EXPLORING COMMUNITIES

For this assignment, identify a community you are a current or former member of, or a community you interact with either through writing, reading, participating, or more. This can be a social club (book club), a school club (band, sports), or something less official (comic book fan, sneakerhead). It might also be a fan base you identify with (Trekkies, Potterheads, Los Angeles Dodgers, etc.), or a disciplinary community (such as sociology, nursing, or business). Additionally, it might be united in your love of coffee, dogs, or a specific genre of art. Your goal is to develop working definitions of literacy, literacy practices, and literacy events based on your community, then consider what it means to approach literacy as a social practice in this community. In preparation for this essay, you should reflect upon your initial understanding of these concepts and the specific, extensive ways the assigned readings in Chapter 1 disrupted previous expectations.

In a short paper (3-5 pages) or multimedia equivalent, identify one community and describe concretely the literacies this group uses. For instance, you might describe the answers to some of these questions: Does your community write within the group? Do you read certain texts? How do you communicate with each other? In what languages, through which platforms? Through what symbols or sayings? In this project, you should connect this group to the idea of literacy as you’ve come to understand it. What does literacy look like for a Potterhead? A Dodgers fan? What knowledges about sayings, terms, clothing, etc. do you need to have to know you’re part of this community?

Here, you might also identify the assumptions or misconceptions you encountered from non-members or even yourself as an emerging member. For example: What did people outside the band think about band members? What do readers of traditional books think about comic book fans? What codes or communication methods exist to this group that outsiders might not understand? Try not to generalize here. Instead, you might your experience with the group to refute any assumptions with firsthand evidence, or attempt to rebrand these labels through an explanation of the group as you experienced it.

Be sure to include a separate glossary where you define any terms specific to your community that general readers might not know. This section does not count as a page in your essay, but as a supplement. For example, consider terms new to you when you were joining this group. After each definition, give a short 1–2 sentence reflection on why this term matters to your community. What does knowing this term allow you to do in the community, or what impact might it have?

Remember, you should draw extensively from the course readings and concepts in order to show how you are understanding literacy connected to your own community. Use MLA citations throughout your paper.

Write a ten to twelve (10-12) page paper in which you:

1. Develop three (3) recruitment methods for the job opportunity in question, and suggest two (2) ways that each method helps one to avoid discriminatory practices. Justify your response.
2. Outline an application process that details the organization’s method of accepting all applications, as well as its method of validating applicants’ attainment of the required credentials (e.g., reviewing resumes, collecting transcripts, verifying certifications, etc.) for the job opportunity.
3. Develop a five- (5) step procedure for the HR Department to use in order to maintain all applicants’ records in case a discriminatory charge occurs.
4. Decide on three (3) background checks that the HR Department must utilize, and justify the relevance of each background check for the job opportunity.
5. Choose three (3) employment tests (e.g., drug tests, medical examinations, HIV tests, generic tests, polygraphs, honesty tests, psychological tests, intelligence and skills tests, and physical fitness, etc.) that the HR Department should use. Justify the relevance of each selected employment test to the job requirements.
6. Formulate a policy for making both the hiring and promotional decisions related to the job opportunity. Specify the major challenges and potential adverse impact of using subjective criteria for assessing soft skills. Next, suggest one (1) plan to mitigate the adverse impact. Justify your suggestion.
7. Recommend two (2) types of reasonable accommodations for both disabled applicants and applicants needing special religious considerations. Argue two (2) legal reasons for not being able to sufficiently provide such reasonable accommodation for each group.
8. Select one (1) case in which a court charged an organization with an affirmative action violation and one (1) case in which a court charged the organization with not managing harassment issues more expeditiously. Recommend an action plan geared toward preventing the issues addressed in both cases within your selected organization. Justify your recommendation.
9. Choose three (3) work-life conflicts that the HR Director should consider within the selected organization. Then, outline a policy geared toward resolving each conflict through the use of related employment laws. Justify your response.
10. Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Assignment 1:

Select 5 peer-reviewed articles from scholarly sources that integrate writing strategies across the curriculum and compile an Annotated Bibliography. Information from each source should be correctly summarized and paraphrased into each annotation and cited using in-text citations according to proper APA formatting. Annotations should also contain a critical analysis component. Most of the information should be written in students’ own words; reserve direct quotations to a minimum. The final document should follow proper APA style with a title page, Abstract, and body consisting of 5 peer-reviewed referenced articles with thorough annotations.

You may utilize scholarly journal articles from the LUO library databases. If you use Google Scholar or a general www search, be certain the sources are credible and reflect the course content. This educational exercise is designed to benefit you in the final presentation assignment (Following this post) for this course in which you will utilize 4-5 of these articles to support your “argument to colleagues” (see Presentation assignment in the following Post Assignment 2).

Our LUO Writing Style Guide website has a model for formatting Annotated Bibliographies if you have not yet completed one.

https://www.liberty.edu/casas/academic-success-center/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2020/04/Sample-APA-7th-Annotation-Reviewed-final-04282020.pdf

Note that the first paragraph is a summary and the second paragraph applies some critical analysis to the article/source.

ASSIGNMENT 2:

Create a professional electronic presentation where you convince colleagues of the importance of writing in ALL content areas. Incorporate (and correctly cite using APA in-text parentheses) 4-5 of the articles from your Annotated Bibliography assignment as support throughout your presentation slides. Produce at least 11 (but not more than 12) slides in the presentation as well as an additional APA formatted References page at the end (the references page does not count toward the 11-slide minimum). Use Prezi, or another familiar platform approved by the instructor. Do not use Powerpoint Presentation

Each slide must contain notes featuring what you would say to colleagues when presenting the information. The notes should be more developed with content than the actual slide. If you choose platforms like (Prezi, Google Slides, etc.), notes can be submitted in an MS Word document appropriately labeled to correspond with the visual presentation.

It is recommended that yousubmit the final version as inpdfformno matter which presentation platform you choose. Selectpdfas the file type when saving prior to submitting.

You must also creatively integrate at least 2 ofyour own assignmentsfrom this course into the visual portion of the presentation. You may choose your ownDialoguejournal entry, I Am poem, Grading Rubric, Writing Expectations handout, Linked Assignment sheet, or Graphic Organizer.Use sound logic in your presentation to colleagues and be innovative with the content of your persuasion.

Part 1.

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

Expand upon the need to demonstrate cultural intelligence.

• How can you make sure you use the appropriate etiquette while being aware of the new organizational structure, values within, methods of communication, and diversity of the workforce?

Part 2.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree? Why? Respond to the following in a minimum of 100 words:

As described by Cardon, P. W. (2018) “Cultural Intelligence is the measure of your ability to work with and adapt to members of other cultures.” As students of Business Communications, we understand the business world became even more of a global endeavor with the development of Information Technology and that today more than ever before learning Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is a crucial need for the business professional. Getting prepared and knowledgeable regarding CQ might just be the difference maker between a business’ success and its total failure. According to Cardon, P. W. (2018) “culture includes the shared values, norms, rules, and behaviors of an identifiable group of people who share a common history and communication system.” Business professionals must interact and achieve company goals with people from different cultures whether at a home office or at a manufacturer established abroad. This implies meeting important deadlines and completing projects while working and motivating multicultural teams who think and work differently. For marketing purposes and negotiations, it implies understanding the differences and similarities that conform the relevant cultural dimensions of the participating cultures. Thankfully it is possible for business professionals to develop the necessary Cultural Intelligence skills through training and experience. If there is a willingness to learn and a respectful attitude towards different cultures, it is possible to negotiate using the appropriate business etiquette while communicating and working with the diverse number of cultures that currently make up the global business network. – Blanca G

Reference:

Cardon, P. W. (2018). Business communications: Developing leaders for a networked world. (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

Part 3.

Be constructive and professional! Respond to the following in a minimum of 100 words:

Using the appropriate etiquette while being aware of the new organizational structure, values within, methods of communication, and diversity of the workforce by being an open-minded individual with the acknowledgement and acceptance of how diverse the world we live in today is. Every organization has its own policies, procedures, programs, processes and incorporate certain values as well as different methods of communication. This understanding creates a mutual respect among individuals within a given organization, everyone does the right things for the right reasons, working towards the same goals with the same intentions to get same outcomes. This understanding plays a great role in work relationships, Productivity, job satisfaction and creative potential. Active listening and observation help a great deal in developing a better sense of awareness, attitude, knowledge and skills because some of us can be unaware of our own biases. Each of us is a unique individual, we can bring and apply our own values and life experiences to work; different point of views brings new ideas. To sum it up I believe that patience, courtesy and putting the effort to understand other differences can go a long way and it is ok if we are unsure of any differences, we can ask (one on one). When employees accept the differences between each other, it results in sharing of ideas and effective collaboration. -Olivia F

My company is Xfinity (Comcast).

Identify specific practices within the areas of compensation and benefits that would aid your organization in developing the kind of employees that it needs and for retaining its most valuable human capital.

Your organizations compensation and benefits programs are based on traditional design principles typical of a company of its age and history. For example, almost all employees receive annual pay increases of two to five percent. This is frustrating to both managers and high performing employees. Managers would like to give better pay raises to high performers. However, budgets are only enough to cover the “required” raises to all employees; this leaves too little for more significant raises to high performers. Naturally, as a result, high performers who feel underpaid often seek other employment. The company’s policies have tended to reward seniority rather than performance, and because of the job evaluation system, compensation is tightly compressed. Benefits are thought to be generous in that the company pays for most of the cost. However, the structure of the benefits is rigid and only includes such traditional benefits as health insurance, life insurance, retirement plan (defined benefit) and a 401(k) plan (defined contribution).

The company recognizes that things are changing in its business environment as well as relative to the needs of its people, especially now that so much of its business in world-wide. As part of the ongoing analysis of trends that should influence the redesign of HRM in the company, what are the relevant trends in compensation and benefits that the company should pay the most attention to? To answer this question, address the following:

• Identify and explain at least three trends or recent approaches in compensation that your organization should consider in its redesign effort.
• Identify and explain at least three trends or recent approaches in benefits that your organization should consider in its redesign effort.
• Discuss the pros and cons to the trends/approaches identified in compensation.
• Discuss the pros and cons to the trends/approaches identified in benefits.
• Of all the trends/approaches you have discussed, which is the one that has the most merit for compensation and which one has the most merit for benefits? Justify your answer using examples and reasoning.