You have acquired a vast knowledge about multiple topics relevant to managers and HR professionals. As managers and HR professionals, we must be proactive in addressing possible opportunities and threats in our environments (internal and external), and prepare for possible catalysts of change.
If not prompted to by senior management, we should identify and define the challenges, opportunities, and threats in both our internal and external environments, how will these impact the organization, and provide solutions in which the organization can implement.
For your final paper, you are being asked to weigh in on an issue or trend (some examples below – do not limit yourself to this list).
Consider including the following elements in your paper: defining and educating management exactly what the challenge or trend is, analyzing and discussing the implications for organizations, and what can be done.
Do not limit yourself in your approach and elements, as you want to make sure that the executive management has the needed information to decide or act.
If you have questions or are unsure of your approach, please let me know so we can work on a solution that will be beneficial and give you the immediate takeaways you can implement if needed.
Examples of Issues and Trends:
Addressing the organization’s skill gaps
Supporting managers – managers are employees too 😊
Balancing remote working and returning to work environment
Artificial intelligence in the workplace
Work-life balance outweighs wages as a motivator – or does it, is it a generational challenge, all level of employees or ???
Employee disengagement – why?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are negatively impacting the company culture more than helping
Performance reviews are outdated and ineffective
Inability for employees and departments to work collaborative and effectively
Employee retention
Skill-based hiring
Multiple generations in the Workforce (i.e., life longevity means multiple and long careers)
Modernizing employment-based immigration
Creating flexible work schedules and environments
Investing in mental health and wellbeing of employees
Upskilling the workforce to meet advances in technology
Preventing employee burnout
People Analytics to Analytics for the People
Increase States’ Acceptance of Recreational Cannabis Use
You can also look to an issue or need within your organization that needs attention
Or, simply “Google” the statement, “Workplace issues” or similar verbiage to see if you find a topic that inspires you.
Additional Assignment Guidance:
Your paper should be a minimum of 8 pages in APA format (excluding title page and references) but encouraged use the number of pages needed to complete your assignment and address each of the elements effectively. NO ABSTRACT IS REQUIRED
You need to use a minimum of 8 sources. Remember, for every source, you will have at least one citation. You cite information that is 1) not common knowledge, 2) paraphrased, and 3) directly quoted.
Submit your work as an MS WORD ATTACHMENT in either a .doc, .docx, or .rtf format.
You are encouraged to use subheadings. A subheading reflects the content that follows. Subheadings provide a point of reference for the reader as well as guide the reader through your paper. If you do not have a clear thesis or your introduction is a bit complicated, the reader spends time guessing and is unclear as to what they are reading and why.
Some Additional Writing tips:
When making a point, one of the most common mistakes is not to offer enough details. A paragraph without much detail will seem vague and incomplete. A paper is always strengthened when your claims are as specific as possible, the more detailed evidence you offer, and the more reference points your reader will have. Remember that you are communicating your understanding to a reader who has only your description to go by.
Third person is preferred in academic writing. Use first-person perspective where applicable and appropriate, i.e., describing your own role, distinguishing from your point of view and others, referring to your actions, or writing is reflective or contains personal elements, otherwise use 3rd person.
A flat statement of your intentions in the composition is called an announcement, which weakens the introduction. Try introducing the subject more temptingly, piquing the reader’s interest.
Avoid anthropomorphisms (attributing human characteristics to nonhuman or inanimate objects). Consider that no report can “address.” When writing an introduction, some approaches are best avoided. Avoid starting sentences with “The purpose of this essay is . . .” or “In this essay I will . . .” or any similar flat announcement of your intention or topic.
Here is some guidance in formatting your citations:
Author mentioned in text: Smith (2007), otherwise use (Smith, 2007).
Include a page or paragraph number with all direct quotations = (Smith, 2007, p. 32).
Place the period at the end of a sentence after the citation.
When using a cite within your source it is as follows: (Smith 2007, as cited by Smythe, 2016, p. 32).
Eliminate URL addresses with in-text citations.
Direct quotations greater than 40 words must be blocked and indented. Block quotations do not have quotation marks (except those already included in the source material).
Direct quotes should support your work and not replace it. You should use direct quotes ONLY:
to show that an authority supports your point
to present a position or argument to critique or comment on
to include especially moving or historically significant language
to present a particularly well-stated passage whose meaning would be lost or changed if paraphrased or summarized.
