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Two other important decisions were also made at the meeting. First, to ensure consistency of data collection, all surveyors would be trained together at a campground at Smoky Mountains National Park. Second, the employees would then be divided and sent to their respective job sites. It was also decided that each survey crew would consist of one leader and four surveyors, and that two crews would be sent to each data collection site.

All responsibility for recruiting and training the 30 employees (6 leaders and 24 surveyors) fell upon the shoulders of Bob Getz, the new human resource director. Getz had worked as a designer for Liberty Engineering for 20 years before being transferred to human resources. At the same time that a project Getz had been working on for two years ended, the then-current human resource director resigned, so he was a logical choice. In addition, Getz was well-liked by most of Liberty’s older employees and knew a great deal about the company’s policies and procedures. Getz’s major shortcoming was that he knew little about staffing activities.

Before recruiting potential job applicants, Getz knew that he would first need to develop a set of job descriptions for all 30 employees. Since crews would be doing essentially similar jobs, albeit at different locations, he needed only to develop job descriptions for each of four survey positions and that of the leader. Hence, he obtained the list of data that was to be collected on each vehicle, determined the tasks required to collect the data, and divided the tasks into four job positions. Getz realized that the job duties of each surveyor would ultimately need to be changed based on actual experience. Nonetheless, he sketched out the following job descriptions:

Surveyor I: Take pictures of recreational vehicle with a camera. Interview driver and record information received.

Surveyor II: Read and record scale weights for each recreational vehicle tire. Take tire pressures and measure tread depth. Record make, size, and air capacity of each tire.

Surveyor III: Unhook trailer hitch, if present, and record make of hitch, ball diameter, and whether levelers are present. Determine type of suspension on recreational vehicle and count number of leaf springs, if present.

Surveyor IV: Stop recreational vehicle as it enters campground, explain to driver the purpose of the study, ask the driver to participate in study. When survey of recreational vehicle is complete, discuss the findings with the driver.

The leader’s responsibilities would be to plan daily work activities, motivate the employees to do the surveying, complete all forms, and do occasional troubleshooting.

With job descriptions in hand, Getz met with Norm Larson, vice president of Liberty Engineering Company, who was ultimately responsible for conducting the recreational vehicle surveys. During the meeting, Getz learned that all 30 employees were to meet at Smoky Mountains National Park on June 10. They were to be trained on the job for four days, and the company would provide them with lodging and food while they were there. All employees were to provide their own transportation to the park, to their subsequent job sites, and then back home. The company would pay them for travel time but would not provide any mileage allowance, lodging, or food. Upon arrival at the job site, employees would need to find accommodations for July and August, and would receive no lodging or food allowance from the company during their stay. Once work commenced at each job site, employees would be responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the campground.

All employees were to be paid $11.15 per hour. No vacation benefits, sick days, or other major benefits would be provided. The company would, however, provide benefits mandated by law such as Social Security and workers’ compensation. No one under the age of 18 would be hired because of safety reasons.

After the meeting with Larson, Getz decided he should check with the campground management at the different job sites. He learned that most recreational vehicles leave campgrounds early in the morning and enter late in the afternoon. Few arrive or depart between 10 am and 4 pm. In order to survey a maximum number of vehicles, crews would need to work from 6 am to 11 am and from 3 pm to 8 pm, a total of ten hours a day. Therefore, each crew could work a four-day-on and a four-day-off schedule. Getz was told that temperatures at Cape Hatteras would range between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, while at Lake Mead they would range between 85 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Neither of these locations would provide employees with any shade; hence, employees at these sites would need to work in the sun and wear uniforms, including hats. The Smoky Mountains National Park location would be cooler than the others and surveying could be done in shaded areas. When Getz asked the campground managers whether they knew of any people who would be interested in working on the survey project, their response was, ‘‘You’ve got to be kidding.’’ The manager at Lake Mead campground flatly told Getz that he could not conceive of any person being willing to drive from Lake Mead to Tennessee and back under the conditions he outlined. He suggested that Getz put a want ad in the Cleveland newspaper.

After talking with the campground managers, Getz was quite depressed. He knew that he had to hire 30 employees within the next few weeks. He knew that six of them had to have sufficient leadership skills to get the job done while not antagonizing the employees so much that they would quit. He further realized that the 24 surveyors would have to enjoy the outdoors and be willing to tolerate extreme heat. He realized, too, that the ideal surveyor would be one who had above-average knowledge of auto mechanics, legible handwriting, reasonable communication skills, and an ability to work well with others under adverse conditions. What Getz did not know was how he could recruit and hire 30 people who fit this description.

 

Questions

1. If you were Bob Getz, how would you recruit the needed employees?

2. Evaluate the Lake Mead campground manager’s suggestion that Getz recruit employees by placing a want ad in the Cleveland newspaper.

3. What should the firm do if they are unable to recruit sufficient employees for the job?

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Human Resource Management Project

Case Assignment # 2: The Design of a PFP System for Mega Manufacturing Overview This exercise evaluates the feasibility of different ap- proaches to PFP given the strategic plan of the organiza- tion. As discussed in the chapter, the effectiveness of the PFP system depends on a number of factors. This exercise will give the student the opportunity to consider some of these factors in proposing an ideal PFP system. Learning Objectives After completing this exercise, you should be able to 1. Identify the key organizational variables that should be considered in the development and/or revision of a PFP system. 2. Understand the role and importance of other HRM activities (e.g., job analysis, performance appraisal) in the development of a PFP system. Procedure Part A: Individual Analysis Step 1. Read the scenario that follows. Step 2. You have been retained as a consultant who must report to Ellen Lennett, director of incentive program development at Mega Manufacturing corporate headquarters. You will be working with the Kanto division. You have been asked to address the five issues raised on Form 11.1.1. Respond to each of the issues and recommend a specific program that supports both Mega’s incentive policy and Kanto’s situation. Your recommendation should consider at least the five points. Also, complete the Assessment Questions form. What were the key variables you considered in your selection of an individual- or group-based PFP system? What changes in organizational characteristics would seriously affect your recommendations? What circumstances would lead you to conclude that a PFP system would not be in the best interests of the organization? YOU WILL SUBMIT YOUR INDVIDUAL ANALYSIS TO THE “INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS OF CASE 2” SUBMISSION LINK ON THE ASSIGNMENTS PAGE. The two memos in Exhibits 11.1.1 and 11.1.2 may be relevant to the recommendations you will make. Ellen Lennett has received the notes, one from Don Walker, vice president, compensation and benefits, and the other from Bill Idrey, a compensation specialist she sent to help the Kanto personnel department. Part B: Group Analysis Step 1. In groups, each member should review the individual reports and take notes on the most important points. Each member also should devise his or her own strategy for identifying the best group response to make for each of the five questions presented in Form 11.1.1 plus any additional issues the group considers to be relevant. The group also should devise a list of key questions that must be answered by management before a firm position can be taken on the elements of the PFP system.

 

 

Step 2. ONE group member should be designated to submit a five-page paper listing the recommended questions and summarizing alternative recommendations. SUBMIT TO “GROUP CASE ANALYSIS 2” TURNITIN SUBMISSION LINK ON THE ASSIGNMENTS PAGE. Scenarios Mega Manufacturing International is a large diversified company with its corporate headquarters in Boston and manufacturing plants, research and development facilities, and distribution and marketing centers in the United States and around the world. Mega Manufacturing is pursuing a long-range strategy of producing high-technology products for three markets: military, industrial, and retail consumer. Because of the intense competitive pressures in its chosen arenas, Mega Manufacturing believes it must obtain the maximum effort from its personnel. In support of this belief, Mega Manufacturing has adopted a policy of paying for performance (PFP). Typically, many of its divisions have incentives comprising a substantial portion of executive pay (40 percent to 150 percent of base pay possible in various types of incentives) and a significant portion of supervisory and employee compensation (5 percent to 25 percent possible). To expand its capabilities in the new electronic surface- mount technology, Mega Manufacturing acquired GW Industries, which had several plants producing high-quality surface-mount electronic parts. The Kanto assembly plant was part of GW Industries; however, it was an older plant producing electronic parts for an industrial process rapidly approaching obsolescence. Although the products were produced on an assembly line, individual workers had relatively little contact with each other, and the skills required were relatively low. Kanto had been a profitable operation for GW, but Mega Manufacturing has to switch Kanto to a different product and process or close the plant. Kanto has a reputation for paying average to below- market wages, but it was viewed as a dependable and stable employer with a good benefits package. As a consequence, Kanto has had a stable and loyal workforce; but with the buyout of GW and the consequent uncertainty surrounding Kanto’s future, there has been talk of unionizing and some of the more skilled employees are known to be seeking other jobs. Mega has decided to offer Kanto the opportunity to manufacture an extremely complex switching device for a military contract. Although the total manufacturing process is complex, it can be broken into steps, with each step consisting of individual skills that can be learned relatively quickly. Groups of individuals, each with a specific skill, will have to work closely together to achieve the required quality levels for each step in the switching device assembly. The nature of the process is such that each individual will have to take an active interest in the success of the assembly or the device will be unsatisfactory. The two memos in Exhibits 11.1.1 and 11.1.2 may be relevant to the recommendations you will make. Ellen Lennett has just received the following notes, one (Exhibit 11.1.1) from Don Walker, vice president, compensation and benefits, and the other (Exhibit 11.1.2) from Bill Idrey, a compensation specialist whom Ms. Lennett sent to help the Kanto personnel department.

 

 

 

Exhibit 11.1.1

TO: Ellen

Lennett SUBJECT:

Kanto incentive

program FROM:

Don Walker

Ellen,

 

We need to give Kanto some more help on setting up its incentives to

adequately support the new switching assembly process. We cannot allow the

conversion process to delay our completing switching assemblies as there is

a large late delivery penalty. Also, Bids and Contracting apparently goofed

and bid too low on the contract to maintain our usual margins. It appears

we have to make up 3% somewhere.

 

 

 

Exhibit 11.1.2

TO: Ellen

Lennett SUBJECT:

Kanto Incentive

Program FROM:

Bill Idrey

Just a quick note to advise you of some early problems I’m encountering. 1. The employees are learning the new skills, but the supervisors are

having trouble (resisting?) learning the necessary composite skills. 2. The parts we’re getting from our Indonesian plant will sometimes test OK

individually, but not work in the final assembly. It apparently is not feasible to test the intermediate assembly steps.

3. Although job analysis says the steps and tasks are essentially equal, two of the assembly steps are perceived as being more important and thus as having higher status by the workers.

4. Robert Horne, the plant manager, is complaining that the new final quality check supervisor, Beatrice Inggold, is too strict and will slow down production.

5. Engineers from Design & Fabrication come in and watch, occasionally making suggestions, but I’m darned if I can see what they are contributing.

 

 

 

Name: Group:

 

1. Is an incentive program appropriate? Explain your position.

2. If so, should there be one, two, or several plans?

3. Who should be included?

4. What should be the basis for incentive payments?

5. What kinds of incentives should be included?

FORM 11.1.1

 

 

 

 

1. What were the key variables you considered in your selection of an individual- or group-based PFP system?

2. What changes in organizational characteristics would seriously affect your recommendations?

3. What circumstances would lead you to conclude that a PFP system would not be in the best interests of the organization?

EXERCISE 11.1 ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

 

  • Overview
  • Learning Objectives
  • Procedure
  • Scenarios
 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!