Real-world organization case study assessment tasks

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Real-world organization case study assessment tasks

This is a paper that requires the assessing of COM5004 Case study assessment tasks . The paper also provides additional information to use in the writing of the assignment paper. Below is the assessment description to follow:

Assessing of COM5004 Case study assessment tasks

COM5004

Quality Systems in IT

Case Study Assessment

Tasks

Task 1 – Case Study Selection & Description (250 words).

(a)  Firstly, select an industry, market sector or area of life that really interests you. It does not matter what you choose – as long as you are genuinely interested in it. It could be from any area of commercial life, the charity and voluntary sector, sport, leisure and hobbies or some aspect of government or public service. Document why you have picked a particular area – is it because you work in that sector? Is your hobby linked to that sector? Are you seeking to enter employment in that sector? Etc. Justify the selection.

(b)  Secondly, within your chosen area or sector, select ONE real-world organization – it could be a profit-seeking private company, a charity or voluntary group, a sporting team or a public-sector agency like some aspect of the emergency services or a local or central government department or agency. Again, explain why you have chosen it.

(c)  Thirdly, write a brief description of this chosen organization. What do they do? Where are they based? What products, services and markets are they involved with?

(d)  Fourthly, provide the web address of this organization so that the marker can follow it up and, to add visual appeal, include a screenshot of their home page.

While their website and other online sources will give you a very good idea of what the organization actually does, you may have to use your imagination to fill in some missing bits in order to answer the remainder of the tasks in this assignment. This is not a problem – just fully document your own assumptions and fully reference any third-party sources that you have used to get additional background information.

Assessing of COM5004 Case study assessment tasks

In short, start the assignment by clearly and fully introducing your selected case study so that the marker can fully understand your subsequent work and thus ensure that you get maximum credit for all your hard work.

Task 2 – Quality Assurance and Risks ( 1500 words )

Using your selected organization and their website as a starting point, explain the role and importance of quality assurance processes in the development of a corporate website and how they map onto the SDLC. Identify and discuss the potential quality issues, risks and counter-measures available to the IT project manager across the SDLC.

Task 3 – Quality Control (750 words)

Using your selected organization and also their website as a starting point, identify and discuss the use of IT quality standards and quality-control documentation and techniques in the development of a corporate website. You should discuss these IT quality controls, along with associated risk-assessment in general before focussing on website development techniques.

Task 4 – Project Management ( 750 words )

Using your selected organization and their website as a starting point, provide a brief overview of the GANTT charts, CPM, PERT, COBIT, ITIL and RACI frameworks as well as the Fishbone Diagram as part of the IT project management toolkit. How do these techniques relate to the PRINCE2 and PMBOK methodologies?

Task 5 – Ethical Issues ( 750 words )

Using your selected organization and their website as a starting point. Discuss the ethical and legal considerations that may impact quality management in IT. Also, how a project manager must handle them.

Recent Project Management

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Recent Project Management

Consider a recent project that you have worked on. This could be for a company or organization with which you are familiar, or even a personal project such as purchasing a home or planning a party.

Consider a recent project that you have worked on

Consider a recent project that you have worked on. This could be for a company or organization with which you are familiar, or even a personal project such as purchasing a home or planning a party.

After your opening paragraph, which includes your thesis statement, identify your selected company or organization in no more than three paragraphs.

Then, complete the following:

*Note: for the charts/diagrams, use MS Word, Excel, Google Docs or Google Sheets. You may also use any other suitable project-based software. A free Project management software called Libre is also available for download here https://sourceforge.net/projects/projectlibre/

Create either a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) of the project or Gantt Chart for planning and scheduling the project. Discuss why you used the type of chart you did.

Determine and document both probabilistic (t0, tp, and tm) and deterministic time estimates. Discuss how you arrived at these time estimates.

Using MS Word, Google Docs, or similar software, create a PERT network diagram with the Critical Path (CP) identified.
Calculate the slack time for each activity. Discuss the ramifications of slack in the CP for the activities and the project as a whole.

Develop the network diagram from the probability estimates. Discuss which path you would take and why.

For each activity, determine hypothetical costs in a table. Include budgeted costs, percent complete, actual/projected cost, and over/under budget (and total). Discuss the rationale for how you derived these costs.

Crash an activity on the Critical Path. Discuss the ramifications of crashing the activity you crashed.

Formatting requirements:

Your essay is required to be 5-6 pages in length, which does not include the title page and reference pages, also, which are never a part of the content minimum requirements.

Charts/diagrams should be labeled and can be added within the body of your paper.

Support your submission with course material concepts, principles, and theories from the textbook and at least three scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles.

Use the Saudi Digital Library to find your resources. Use Saudi Electronic University academic writing standards and follow APA style guidelines.

It is strongly encouraged that you submit all assignments into Turnitin prior to submitting them to your instructor for grading. If you are unsure how to submit an assignment into the Originality Check tool, review the Turnitin – Student Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Review the grading rubric to see how you will be graded for this assignment.

Career SWOT analysis on EDD

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Career SWOT analysis on EDD

This paper focuses on Career research. Perform a SWOT analysis on EDD (Employment Development Department State of California) company. Identify:Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and threats.

Career research-Perform a SWOT analysis on EDD

Perform a SWOT analysis on EDD (Employment Development Department State of California) company.
Identify:
Firstly, Strengths

Secondly, Weaknesses

Thirdly, Opportunities

Fourthly, Threats

Explain why each of these is a strength, a weakness, an opportunity, or a threat.

Support your findings with relevant facts and arguments done through research through the MLK library database.

Do not include any opinion.

Important Note:

Firstly, “Datamonitor” and “Marketline” must be one of the sources you use for your research.

Secondly, Data and information found through research must be cites in APA format in text and reference page.

More details;

In recent years, California has experienced the adverse consequences of the Great Recession. As Californians deal with the slow recovery from the recession, they are demanding more of the Employment Development Department’s (EDD) services than ever before. We are up to the challenge and welcome the opportunity to serve Californians. Through our wide array of services, the EDD eases the burden of the current economic diffi culties faced by many Californians. We will continue to be there for Californians while supporting the economic health of the state.

In light of the current, unprecedented demand for EDD services, we are very proud of what we have accomplished in such a short period of time. These accomplishments could not have been possible without the professionalism, commitment, and continued dedication of our EDD employees. Although our recent accomplishments are many, our work has just begun; we have many more accomplishments to realize. Our Department’s mission – The EDD enhances California’s economic growth and prosperity by collaboratively delivering valuable and innovative services to meet the evolving needs of employers, workers, and job seekers – is now more signifi cant than ever before as the EDD continues to be at the forefront of assisting Californians in need.

Starbucks company’s strengths and weakness

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Starbucks company’s strengths and weakness

This is an assignment that focuses on the Analysis on Starbucks company’s strengths and weakness. The paper will also include conducting an analysis to identify the strategic alternatives for the company.

Analysis on Starbucks company’s strengths and weakness

The selected company that you are writing about is Starbucks

The purpose of this assignment is to analyze a company’s strengths and weaknesses in order to recommend feasible value-enhancing alternatives. In a paper of 1,000-1,200 words, discuss potential growth opportunities and strategies for Starbucks and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each opportunity.
Firstly, conduct a SWOT analysis for your selected company and discuss your findings. Also, what advantages does your company have over its competition? What opportunities exist in the industry from which your company can benefit? Who is your company’s competition, and what types of risks might they pose? What weak areas could your company improve to compete with its strongest competitors?

Secondly, identify strategic alternatives that create value for the company. Which ones are focused on internal growth and what do they offer to the company? What are the drawbacks of these strategies? Which ones are focused on external growth and what do they offer the company? What are the drawbacks of these strategies?

Thirdly, how would you use a decision matrix to identify the leading alternative? Explain how you determined the values used to distinguish between each option. What about the matrix, if anything, may be limiting in its use value to an analyst or decision maker?

Then, what factors might inhibit the success of the optimal strategic alternative identified? How can the issues you identified be addressed and corrected?

Lastly, growing an organization is not always about increasing the size of the firm. If expansion is not the main focus, what other elements lend themselves to growth of the firm? How might each be achieved?

 

Strategies of human resource management and planning

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Strategies of human resource management and planning

This is an assignment that discusses the strategies of human resource management and planning. The paper focuses on the various human resource management aspects.

The strategies of human resource management and planning

Week 1 will provide an overview of the challenges and benefits of aligning HRM activities with key business initiatives. During this week, we will also asses the organizational strategies that could be impact by Expectancy and Equity Theory as well. Examine the specific business environment of a firm. Overall, this unit will provide an overview into the strategies of human resource management and planning.

Human resource management (HRM) is the “managing of human skills and talents to make sure they are used effectively. Additionally,  in alignment with an organization’s goals” (Youssef-Morgan, 2015).   Strategic human resource management involves a “future-oriented process of developing and implementing HR programs that address and solve business problems and directly contribute to major long-term business objectives.” (SHRM, 2015).  It is the relationship between human resources and the organizations performance.

The strategies of human resource management and planning

Therefore, strategic HRM is the practice of aligning the organization’s overall business strategy with human resource practices. This is to achieve the overall strategic goals of the organization. This type of practice uses processes to promote a better workplace environment and employee relations as well as a competitive advantage using employees which are its human capital.  To be successful, the organization needs to properly align its goals with its employees for all aspects of operations.  For example, HR managers are responsible for ensuring compensation and benefit structures development in accordance with the market and competitive to recruit and attain qualified talent.   Additionally, employee training and development should be aligned with organizational goals as well as provide motivation to employees to improve retention.

A common theme observed in modern organizations today is the poor alignment of business strategy and HRM strategy. Find an article(s) through ProQuest which discusses the benefits of aligning HRM activities with key business initiatives. Then, discuss the challenges and the opportunities of doing so. Present your findings in 200 words or more in your discussion post.
Describe how to utilize the model to attract, develop, and retain high-performing employees. Recommendation, target employees that will be used to populate your Capstone firm (See Week 1 Assignment). Support your post with at least one current and relevant article. Present your findings in 200 words or more in your discussion post.

Management Information Systems – Decision support systems DSS

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Management Information Systems – Decision support systems DSS

BCS220 Management Information Systems -Decision support systems (DSS) . Assignment Teams of 2-3 12% Description: The following assignment is intended to be a brief introduction to how a spreadsheet package (Microsoft Excel) may be used as a Decision Support System. One of the classic DSS applications is “what if?” analysis, or the analysis of outcomes that may occur as a result of changing conditions in the business environment.

BCS220 Management Information Systems -Decision support systems (DSS)

To introduce you to this area, you are provided with an assignment that will allow you to model a business problem. You will identify relevant variables to put in your model, build the model in Excel, then perform a series of analyses to see what the outcomes would be under a variety of conditions in that business environment. Further, you will also use some of the features of Excel (e.g. charting) in order to communicate your results in a clearer fashion.

You should follow the instructions and submit 1 assignment in teams of 2 -3 students. The Situation: Gizmo produces vintage motorcycles. However, employee turnover rates are at an all-time high at Gizmo Manufacturing’s plants. The company is experiencing severe worker retention issues, which as leading to productivity and quality control problems. The majority of the company’s workers perform a variety of tasks paid hourly. The company currently tests potential applicants to ensure that they have the skills necessary for the intense mental concentration and dexterity required to fill the positions.Because of their employee’s issues, they also have problems understanding the financial and logistics aspects of their business.

Tasks: Step 1:

Since significant costs are associated with employee turnover, Gizmo Manufacturing wants to find a way to predict which applicants have the characteristics of being a short-term versus a long-term employee. Review the information that Gizmo Manufacturing has collected from two of its data sources. The tabs Step 1 contains information regarding employee retention. a.

Using Excel analysis functions seen in class, determine the employee characteristics that you would recommend Gizmo Manufacturing to look for when hiring new personnel. BCS220 Winter 2020 DSS Assignment b. Prepare a report based on your findings for your recommendations (which should include several forms of graphical representation) (Name the tab Report step 1, you may have other tabs for the analysis, name them appropriately).

Step 2:

Gizmo manufacturing is curious on how its profit will be affected by the sales over the next year.Prepare a best, worst, and most-likely scenarios for the sales over the next year. Use the data in tab “Step 2 Profit Scenario”. Name the new tab “Step 2 Scenario Summary”.

Step 3:

Gizmo is having a hard time making the business profitable. Knowing that you have great business knowledge and solid financial sense, Gizmo has come to you for your advice. They would like you to determine how many motorcycles they need to sell per year to break even. Use the data in tab “Step 3 breaking Even”. Copy a print screen of your What-if analysis tool you use to answer the question.

Step 4:

Gizmo’s motorcycle are manufacture at 3 plants (Denver, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; and Dallas, Texas) and are then shipped by truck to 5 distribution warehouses in Sacramento, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Chicago, Illinois, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and New York City, NY. Since shipping costs are a major expense, management has begun an analysis to determine ways to reduce them.

Using the information in tab “Step 4 Shipping costs”  minimize the costs of shipping goods from production plants to warehouses, thereby meeting the demand from each metropolitain area while not exceeding the supply available from each plant. Some business rules and requirements you should be aware of include:

Firstly, The problem presented, which involves the shipment of goods from 3 plants to 5 regional warehouses.

Secondly,  Goods, which can be ship ed from any plant to any warehouse, cost more to ship over long distances than over short distances.

Thirdly,  Focus on minimizing the total shipping costs.

Fourthly,  Total shipped being less than or equal to supply at a plant.

Fifthly, Total shipped to warehouses being greater than or equal to the warehouse demand.

Lastly,  Number to ship being greater than or equal to 0.

Work Breakdown Structure organizational change management strategies

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Work Breakdown Structure organizational change management strategies

This essay entails a paper on the Work Breakdown Structure and organizational change management strategies. Work Breakdown Structure ensures there is a diversity and division of work done by the required staff at any time specified

Work Breakdown Structure organizational change management strategies

Firstly, in this lesson students are introduced to the process of developing a detailed Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for an IT project; combined with the scope document. The WBS includes all the project deliverables and is the foundation for the project plan.

Furtermore, WBS topics include decomposing the project scope, developing the project structure, and developing the work packages and capturing the schedule forecasts and task interrelationships in a Gantt chart.

Secondly, in this lesson students are introduced to the process of developing a detailed Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for an IT project; combined with the scope document previous week’s assignment.

Alsi, the WBS includes all the project deliverables and is the foundation for the project plan. WBS topics include decomposing the project scope.

Thirdly, developing the project structure, and developing the work packages and capturing the schedule forecasts and task interrelationships in a Gantt chart.  The value of having a change process in place to remove conflict and improve tracking of changes/modifications as the project progresses.

Also, this lesson also examines methods for developing time estimates for project tasks. Eventually, this lesson also explores the use of project management software for time management.

Lastly, lesson Outcomes is for Students will be able to. Also, evaluate the process of translating broad concepts and ideas for an IT project into specific tasks. From the scope document to the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Develop a (WBS) for an IT Project.

In conclusion, develop duration estimates for tasks Identify task dependencies Develop a GANTT chart from a WBS. Discuss the role of a Change Management Plan for an IT Project. Integrate organizational change management strategies into the WBS.

Organizational goals can be integrated from the business case

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Organizational goals can be integrated from the business case

Explain how organisational goals can be integrated from the business case into the project plans. What difficulties and challenges are there in this element?

Organisational goals can be integrated from the business case into the project plans

Assignment

Firstly, Explain how organisational goals can be integrated from the business case into the project plans.

Secondly, What difficulties and challenges are there in this element?

Further, Discuss how projects form a portfolio and identify the difference between a programme and a project.

Meredith (2017) states that ‘the eight-step project portfolio process is an effective way to select and manage projects that are tied to the organisation’s goals.’ (Chapter 2 – summary, p 55)

 

Requirements on the assignment:

1. You’ll see, for instance, that you get up to 30% for “Understanding of the relevant module materials” and 20% for “Additional reading & application of workplace experience” so you can see that although the balance between theory and practice is weighted toward the former it is important to demonstrate the application of theory to practice. Even more so when you consider that another 30% is for “Critical discussion & synthesis of ideas reading”. Please note there are other criteria as well.

2. You have to decide which theories, concepts and models from the first half of the module are relevant to the assignment. Obviously, you are ultimately limited on how much you can write by the word count limit of 2500 words. What to include is a matter of judgement on your part. So please read the assignment brief very carefully for any pointers.

3. Avoid generalisations and substantiate any claims by including relevant citations; otherwise, you are expressing personal opinion only. You may find it helpful to review some academic journal articles to see how authors handle this. Make explicit relevant underpinning theory on Project
Management concepts.

4. When you explain how organisational goals can be integrated from the business case into the project plans, and what difficulties and challenges are there in this element? Use a business case (i.e. project) that you are familiar with, either one from your own experience, or a well-known case -through which to demonstrate your understanding. Then discuss how projects form a portfolio and identify the difference between a programme and a project.

 

More details on the paper:

5. Structure the assignment appropriately. This should take the form of an academic report, using an Introduction, body and conclusion. Use
Headings and sub-headings to guide your train of thought. Think about the logical flow of your paragraphs. Make sure that you proof-read your work against the assignment question when complete to ensure that you have fully answered the assignment question.

6. Make sure that you cite academic sources appropriately using the Harvard referencing convention.

7. Make sure that your work has a clear structure and flow. Write in 3rd person, so you make your writing more formal and objective.

 

Hillside’s revenues based on demand growth

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Hillside’s revenues based on demand growth

This is an assignment that focuses on the analysis of Hillside’s revenues based on demand growth. The paper also answer to questions like implications of increasing the payment period.

Analysis of Hillside’s revenues based on demand growth

Hillside Industries is considering the expansion of its operations by pursuing a plant extension. As a background, Hillside’s revenues have substantially increased based on demand growth for its products, currently at levels not seen since 2010. Working as the company’s Chief Financial Officer, you have been asked to assess the aforementioned plant extension plan. Additionally, presenting (in a report) your recommendations to the Board of Directors (BoD). The current figures at Hillside indicate that the company has sold 12,500 units in the last financial year. The projected sales of 15,000 units over the next five years (annually). However, since relying on more efficient fully automated machines (the initial investment for which is discussed below), the new plant will have the capacity to produce 20,000 units/year.

Secondly, to cover the gap between forecasted sales and the capacity of the new plant, the marketing department has suggested to launch an aggressive campaign (amounting to a cash expense of $40,000/year) whereby the payment period to wholesale customers is extended from 15 to 30 days – this will presumably lead to the additional demand of 5,000 units/year required to cover the gap. The projections above also assume a sale price of $100 per unit, and that Hillside would be liable to pay its suppliers 12 days from the date of purchase of raw materials, with the cost of raw materials being $30/unit. Also relevant is the fact that it currently takes 15 days for the company to convert raw materials into finished goods, with production levels of 60 units/day.

Investment

The investment envisaged by the production manager of Hillside to carry on with the business expansion entails the installation of a newly developed, fully automated production technology in the new plant. The details associated with this investment are as follows: Forcasted Future Free Cash Flows (Years) Initial Investment: $270‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍ 000 Year 1: $47 000 Year 2: $61 000 Year 3: $95 000 Year 4: $97 000 Year 5: $150 000. Based on the previous behaviour of the company’s stock, the beta of Hillside’s shares is 2. Moreover, the current economic scenario is such that the risk-free interest rate is 1% per year. With financial analysts expecting a rate of return of 6% on the market portfolio (i.e., the relevant index representing the stock market). Hillside has also previously issue corporate debt that will mature in 15 years  currently priced at $896.

Questions

Finally, the company’s liabilities amount to 60% of its balance sheet and assume the tax-shield in Australia as 30%. Based on the background provided in the case study. You are to write a report addressing the following key questions:

1. In terms of working capital requirements.what are the implications of increasing the payment period (or average collection period) from 15 to 30 days? Please refer to the operating and cash conversion cycles in your answer.

2. Based on the forecasted sales, is it possible for Hillside to achieve the corresponding cash and accounting break-even points? Based on your calculations for each – and from a pure cost management perspective – is the marketing department’s proposal acceptable? Explain.

3. Use the net present value (NPV) criteria to assess whether the expansion plan is warrant. Explain to the BoD the benefits of the NPV vis-a-vis other capital budgeting methodologies.

4. Which of the two sources (bonds or shares) should the company use to raise the funds for the expansion plan? Explain the reasons behind your decision.

5. Based on the answers to the previous questions, determine whether to endorse the recommended plan to t‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍he Board

One kaizen project master improvement plan review

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One kaizen project master improvement plan review

This essay entails a paper on the One kaizen project and the master improvement plan review. One kaizen project helps in the arrangement of the processes involved in the aims of a research. Also, it enables the researchers in setting new standards.

One kaizen project master improvement plan review

Master Improvement Plan Review the Week 7 online lecture example** Down below and develop a master kaizen or improvement plan for your process using the template provided (Link). The Week 7 online lecture will help you understand how to complete and use this tool for your improvement project. Focus on longer term milestones and tasks (beyond this class) needed to support the original goals and objectives you defined in Week 2.

Additionally base your future milestones and tasks upon the various improvement tools examined in the Week 5 and 6 lessons that are used to eliminate waste as analyzed in Week 4. 2. Review Plan. Students had to coordinate and implement one kaizen or improvement project in Week 6 for this process.

This review plan template is on the same file as the master improvement plan. The Week 7 online lecture will help you understand how to complete and use this tool for your improvement project. Identify Lessons Learned – Include challenges and experiences while doing this assignment. Generalize what you learned for use in later process improvement projects.

This template includes a box to enter this step at the bottom of each plan (tailor for each criterion). This submission should use the template provided (there are two separate spreadsheets on the same file for criteria 1 and 2). But it is based off of the kaizen principles of continuous improvement and a comfort with change. Students may change the format to fit their project or employer needs, as long as similar steps as on the template are included VIDEO: