Day: August 7, 2020

Project 1: Topic-Approval Proposal
Read these instructions carefully.  A draft of Project 1 is due Wednesday for peer review.  Your final Project 1 is due at the end of this week.

Overview
For this project you will write a formal proposal letter seeking my approval for the project that will become your Project 5: Formal Analytical Report.  This proposal is the first document in a series of tasks which will culminate in that final project.

Your audience for this letter is me, your instructor.  Think of me as someone who wants to be sure that you choose a project from which you can learn a great deal and on which you can do a good job.  I need to be convinced that this project is important to you and that you have the ability to complete it.

Your proposal should persuade me that a significant business challenge exists in a real organization and that you should be permitted to address it.  You do not have to have the solution to the problem at this time; rather you are suggesting that the organization must invest its faith in you to research and devise a solution.

After you have convinced me of a need for your work, include a detailed description of your work plan.  Will you go to the library and research the latest techniques in your field?  Will you investigate the cost of new equipment?  Will you talk to people who have solved the problem for other organizations?  Will you research social media communication plans?  Some combination of these?  Convince me that this plan for research is the right path leading to a solution and that the time exists in this semester to do the work well.

This work plan must also be plotted with time; you must indicate what work you will be doing during each of the weeks left in the semester.  You should also have sections of your proposal detailing your qualifications to do this work.

While I am willing to consider a wide range of topics for your report, you must persuade me that you have chosen a worthwhile issue that you are capable of handling well.  In reading your proposal letter, I will be looking for answers to the following questions:

What business challenge will your report address?  Have you clearly defined a conflict between a desired situation and the current situation?  Have you provided enough background detail about the organization? Is the problem statement clear?
Who is affected by the situation?  Who will be the audience for your final report? What is your position in relationship to the audience?
Why is this challenge significant for this final audience? What is at stake?
Do you have a possible feasible solution for the problem?  Have you established what a good solution would require? Have you thought about alternative plausible solutions?
What makes you qualified to carry out the project?  How is the topic related to your major?  Your career plans?  I prefer projects that give you practice using the skills you will need in your career.
What will it take to gather the necessary information and complete your analysis?  Can you complete your report in the time left in this semester, using the resources readily available to you?
Do you have a work plan for your project, a plan that shows specifically when certain activities must be completed this semester if you are to finish the project on time?
Note:  Since Project 1 is the first step that will lead to Project 5: Formal Analytical Report, be sure to read that assignment description as well.  Project 5 will be due at the end of the course.

Details
Craft your proposal in the form of a formal business letter to me (See BCE Appendix A).  Select your information and organize it in such a way that it is persuasive and accessible.  Remember, this proposal is not merely informative:  it is an argument for why your topic should be approved.  Your proposal will most likely include the following sections:

An introduction that tells me why you are writing.
A section on the business challenge, including an explicit well-developed thesis statement.
A section describing your research plans for this project.  Convince me that you know what kind of information youll need and where to find it. Include an analysis of your readers and what information theyll need in order to adopt your solution.
A discussion of your credentials and motivation.  Convince me that you have the background and resources necessary to conduct your research.  Be sure to also indicate your motivation for and/or connection to this particular project.
A schedule.  Convince me that you know what activities your research will require and that you can get them done on time.
A conclusion that formally requests permission to proceed.
Evaluation Criteria
Content and persuasiveness. I will be looking to see that you are taking on an actual project related to your professional and academic expertise and that you can complete the project by the end of the semester.  Make your proposal convincing; demonstrate that you have singled out a worthwhile problem to solve and that you are the researcher to solve it.

Style, clarity and arrangement.  Your proposal must be well written.  The problem statement is clear and logically stated, sentences are correct, concise and arranged so that the meaning is easily obtained and the prose is effective for a general reader.  Paragraphs are coherent, unified and relatively short (125 words or fewer).

Design and format.  Your design choices, including paragraph length, headings, subheadings, font choices, etc., increase document professionalism and accessibility.  Business letter format is used consistently and appropriately.

Overview
For this project, you will write four documents: three correspondence messages in response to the following scenarios and a cover memo to your instructor in which you outline the business writing strategies you employed as you composed your messages.

A scenario overview and four options are provided below.  Select any three of the options you prefer. The choices are:

a complaint letter from a customer to a construction firm;
an email from a customer service representative to his or her manager;
a memo from that manager to all employees within the firm explaining the specifics of company policy;
a letter from customer service responding to the customers complaints.
Note:  Be sure to follow the scenarios, but feel free to make up details where needed.

Scenario Overview
Denison Construction and Renovations is a thriving construction firm with offices in New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada. The company specializes in high end projects and therefore employs master craftspeople to build custom cabinets, bathrooms, kitchens, and other projects to the precise specifications of very demanding clients. All Denison craftspeople have a minimum of five years of industry experience and come highly recommended from either previous clients or employers (or both).

In recent months, a team of workers from Denison has been building a 2,000 square foot indoor/outdoor addition (including an indoor sun room and an attached, outdoor patio) at the home of Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Karen Hatcher, 353 Park Avenue, Kingland, Arizona. While the Hatchers are quite pleased with the work that the Denison team has been provided (both in terms of its quality and the rapid pace of its advancement), the family is less than fully pleased with the decorum of Denison workers. In particular, Mr. Hatcher is upset that the craftspeople tend not to wear shirts while completing many of their outdoor tasks.

Given that the Hatchers live in an exclusive, gated community, they are concerned that the immodesty of Denison workers may be reflecting negatively upon them. Given that the weather in Arizona is extremely hot, the Hatchers understand why the workers may choose such apparel, but they would strongly prefer that the craftspeople choose more suitable attire (either sleeveless t-shirts or tank-tops would be fine with you). The Hatchers also understand that some construction workers (as do many adults) use obscene language, but they have overheard a troubling amount of this language. Though they are hardly prudish, the Hatchers are worried that these obscenities can be heard by the children who play outside on their quiet, residential street.

Details
The Cover Memo
In this memo to your instructor, explicitly note which three of the correspondence options you have chosen to write. Explain the strategic choices that you made while composing your messageswhich details did you decide to include, which did you decide not to include, and so forthand describe the rationale for these decisions (i.e., explain why you did these things). Also note any challenges that you faced while writing, or explain why any of your strategic decisions were particularly difficult to reach.

The Correspondence Options (complete three out of four)
Option 1: Write a complaint letter from Kenneth or Karen Hatcher (whichever persona you prefer) to Delilah Flores, a customer service representative at Denison.

You are quite happy with the quality of the work being conducted and that you have no intention of cancelling your contract with Denison at this time. However, you want Denison workers dress more appropriately and speak more politely, given the nature of your residential community. You are uncertain whether or not Denison has corporate policies on these matters, and you do not particularly care if they do. In your mind, the customer is always right, and these Denison employees should do whatever can be reasonably asked of them to comply with your demands.

Option 2: Write an email from Delilah Flores to Patrick Gordon, Manager of Customer Service at the Denison site in Kingland.

You (this time you are Delilah Flores) and Mr. Gordon have already spoken about the problems at the Hatcher property so you need not explain the entire situation.  You need information from Mr. Gordon in order to act on this issue and respond to the Hatchers.

You understand why the Hatchers could have these objections about dress and language, and you’re not sure whether the company has a dress-code for employees at construction sites (unlike office workers, who must comply to a fairly strict dress code), nor do you know whether an official policy on language use exists. You need to know if the company has official policies on these issues and what, if any, action you should take if they exist (should customer service send out reminders to site managers to avoid future complaints?). You have a scanned copy of the Hatchers’ letter.  Would a copy help Mr. Gordon?

Option 3: Compose an inter-office memo from Patrick Gordon to all construction site managers who are employed at the Denison branch in Kingland.

You (now you are Patrick Gordon) want to tell them that, because of a recent complaint, you are hoping to clarify a few company policies. Policy 137k concerns professional attire at the workplace and states (you are paraphrasing here) that employees must wear shirts (sleeveless t-shirts and tank tops also count) at all times. This policy has not been strictly enforced in the past, but you are hoping that workers will comply in the future.

Also note that Policy 162g prohibits profanity or abusive language. The statement itself states, Denison Construction prohibits the use of vulgar, profane, insulting, obscene, derogatory, or offensive language of a vile nature toward the employer, the employer’s representatives, or any customers when such remarks are unjustified under the circumstances, and not within the normal exchange and customary good-natured banter between the employer or the employer’s representative and the employee. In short, you dont necessarily want to get rid of all cursing (you are not the profanity police), but you need employers to be mindful of the situations in which they operate.  You imagine that this news may not be entirely welcome, but you know that your site managers and employees are hardworking and professional.

Option 4: Compose a letter of apology from Delilah Flores to Kenneth and Karen Hatcher.

You (Delilah again) need to let the Hatchers know that you have received their complaint and that your company plans to honor their request (in other words, your employees will start dressing appropriately and stop cursing). The Hatchers should also know that your manager, Patrick Gordon, has circulated a memo to all construction site managers reminding them of company policies in reference to these two points. You know that companies are often glad that customers bring them their concerns so that they have a chance to correct the problem and make the customer happy.  You also know that your company (Denison) takes seriously its responsibility to provide excellent customer service.

Evaluation Criteria
Adaptation and Organization.  The responses demonstrate an understanding and effective application of genre conventions for everyday business communication.  Organizational strategies are clear, effective and appropriate.  The writer understands organizational strategies and is able to adapt them to specific rhetorical situations. 

Content.  The writer includes specific, focused requests, explanations, goodwill, and/or instructions with appropriate use of buffer or context, when needed. Evidence to support requests or claims is clear, accessible and written from the readers perspective.

Style, Tone and Design.  The messages are correct and concise.  Tone is appropriate to the rhetorical situation but is in all ways professional, approachable, conversational and tailored to the specific audience.  Design conventions are followed accurately.

Essay

Objective: Examine leadership skills and behaviors for successful entrepreneurial and managerial effectiveness.

Introduction: One of the essential roles of a leader is to support followers. Leaders are supposed to be the visionaries of the business who are in their roles to motivate and empower employees. As a new entrepreneur, you are the role model for your followers; hence the phrase leading by example. Your individual values and personal traits will set the tone for your organizational culture. The topic included in this essay examines Leadership in Small Business.

Deliverables:

The essay for this lesson is required to be a minimum of 1250 words (excluding title and reference pages) which clearly demonstrate your understanding of the activity. Essays should have a clear introduction, thesis statement, and conclusion, written in APA format (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/). 

Activity Details:

Step 1: Conduct an internet search on the Fielder Contingency Model of Leadership, Hersey and Blanchard situational theory, and the Robert House’s path-goal model. Read the following questions, and use what you have learned about the leadership Skills to summarize your responses in a minimum of 1250 words, excluding title and reference pages (APA formatting required):

Describe the three major contingency theories of leadership: Fielders model, Hersey and Blanchards situational leadership theory, and Robert Houses path-goal model.

According to Fielders model, how can you improve leader effectiveness?

What are the differences between Fiedlers model of contingency leadership and Robert Houses path-goal model?

According to Robert Houses path-goal theory, in what situations is directive leadership likely to lead to higher employee satisfaction and in what situations will supportive leadership likely lead to greater satisfaction?

Overview
For this project you will write a formal proposal letter seeking my approval for the project that will become your Project 5: Formal Analytical Report.  This proposal is the first document in a series of tasks which will culminate in that final project.

Your audience for this letter is me, your instructor.  Think of me as someone who wants to be sure that you choose a project from which you can learn a great deal and on which you can do a good job.  I need to be convinced that this project is important to you and that you have the ability to complete it.

Your proposal should persuade me that a significant business challenge exists in a real organization and that you should be permitted to address it.  You do not have to have the solution to the problem at this time; rather you are suggesting that the organization must invest its faith in you to research and devise a solution.

After you have convinced me of a need for your work, include a detailed description of your work plan.  Will you go to the library and research the latest techniques in your field?  Will you investigate the cost of new equipment?  Will you talk to people who have solved the problem for other organizations?  Will you research social media communication plans?  Some combination of these?  Convince me that this plan for research is the right path leading to a solution and that the time exists in this semester to do the work well.

This work plan must also be plotted with time; you must indicate what work you will be doing during each of the weeks left in the semester.  You should also have sections of your proposal detailing your qualifications to do this work.

While I am willing to consider a wide range of topics for your report, you must persuade me that you have chosen a worthwhile issue that you are capable of handling well.  In reading your proposal letter, I will be looking for answers to the following questions:

What business challenge will your report address?  Have you clearly defined a conflict between a desired situation and the current situation?  Have you provided enough background detail about the organization? Is the problem statement clear?
Who is affected by the situation?  Who will be the audience for your final report? What is your position in relationship to the audience?
Why is this challenge significant for this final audience? What is at stake?
Do you have a possible feasible solution for the problem?  Have you established what a good solution would require? Have you thought about alternative plausible solutions?
What makes you qualified to carry out the project?  How is the topic related to your major?  Your career plans?  I prefer projects that give you practice using the skills you will need in your career.
What will it take to gather the necessary information and complete your analysis?  Can you complete your report in the time left in this semester, using the resources readily available to you?
Do you have a work plan for your project, a plan that shows specifically when certain activities must be completed this semester if you are to finish the project on time?
Note:  Since Project 1 is the first step that will lead to Project 5: Formal Analytical Report, be sure to read that assignment description as well.  Project 5 will be due at the end of the course.

Details
Craft your proposal in the form of a formal business letter to me (See BCE Appendix A).  Select your information and organize it in such a way that it is persuasive and accessible.  Remember, this proposal is not merely informative:  it is an argument for why your topic should be approved.  Your proposal will most likely include the following sections:

An introduction that tells me why you are writing.
A section on the business challenge, including an explicit well-developed thesis statement.
A section describing your research plans for this project.  Convince me that you know what kind of information youll need and where to find it. Include an analysis of your readers and what information theyll need in order to adopt your solution.
A discussion of your credentials and motivation.  Convince me that you have the background and resources necessary to conduct your research.  Be sure to also indicate your motivation for and/or connection to this particular project.
A schedule.  Convince me that you know what activities your research will require and that you can get them done on time.
A conclusion that formally requests permission to proceed.
Evaluation Criteria
Content and persuasiveness. I will be looking to see that you are taking on an actual project related to your professional and academic expertise and that you can complete the project by the end of the semester.  Make your proposal convincing; demonstrate that you have singled out a worthwhile problem to solve and that you are the researcher to solve it.

Style, clarity and arrangement.  Your proposal must be well written.  The problem statement is clear and logically stated, sentences are correct, concise and arranged so that the meaning is easily obtained and the prose is effective for a general reader.  Paragraphs are coherent, unified and relatively short (125 words or fewer).

Design and format.  Your design choices, including paragraph length, headings, subheadings, font choices, etc., increase document professionalism and accessibility.  Business letter format is used consistently and appropriately.

This is the term paper of management 101, more like a textbook review actually.
The paper need to explain whatmanagement is base on the following textbook. (https://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/management-principles-v1.0/index.html)
The paper must include the following topics: Introduction,Organizational Structure, Organizational Culture, Decision Making, Communication, and Managing Groups and Teams.
You can include pictures or charts. You can also include other topics if you need.