1. Case Study

You are an external consultant hired to work with hospital administration and the human resources department. You are required to create a PowerPoint for a presentation to hospital administration. Read the Case Study about Regional Hospital on page 196, then answer the Case Study Questions below.

Case Study Questions

1. Describe why a program of HR metrics and workforce analytics might be useful in Regional Hospital. If so, why?
2. Explain opportunities regarding “where” and “how” metrics and analytics might be applied in this organization.
3. Identify three analyses and associated metrics that might be useful for Regional Hospital to consider.
4. Explain how Regional Hospital can utilize benchmarking as a part of its metrics and analytics effort, if at all.
5. Describe advice you would offer to managers at Regional Hospital about develop­ing a program of HR metrics and workforce analytics.
6. Explain potential problems that may occur in the establishment of an HR metrics and workforce analytics program for Regional Hospital managers about which you would want to alert them prior to beginning this project.

The PowerPoint

• Must be at least six slides in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must use at least two scholarly sources in addition to the course text.
  • The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
• Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

2.

Job Descriptions

Directions: You are a recruiter for an organization that is planning on expanding one of its departments. You are tasked with finding a highly skilled knowledge worker. The type of industry and the position are your choice. Create a job description for the position detailing the tasks, tools, technology, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education requirements for the position. Then, conduct a competitive analysis of at least five different internet job boards. Identify the different services and career focuses they each have. Do they target executives, general laborers, IT, HR, education, state owned, or something different? Create a table of information displaying the different services offered. Explain which job board is the best fit to advertise the position. Provide an explanation why you chose that board and the benefits it offers over the others.

The Job Descriptions paper

• Must be a minimum of four double-spaced pages in length (not including the title and reference pages) and be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must use at least three scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library, one of which must be peer reviewed, in addition to the textbook.
  • The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
• Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

3.

HRIS Comparison

Structure

Directions: You are tasked with finding a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) for an imaginary organization of your choice, with approximately 200 employees. Compare three HR Information Systems. These systems can be proprietary, open source, or a combination of both. Create a Table of Information to display the topics each of the chosen HRIS systems addresses. Select one of the three HRIS and provide an analysis that addresses the topics from the Human Resources/Talent management list below. Following your analysis, provide recommendations how you would modify the HRIS for use by the organization. Support your recommendation with literature. The modified system can be proprietary, open source, or a combination of both. For a list of proprietary systems please refer to the section titled “Vendor Software” on pages 580-581 in your text. For open source systems refer to The Top 12 Free and Open Source HR Software Systems or the Best Open Source HRM and ERP Solutions. For help creating the Table of Information watch the video Table of Information.

Human Resources/Talent Management

• Recruiting
• Employee Information
• Training and Development
• Performance
• Termination/Retention
• Payroll and Taxes
• Holiday, Sickness, Vacation, Absenteeism
• Compensation
• Health Insurance
• Direct Deposit
• Job Postings
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Job Descriptions

The HRIS Comparison paper

• Must be 8 to 10 double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must use at least 7 sources. This includes at least six appropriate contemporary or scholarly sources plus the textbook
  • The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
• Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
• Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
• Must provide section headers to clearly label each of the chosen sections.
• Must include citations and references to the text and at least six scholarly sources.
• Must use APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center to document all sources.
• Must include, on the final page, a reference page that is completed according to APA style, as outlined in the approved APA style guide.

Assignment 2: Project Paper – Comparative Essay

Due Week 8 and worth 200 points

This “Assignment 2” writing assignment is a comparative essay focused on topics encountered in our HUM 111 class. The project will be based on research but will reflect your views and interpretation of the topic. This project is designed to help you stretch your mind and your abilities as an organized, innovative, and critical thinker. If approached properly, it should also be fun!

Choose one (1) of the topics from the list of topic choices below. Read the topic carefully. Write a three to four (3-4) page paper (750-1,000 words) that follows instructions and covers each part of the topic. (The title page and References list do not get included in this word count).

Note: Your instructor may require you to submit your topic choice for approval before the end of Week 5.

For the topic you choose:

Establish a clear thesis about your topic as part of the introductory paragraph (often the thesis is the last thing one determines after doing the basic research and outline; however it will be placed in the first paragraph of your paper).
This is a comparative essay. Comparison approached properly will require some critical thinking on your part. Use a point-by-point approach for the essay. That means, if comparing subject A with subject B, don’t do the first half of the essay on subject A and then the second half on subject B–that will seem like two (2) separate essays and comparisons will tend to get lost. Instead, you should be mentioning both subjects in most of your paragraphs as you compare them throughout the essay. Comparisons will identify similarities as well as contrasts.
Do not try to do everything on your two (2) subjects. You should end up narrowing your focus to a few insights and issues about the subjects being compared. And, from those fairly specific points of comparison, you will develop a thesis and glean some lessons.
Follow closely the instructions below for your specific topic.
Include a concluding paragraph at the end. This paragraph will, in some way, refer back to the thesis established in your first paragraph, since now you have demonstrated and supported it. It may be here that you also include your observations relating your study to the modern workplace or society (see your topic). Try to finish with flair!
Use at least three (3) good quality academic sources, with one (1) source being the class text. Note: Wikipedia and other similar Websites do not qualify as academic resources. You are highly encouraged to use the Resource Center tab at the top of your Blackboard page.
Topic Choices – Choose just one (1) of the topics below:

Qualities of the Hero: Comparing Gilgamesh and Odysseus. Write an essay comparing these two (2) heroic figures from ancient epics of different cultures, especially focusing your analysis on the sources about their encounters with monsters: Gilgamesh encounters the monster guarding the forest, Humbaba, in Tablets 3-5 of the Epic of Gilgamesh (see http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/; scroll down to the Tablet links; think of “Tablet” numbers like chapter numbers).” Odysseus encounters Polyphemus the Cyclops in Book 9 of The Odyssey (see http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomerOdyssey9.html; from line 105 to the end). Your paper should:
a) Compare Gilgamesh and Odysseus as to their heroic qualities, noting similarities and differences, using specific examples from the epics.

b) Summarize what this indicates about differences between ancient Mesopotamian and Greek cultures in their ideals and expectations.

c) From this comparison, suggest ways that current cultural ideals and expectations shape modern notions about role models and heroes.

Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue. Write an essay comparing these two (2) ancient thinkers on the concept of virtue or good ethical character and conduct. Stay focused on the issue; keep any biographical or other information short or limited. As much as possible, analyze their writings (in translation, of course), using Confucius’ Analects (at http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.html ) and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (at http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html ). Your paper should:
a) Compare the teachings of Confucius and Aristotle on what constitutes virtue or good ethical character and conduct, noting similarities and differences in specific ideas or emphasis.

b) Consider what your findings suggest about differences between ancient Chinese and ancient Greek culture.

c) From this comparison, suggest ideas of virtue that can apply to ethics in a modern setting, such as a diverse workplace.

Comparing Sculptures of Ancient India and Greece. Write an essay comparing the way gods and humans were depicted in sculpture in ancient India and Greece, and identify the cultural values and ideals that these art works reflect in each case. Your paper should:
a) Using specific examples, compare the way gods and people were depicted in the sculptures of ancient India and Greece, noting similarities and differences.

b) Identify the cultural values and ideals that these art works reflect for each society.

c) From this comparison, suggest a modern situation of artistic expression and the ways it reflects or counters prevailing cultural values.

Comparing Ancient Skeptics. Write an essay comparing Lucretius and Wang Chong (=Wang Ch’ung), skeptical philosophers of ancient Rome and China. They were skeptical about popular religious and spiritual beliefs and widely-held superstitions. Lucretius was an Epicurean philosopher of Roman culture (Chapter 6). Wang Ch’ung was a thinker in ancient Chinese culture (Chapter 7). Focus your comparison on their writings as found at http://www.humanistictexts.org/lucretius.htm and http://www.humanistictexts.org/wangchung.htm#On Not Flying to Heaven. Your paper should:
a) Using examples from their writings, compare these two (2) thinkers on their views about specific subjects and on their approach in explaining and expressing their skepticism.

b) From this comparison, identify popular beliefs in each culture that seem similar and those that seem different.

c) From this comparison, suggest any modern situation in which materialist skeptics confront spiritual and religious beliefs, and comment on the considerations of free expression and cultural respect.

Comparing Ancient Male Rulers. Take any two (2) of these rulers and write an essay comparing them: Ramses II, Shihuangdi, Constantine, Ashoka, Pericles, or Charlemagne. Select rulers from different cultures. You may also propose (for approval or not) a ruler not listed. Avoid lengthy quoting or lengthy close paraphrasing from biographical sources. Make it YOUR comparative analysis. Your paper should:
a) Compare the two (2) rulers in terms of their situation and methods of rule and their apparent ideals and practices, noting similarities and differences. Use specific examples.

b) Consider what your study suggests about the cultures over which they ruled, identifying any similarities and differences between the cultures.

c) From this comparison, suggest lessons about different types of effective leadership in the world of modern business and / or modern politics.

Comparing Ancient Female Rulers. Compare the Tang Empress Wu Zetian (also known as Empress Wu or as Wu Zhao; ruled China around 690-705 AD) with either the Pharaoh Cleopatra (ruled Egypt around 51-31 BC) or the Pharaoh Hatshepsut (ruled Egypt around 1478-1458 BC). You may also propose (for approval or not) a female ruler not listed. Avoid lengthy quoting or lengthy close paraphrasing from biographical sources. Make it YOUR comparative analysis. Your paper should:
a) Compare the two (2) rulers in terms of their situation and ascent to power, their methods of rule, and their achievements and resourcefulness, noting similarities and differences. Use specific examples.

b) Consider what your study suggests about the cultures over which they ruled, identifying any similarities and differences between the cultures.

c) From this comparison, suggest lessons about different types of effective leadership by a female in the world of modern business and / or modern politics.

Other topic choice using a comparative approach (proposed by student or instructor) and approved by the professor and supported by the grading rubric.
The Project Paper will be graded on:

The level to which the instructions were followed for the paper generally and for the specific topic.
The establishment of a clear thesis about your topic.
The adequacy and relevance of information, examples, and details which support the general thesis.
Covering each part of the topic as instructed, including the comparisons, the consideration of ancient cultural differences, and the reflection on lessons for modern society or the modern workplace.
The quality of your research and your persuasiveness using critical reasoning.
The use and acknowledgement of a minimum of three (3) required references (the class textbook plus at least two (2) other quality academic sources) documented using the APA style –including both the use of a proper References list and the use of proper in-text citations.
Adherence to standard rules of grammar, punctuation, paragraphing, and mechanics, and general clarity of presentation.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides. Both in-text citations and a References list are required. Citations and references must follow APA style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions specific to the selected topic. (Note: Students can find APA style materials located in the course shell for guidance).
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length. For our purposes, you may omit any abstract page.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Explain how key social, cultural, and artistic contributions contribute to historical changes.
Explain the importance of situating a society’s cultural and artistic expressions within a historical context.
Examine the influences of intellectual, religious, political, and socio-economic forces on social, cultural, and artistic expressions.
Identify major historical developments in world cultures during the eras of antiquity to the Renaissance.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in the study of world cultures.
Write clearly and concisely about world cultures using proper writing mechanics.

Discuss three interventions or coping strategies for elder grief within the family unit. Include a Christian or spiritual worldview in your response.

• Refine the Problem Statement. Refine your problem statement, based on what you learned from your peers, your Instructor, and/or the Learning Resources this week and in previous weeks.
• Develop a Vision Statement. Develop a vision statement of what the problem would look like if it were solved. The vision statement should be 1–2 sentences long.
• Identify Unintended Outcomes/Consequences. Describe the risks for unintended outcomes/consequences that might arise when addressing the problem. Explain how you would prevent the unintended outcomes/consequences. 

CURRENT PROBLEM STATEMENT WRITTEN

Refining the Problem Statement

Somerville et al. (2017) state that fentanyl is one of the leading causes of opioid-related deaths in the United States. An opioid death was recorded every 8 minutes in 2016 alone. The problem continues to worsen as the number of recorded deaths continues to soar. This is because fentanyl is a more potent pain reliever than morphine, thereby increasing the affinity for addiction. Its heroin-like effect creates sensations of happiness to mask any emotional distress. Addicts would tend to buy the drugs from the streets, thereby putting more pressure on drug enforcement agencies. As a result, the American government declared the crisis a public health emergency. Therefore, addressing the problem would require effective strategies that address the various needs of the affected individuals.