Essay on Mgt 520 Final Exam Study - 1408 Words

MGMT520 Final Exam Study Guide Finals open on Saturday April 20 at 12:01 a.m. MT (Saturday morning) Finals close on Thursday April 25 at 11:59 p.m. MT (Thursday night) PLEASE DON’T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE – THE SYSTEM IS BUSY AND MAY SLOW DOWN AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. YOU MAY WANT TO PRINT THIS GUIDE. 1. The final exam is open book, open notes. The maximum time you can spend in the exam is 3 hours, 30 minutes. If you have not clicked the Submit For Grade button by then, you will be automatically exited from the exam. In the final exam environment, the Windows clipboard is disabled, and so you will not be able to copy exam questions or answers to or from other applications. There are three pages to your final, and each page†¦show more content†¦Even cite paraphrased information. Quoted or paraphrased material should not dominate a student’s work; use it sparingly to support your own thoughts, ideas, and examples. Failure to properly cite material can jeopardize a passing grade on the exam. Your work may be submitted to turnitin.com, an online plagiarism checking service. * If you reference your text, it’s OK to just say Jennings, p__. 8. Some of the key study areas are as follows: (while these are key areas remember that the exam is comprehensive for all the assigned course content and this study guide may not be all inclusive. * TCO A: Given an organizational requirement to conform business practices to both the law and best ethical practices, apply appropriate ethical theories to shape a business decision. * Schools of thought * Ethical models – you will need to apply them to a factual situation much as you did in your midterm * TCO B: Given instances of federal regulation of business and commercial practices, determine the constitutional and regulatory bases for such regulation, and formulate a strategy by which an impacted business can influence or contest regulating outcomes. * APA * process of regulation promulgation * Legal challenges to regulations (recall our Week 2 assignment, especially #5) * TCO C: Given an example of corporate liability arising from the sale of defective and dangerous

The Effects Of Educational Reform On High School Programs

Educational reform is a subject frequently being evaluated, and it is currently needed more than ever. Due to high school programs such as No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top, teaching has been emphasized through a series of tests. The problem with this, is that â€Å"a teacher can prep students for a standardized test, get a bump in scores, and yet not be providing a very good education† (Rose 21). Meaning, instructors may be knowledgeable on how to raise test scores, but their students can remain uneducated; There is not a direct relationship between the two. Furthermore, this way of education highly impedes non-cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, which are now needed for the current job market. In fact, a jump of twice as many†¦show more content†¦Because a great amount of college education is being wasted, the United States is now facing a delay in intellectual and economic growth. Educational reform is needed to cultivate oncoming students, but inst ead off focusing on past mistakes, what the future holds additionally needs to be addressed. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) jobs are what is needed for the future, and these jobs require critical thinking. Therefore, a child’s education needs to stop being compressed into purely cognitive skills and personalized to properly develop a talented individual. In order to better educate students for the 21st century, students must be allowed room for creative growth and be able to take control of their own learning. All students should leave the classroom and participate in STEM- based apprenticeships or internships. In order to fix the deeply flawed school system, standardized testing needs to face an extreme reduction. These tests have become an obstacle course, rather than a solution to better educate students. Dramatically cutting these exams will also then free up a lot of time; the months typically utilized for preparing for these tests can be nearly elimi nated and used as time available for opportunities outside of the classroom. The second step is to offer more electives relevant to the 21st century job market, such as computer programming, robotics, and video game design. These courses are STEM related and will teach students how

Taking Responsibility free essay sample

When people take a look at the world around them, they see that people often are blaming others for their poor lack of judgement. Whether they are blaming their parents, friends, or a complete stranger, they should instead take the blame themselves to learn from the situation. In A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, the readers learn that it is easiest to take responsibility for their actions rather than blaming others. The main character, James, learns that it is easiest for him to take the blame for his actions rather than blaming others because doing so allows him for the most efficient recovery and life after rehab. While James is struggling to recover in rehab, he learns that blaming himself is the best throughout his past, present, and recovery experiences such as his neglected childhood, refusing to go to Alcoholics Anonymous, and finally being fully recovered from a harmful lifestyle. Throughout James’ life, he has always struggled with his anger issues that are commonly referred to as ‘The Fury’. During his last few weeks at the rehabilitation center, James learns that this is from his neglected childhood. At the beginning of the novel, readers learn that when James’ Fury takes over, he cannot control his actions or thoughts, the Fury completely takes over. â€Å"I turn and I walk back to my Room and it’s empty and I begin pacing and my body shakes and I try to control myself. half of me wants to go back to the Hall and fight whoever is there and either destroy or be destroyed, half of me wants to hide. † (Frey 50). This quote is significant to the theme because it is one of the first times readers realize how bad James’ anger issues are and how difficult it is for him to control himself. Towards the end of the novel, James has a family session with his family. When he has this confrontation with his parents, he figures out where his anger issues started. â€Å"He had ear problems. † (Frey 304). Since the first memories that James had as a child were of anger and pain, it has emotionally scarred him for the rest of his life and has also caused him to have immense anger issues that he has to learn how to control. These anger issues has made James realize that he cannot always blame others for uncontrollable events. â€Å"How do I get better? I take responsibility for myself and learn to deal with myself and I learn to deal with myself and I learn to control the Fury. † (Frey 303). This quote is significant to the theme of the book because this the true moment that James realizes that he is the only one who can fix his problems. James finding out that his past was the reason that he had issues with The Fury was helpful with his theory of blaming yourself instead of others. Since he decided to not blame his parents who were the main cause and instead just took the responsibility for learning how to control himself and The Fury. While his neglected childhood has made him learn how to take the responsibility and blame for his anger, his refusal of Alcoholics Anonymous taught him how to blame himself for his actions to allow him to have a better life. During James’ stay at the drug and rehabilitation center, the readers see him struggling with the issue of self-blame. While James wants to blame himself and only himself, but he is commonly advised to follow Twelve Steps. Twelve Steps is a set of guiding principles based on spiritual beliefs that outline a course of action for curing addictions or alcoholism. One of the common programs associated with Twelve steps is AA and it is highly recommended that all of the patients attend these meetings. â€Å"If what the Doctor says at the beginning is true, and joining AA is the only way to cure me, then I’m completely fucked. Fucked fucked fucked. † (Frey 78). This quote explains the way that James feels towards going to the AA meetings, he feels as if he should not be required to go since he does not believe that it will help his recovery process. James believes that AA meetings will help his recovery process because it is just replacing one addiction with another and he wants to live an addiction free life. â€Å"Too much whining, too much complaining, too much blaming. Too much bullshit about Higher Powers. There is no Higher Power or any God who is responsible for what I do and for what I have done and for who I am. There is no Higher Power of any God who will cure me. There is no Meeting where any amount of whining, complaining and blaming is going to make me feel any better† (Frey 76). This quote shows that James also thinks that AA meetings are for people who can’t accept the responsibility for what they did to themselves and want to blame it on a high power to be guilt-free. When James says â€Å"There is no Higher Power of any God who is responsible for what i do and what I have done†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Frey 76), he is saying that he does not believe in blaming somebody else for what he has done, instead, he can only blame himself for what he has done. While James’ past and present situations taught him that it is better to blame yourself rather than blaming them on others, such as a higher power, his future and his recovery teaches him and the readers of A Million Little Pieces that taking responsibility pays off in the long run. James truly learns the benefits of taking the blame for what he has created of himself when he is finally able to face himself and is completely recovered from being an addict of twelve years. â€Å"As I stand in front of the mirror with the razor, I look at my body. I am getting bigger. I am acquiring flesh. The veins on my arms are still blue, but they are a lighter blue. The bones of my cheek and the line of my jaw are less defined, the bruises the covered me are gone. There is a thin layer of fat over all of me and I am starting to get a belly I am becoming more like a human being. † (Frey 220). Not long after James realizes that he is the one who has to take the blame, he starts to notice the positive changes in his body. By taking responsibility for his actions, he is able to start the recovery process and become a healthier person. Towards the end of the novel, James is released from rehab and he has made the decision to test himself by going to a local bar and ordering a drink to see if he has control over himself or his Fury. â€Å"The Fury is screaming. Screaming like it has never screamed before. Its scream is stronger and more powerful, full of rage and need, of hostility and hunger. It is screaming for me to pick up the glass. Pick up the fucking glass. I have a decision to make. It is a simple decision. It has nothing to do with God or Twelve of anything other than twelve beats of my heart. Yes or no. It’s a simple decision. Yes or no. † (Frey 429) When James tests himself and his Fury, there is no way to tell if he will be able to control his Fury or not. Shortly after getting the drink, he tells the bartender to throw the drink down the drain. This decision is very important because James said â€Å" it has nothing to do with God or Twelve† (Frey 429), with that said, he is telling the readers that the reason why he is able to control his Fury and his desire to drink everything in sight is because he stepped up and took the blame his actions. Throughout James’ past, present, and recovery experiences, he was been able to recover completely and the only reason he was able to do this way by accepting the fact that he was the only one to blame for what he created of himself. It is the best decision to take the blame for your actions because it allows you to learn from your experiences. While James was unable to control what happened to him as a child, he decided not to blame his parents for what happened. Instead, he learned not to blame his parents for something that they could not control and to simply learn how to deal with his anger issues. This was James’ true first step to his recovery process and learning how to deal with his issues. James’ second step in his recovery process is when he learned that blaming others, specifically a God or Higher Power, wasn’t going to help him in any form. When James learns this, he discovers that he will have the best possible chances of recovery in his future. In his last step of recovery, James learns that what choices he made for himself, even though they went against what was highly recommended at the rehab facility, were the best possible decision for him. He learned that blaming himself would further his chances in life after rehab. This theme is important because everyone can learn from it. Whether they are young or old or anywhere in between, everyone can learn that by simply taking the blame for actions you have created that something positive will come from it.

Competitive Analysis Techniques for Environmental Factors

Question: Discuss about theCompetitive Analysis Techniques for Environmental Factors. Answer: Introduction An organization faces competition in an industry. To survive, it needs to come up with strategies that give it a competitive advantage. As a result, companies use analytical tools to know about their position, competitors' position, and industry. This essay explores the use of PESTLE, SWOT and Porter's Five. PESTLE PESTLE stands for political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors. Evidently, it is mainly used to analyze the external factors that influence an organization. According to Sammut?Bonnici (2015), this tool is used in making strategic decisions and planning. For example, knowing about economic factors can assist in setting prices. Additionally, PESTLE is used with SWOT analysis to get a comprehensive understanding of the organizations position (Mullerbeck 2015). In analyzing the company, first, the SWOT analysis identifies the factors affecting it and the PESTLE analysis provides a detailed discussion of these factors. PESTLE analysis is advantageous due to the following. Firstly, it creates a deeper understanding of the organization (PESTLE analysis n.d.). The understanding is acquired from evaluating its external environment. Secondly, PESTLE allows the organization to take advantage of new opportunities identified (PESTLE analysis n.d.). For example, from the analysis, the organization gains knowledge of opportunities in the external environment that it can use to increase production. Thirdly, the tool is easy to use and provides a simple outline (PESTLE analysis n.d.). PESTLE is used to analyze the factors mentioned earlier, which provides a simple framework for analyzing an organization. PESTLE analysis also has the following limitations. The first one is that it is based on the study of the external environment (PESTLE analysis n.d.). Therefore, the tool does not provide a complete analysis of the organization, which may make it difficult to make decisions. The second limitation is that it can lead to accumulation of too much data. The article Advantages and disadvantages of PESTLE Analysis" (n.d.) states that the excess data may make it difficult to analyze the environment and draw conclusions. The last limitation is that the tool is simple and may not provide comprehensive results (PESTLE analysis n.d.). Therefore, the organization may require additional tools for analysis. SWOT SWOT is a tool used to analyze a firm's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. According to Sammut?Bonnici and Galea (2015b), the use of SWOT analysis aids in identifying the competitive advantage of the firm. This objective is achieved through the analysis of internal factors because the firm identifies areas to improve to gain a competitive advantage. The tool also analyzes the external environment through opportunities and threats (Sammut?Bonnici Galea 2015b). The organization can use the information acquired to create a competitive advantage. Overall, the tool is used to analyze the internal and external environment to gain a competitive advantage. SWOT analysis has several advantages. The first benefit is the ability of the tool to be used on a specific objective of the company (SWOT analysis 2013). For example, a SWOT analysis of an existing products market can be conducted. For the second one, the SWOT analysis provides a guide that can be used by the organization (SWOT analysis 2013). SWOT analysis indicates areas of weakness, which a company can apply as a guide when improving performance. The last benefit is the use of SWOT to acquire a deeper understanding of the company (Harrison 2010). Evidently, SWOT is a tool that can be used to learn more about a company. SWOT analysis also has the following limitations. The first one is the difficulty in acquiring information about a companys internal environment (SWOT analysis 2013). The difficulty is witnessed as a result of the companys tendency to hide information especially if it reveals weaknesses. The second one is the subjective nature of the results, which may make them inaccurate (SWOT analysis 2013). The identification of strengths and weaknesses may be wrong if the researcher was biased. The last limitation involves the inability of the tool to provide a comprehensive analysis (Harrison 2010). The analysis may require other tools to explain the competitive advantage of a company wholly. 5F Porter's five forces technique entails the analysis of an industry. The use of this tool allows an organization to know the level of competition in its industry. First, the analysis of the competitive rivalry allows companies to know whether an industry is attractive (National Agency for Innovation, n.d.). Second, the threat of new entries enables businesses to know about barriers that limit competition by restricting entrance into the industry. Third, the threat of substitutes provides information about substitute products available in the market. Fourth, bargaining power of suppliers indicates the influence of suppliers (Mathooko, Ogutu 2015). Having many suppliers reduces their influence while fewer suppliers increase it. Fifth, bargaining power of customers reveals the impact of customers in the industry (Mathooko, Ogutu 2015). Having many consumers makes their bargaining power great meaning their influence is high while fewer consumers have low influence. Porters five has various advantages. The first one is that the company is provided with a way of knowing its position in the industry (Porter's five forces 2012). This knowledge assists in making decisions related to its competitive advantage. The second one is that the tool is simple and provides a comprehensive report (Porter's five forces 2012). It is not complicated to derive results from the framework provided. Porters five also has the following disadvantages. The first one is the availability of factors that change rapidly such as technology. The use of these factors makes the analysis to provide results that are short term because it cannot address the rapid changes (Beattie 2018). The second weakness is the use of this technique for the analysis of one organization. Beattie (2018), states that the tool was intended for the analysis of an industry thus misusing it may provide wrong results. Conclusion The analytical tools explored assist in making decisions concerning competition. Evidently, these tools are mainly used together to provide a comprehensive outlook because they are used for different types of environments. Overall, these techniques are vital to the survival of a business. Reference List Advantages and disadvantages of PESTLE Analysis n.d.Latest Quality. Available from: https://www.latestquality.com/advantages-disadvantages-pestle-analysis/ [Accessed 18 Apr. 2018]. Beattie, A 2018.The pitfalls of porter's 5 forces. Investopedia. Available from: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/103116/pitfalls-porters-5-forces.asp [Accessed 18 Apr. 2018]. Harrison, JP, 2010. Strategic planning and SWOT analysis.Essentials of strategic planning in healthcare,1(12), pp.91-108. Mathooko, FM and Ogutu, M, 2015. Porters five competitive forces framework and other factors that influence the choice of response strategies adopted by public universities in Kenya. International Journal of Educational Management,vol.29, no.3, pp.334-354. Mullerbeck, E 2015. SWOT and PESTEL understanding your external and internal context for better planning and decision-making.UNICEF Tools. National Agency for Innovation and Research n.d.Porter's Five Analysis. Available from: https://www.innovation.public.lu/en/innover/gestion-innovation/marketing/5forcesporter-en.pdf [Accessed 18 Apr. 2018]. Porter's five forces a competitor analysis tool 2012. RapidBI. Available from: https://rapidbi.com/porterfiveforces/ [Accessed 18 Apr. 2018]. Sammut?Bonnici, T and Galea, D 2015(a). PEST Analysis.Wiley Encyclopedia of Management. Sammut?Bonnici, T. and Galea, D 2015 (b). SWOT Analysis.Wiley Encyclopedia of Management. SWOT Analysis 2013. Free Management e-books. Available from: https://www.free-management-ebooks.com/dldebk-pdf/fme-swot-analysis.pdf [Accessed 18 Apr. 2018].