PSC-
495 Full Class Action Research Project
Topic
1 DQ1
Describe the problem
you are focusing on for your action research project. Discuss your motivation
for addressing this problem in terms of why it is significant to the
organization and how achieving the proposed change would produce positive
results for the business, its employees, and customers.
Topic
1 DQ2
Share the problem you
will focus on for your action research project. Identify two or three ethical
issues that could be connected to resolving the problem and explain how you
would address each issue as your work to solve it. When replying to peers,
identify additional ethical issues and provide new suggestions and resources
that could be used to address the identified ethical issues associated with the
problem.
Topic
2 DQ1
Discuss the value and
use of quantitative and qualitative research and data in business. Articulate
the difference between the two types of research and provide specific examples
of when each would be valuable in addressing problems within a business setting
Topic
2 DQ 2
Create a table that
summarizes the research you conducted in order to complete the Topic 2
assignment. In the table, briefly describe each type of research completed and
indicate whether it was qualitative or quantitative research. In your post,
discuss specific challenges you encountered in conducting your research. When
posting to peers, provide suggestions for addressing the challenges they
describe, including relevant links to useful resources or articles.
Topic
3 DQ 1
Discuss the pros and
cons of completing a stakeholder analysis. In your discussion, explain why
stakeholder analysis is an important step in the action research process and
what could happen if this step is eliminated or completed insufficiently.
Topic
3 DQ 2
Based upon your
stakeholder analysis, identify what you think will be the greatest potential
roadblock you will encounter from stakeholders? Summarize the issue and discuss
ideas you have for addressing it in a proactive manner. In your posts to peers,
provide additional ideas about addressing stakeholder roadblocks, including
personal experience and links to relevant resources.
Topic
4 DQ1
Discuss the use of the
problem solutions matrix in helping you select the solution you believe will
best address the organizational problem you have identified. Did you select the
solution based primarily upon the solutions score, or did other factors
influence which solution was selected? Explain all factors considered in your
selection and the role that your research and stakeholder analysis played in
the problem solution selection.
Topic
4 DQ2
On the “Problem
Solutions Matrix,” the category “Customer Importance” received twice the weight
of all other categories. Using what you learned from the Topic Materials,
discuss the relative importance of this criterion. For the problem you are
addressing, do you think this weighting was appropriate? Are there additional
criteria that should have had greater weight? Would you have added other
criteria specific to your problem? If so, what are they and why are they
important in selecting a potential solution?
Topic
5 DQ1
Ensuring that data is
summarized in a way that is useful to readers is an important part of
effectively communicating your research findings. In the Main Forum, post the
graphs and charts you created in the Topic 2 assignment so your peers can provide
you with feedback about the clarity of the content being conveyed. In posts to
two of your peers, provide specific feedback about how the research findings
are visually presented. Refer back to the Chapter 10 textbook content to
provide specific feedback and suggestions for improving the visual data
representations.
Topic
5 DQ2
In the Main Forum,
post a rough draft of the “Implementation Methods” section of the business
proposal. In posts to two of your peers, provide feedback about the strategies
that were outlined to implement the problem solution. Anticipate specific
questions various stakeholders might have about the implementation of the
solution and provide your peers with suggestions for addressing these questions
and concerns in writing in the “Implementation Methods” section of the business
proposal.
Topic
6 DQ 1
Using what you have
learned in the Topic Materials, discuss what you believe to be the most
important aspect of change management as it relates to the implementation of
your problem solution. Provide specific examples to justify your opinion and
illustrate your ideas.
Topic
6 DQ2
Why is it important to
evaluate the effectiveness of proposed solutions using both qualitative and
quantitative data? Justify your opinion with specific reasons and examples.
Topic
7 DQ1
In the textbook
reading, you learn about the importance of audience analysis when making a
presentation. Think about the presentation you have created will for the topic
assignment. For your initial topic assignment, you designed a presentation
focused to convincing key stakeholders to sponsor and support your idea so it
can be implemented within your organization. Discuss how the pitch will need to
be modified for other audiences once you have gained support from stakeholder
sponsors. In what ways will your change the presentation when giving it to
those who will be directly affected by the changes you are proposing? How will
the way you approach the audience change? Provide specific examples to
illustrate your ideas.
Topic
7 DQ2
In the Main Forum,
post a link to the YouTube video recording of your Problem Solution
Presentation. Provide at least two of your peers with feedback about how
effectively they were able to present the problem, proposed solution, and plan
for implementing the solution. Discuss your peers’ success is utilizing
research and presentation skills to clearly articulate the information to these
key stakeholders while also identifying their specific call to action.
Topic
8 DQ1
The Topic Material
“How to Get Your Idea Approved” suggests five key techniques for successfully
pitching your idea to key stakeholders, including forming alliances,
preparation, positioning your message for the audience, keeping information
simple, and answering questions with confidence. Which of these five techniques
will be most difficult for you as you work toward problem solution
implementation within your organization? Discuss why a particular technique may
be difficult, and provide your peers with specific ideas for overcoming
obstacles to solution approval and implementation.
Topic
8 DQ2
Based upon your
experience with completing the action research project, what suggestions would
you give to others about implementing an action research process in order to
address an organizational problem? Provide specific suggestions along with
links to relevant resources.
PSC
495 Week 2 Assignment Internal and External Research
Details:
The purpose of this
assignment is to conduct internal and external research to determine previously
attempted solutions and potential solutions that could be implemented to solve
identified problem.
For this assignment,
you will need to create an Excel spreadsheet that summarizes the data
collection you have completed. The spreadsheet should indicate the date on
which particular data were collected, the source of the data collected, the
type of data (qualitative or quantitative), and a one or two sentence summary
of the data findings. Name the Excel spreadsheet as follows: lastname.firstname.datacollection.xlsx
Please note that as
part of the research process, taking the initiative to speak with management
and then requesting and reviewing business metrics and operations reports will
allow you to find the data you need for the project while also showing your
employer that you can be proactive and use critical thinking to solve problems
within the organization.
Part
1:
The first step in data
collection is to conduct research. You are looking for specific, measurable
data (statistics and numbers) related how the problem is affecting the
organization. This information should be recorded in the form of a chart or
graph that presents the data so key decision makers can see the “cost” of
failing to address the problem. Use the Topic Materials for assistance with
creating Excel graphs and charts that can be used to illustrate your findings.
Part
2:
Next, conduct
additional research to learn what has already been done to address this problem
within the organization. Ask questions and interview individuals who assisted
with the implementation of previous solutions used to address the problem.
Prior to meeting with individuals, develop a list of questions about previous
solutions. Consider factors such as customer importance, efficiency, quality, employee
satisfaction, and cost effectiveness. You will want to make sure you ask
questions that allow you to gather measurable data and include information
about how successful previous solution options were in addressing each of the
problems. When you have completed your research, the findings should be
summarized using at least one chart or graph that represents the data you have
collected. Use the Topic Materials for assistance with creating Excel graphs
and charts that can be used to illustrate your findings.
Part
3:
The last step in
determining potential solutions is to conduct external research. Using Internet
and industry resources, research ways that other companies have addressed this
issue or one very similar to it. Look for specific information related to the
customer response, efficiency, quality, employee satisfaction, and cost
effectiveness of solutions others have implemented. Find at least five
potential solutions you can consider for solving the problem you have
identified. Your goal in conducting this research is to find practical examples
and measurable data related to how other companies and related industries have
resolved the same problem or one very similar to it. When you have completed
your research, the findings should be summarized using at least one chart or
graph that represents the data you have collected. Use the Topic Materials for
assistance with creating Excel graphs and charts that can be used to illustrate
your findings.
The data collection
Excel spreadsheet and the three data summary charts/graphs you have created
from the research you have conducted should be submitted to your instructor.
The three
charts/graphs you create will be used again in your Business Proposal
Presentation in Topic 7 and the Final Business Proposal you will submit in
Topic 8.
General
Requirements:
APA format is required
for essays only. Solid academic writing is always expected. For all assignment
delivery options, documentation of sources should be presented using APA
formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in
the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a
rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become
familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
PSC
495 Stakeholder Analysis Summary
Details:
The purpose of this
assignment is to identify key stakeholders within your organization who are
affected by, have influence over, or have an interest in solving the problem
you are attempting to address with your action research project.
Stakeholder analysis
requires you to examine a number of variables in relation to each individual or
group you have identified. Use the “Stakeholder Analysis” spreadsheet to record
the results of the stakeholder analysis.
In the analysis, list
titles and groups of stakeholders. Do not list names of specific individuals.
It is important to note the role each stakeholder has in the problem and
solving it. Determine whether or not the individual or group has a negative,
indifferent, positive, or very positive predisposition about the problem.
Within the
“Stakeholder Analysis” spreadsheet is a tab labeled “Current-State Matrix.”
Study the terminology related to influence and support and think about how each
block describes the feelings a stakeholder may have about the problem and
proposed solution. For example, there may be a group or individual that has a
high degree of support in regard to solving the problem. If you know that
person or group also has a high level of influence in how the problem is
solved, it is important to think about how you will approach this person or
group in terms of seeking information and presenting potential solutions.
Taking time to rank the level of influence and support for each stakeholder is
critical as you proceed because it may have a large role in determining whether
or not specific problem solutions can be and are implemented.
Take the time
necessary to conduct research that will help you determine possible stakeholder
reactions and issues related to potential solutions. Think about the
motivation, drivers, and expectations of exchange for each stakeholder, the
problem, and the proposed solutions. Finally, consider the role of the
stakeholder, including when the stakeholder needs to be involved in the change
effort, any stakeholder management activities, and stakeholder deliverables and
timelines. If a stakeholder will ultimately end up having a designated role in
implementing the solution, the ability to articulate the role, scope, and
timeframe will be of utmost importance.
Complete the
“Stakeholder Analysis” spreadsheet and submit it to your instructor along with
a 500-word summary of your findings. In the summary, discuss the following.
Summarize stakeholder
attitudes about the identified problem and support your summary with specific
data from your collection tool.
Summarize stakeholder
attitudes or experiences related to previously implemented problem solutions
and support your summary with specific data from your collection tool.
Summarize stakeholder
ideas for potential solutions and support your summary with specific data from
your collection tool.
Who are the
stakeholders you will seek to act as sponsors to support you in the
implementation of a problem solution? Provide specific reasons why these
stakeholders are key to implementing a solution.
Who are the
stakeholders that will likely be directly affected by solving the problem?
Provide specific ways these stakeholders could be directly affected by solving
the problem.
Who are the
stakeholders who could pose potential roadblocks to solving the problem?
Provide specific reasons why these stakeholders could pose potential roadblocks
and what those roadblocks could be.
This summary will be
used as part of the Business Proposal Presentation in Topic 7 and the Final
Business Proposal you submit in Topic 8.
APA format is not
required, but solid academic writing is expected.
PSC
495 Problem Solutions Matrix
Details:
The purpose of this
assignment is to review the root causes of the problem and all of the
previously tried and new solutions you researched to address the problem. From
that information, potential solutions should be ranked based upon how well they
meet the needs of the business and address the identified problem. Once this
process is completed, the best solution for solving the problem within your
organization can be selected.
Complete the “Problem
Solutions Matrix” spreadsheet using data and information you collected through
research and completion of the Stakeholder Analysis in Topics 2 and 3. Select
the top three solutions for addressing the problem within your organization. Be
sure to consider the “Solutions Score” column number when selecting the top three
solutions. Additionally, you must also consider the timeline for
implementation, costs and benefits to key stakeholders and the greater good,
potential roadblocks to implementation, and how you will measure and validate
whether or not a solution is successful in addressing the problem. All of this
must be considered prior to selecting your final solution.
This summary will be
used as part of the Business Proposal Presentation in Topic 7 and the Final
Business Proposal you submit in Topic 8.
Complete the “Problem
Solutions Matrix” spreadsheet according to the directions and submit it to your
instructor.
APA format is not
required, but solid academic writing is expected
PSC
495 Managing Organization Change
Details:
The purpose of this
assignment is to clearly articulate the specific strategies and methods that
will be utilized to manage the organizational changes associated with
implementing the problem solution you have selected.
Write 250-500 words
that explain how you will address the following organizational issues prior to
implementing the problem solution you have selected.
Creating employee
buy-in (What’s in it for me?) to address the problem using your solution.
Resources (systems,
technology, training, etc.) needed to implement the solution.
Methods for addressing
employee resistance to change.
This summary will be
used as part of the Business Proposal Presentation in Topic 7 and the Final
Business Proposal you submit in Topic 8.
APA format is required
for essays only. Solid academic writing is always expected. For all assignment
delivery options, documentation of sources should be presented using APA
formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in
the Student Success Center.
You are required to
submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the
Student Success Center.
PSC
495 Internal Business Proposal
Details:
The purpose of this
assignment is to draft an internal business proposal presentation to share with
organization personnel you would like to have sponsor or support you in the
implementation of the problem solution you have suggested. You will do this by
creating a PowerPoint presentation and filming yourself giving the
presentation. You will post the filmed presentation to the YouTube
website and provide the link to it the Main Forum so you can receive feedback
about your presentation from your peers and instructor.
Review the stakeholder
analysis you completed in Topic 3 to determine the key stakeholders that will
make up the audience for this presentation. Focus on identifying decision
makers that will have the power and resources to approve the implementation of
the solution. These are typically your supervisors and key organization
personnel.
Construct a 5-10 slide
PowerPoint presentation that addresses the following. Include speaker notes for
each slide.
Problem and related
research
Proposed solution and
related research
Details for
implementing the solution
Details for evaluating
the effectiveness of the solution
As part of the
presentation, you must include slides that provide text along with visual
representations of the data you have collected. The visuals should include the
three graphs or charts that you created from the data collected in your
research during Topic 2.
Once the presentation
is complete, you will film yourself pitching the idea to the stakeholder
audience. It is important that you dress for success and practice your
presentation prior to filming it. Assume you will be talking to organization
leadership not as a student, but as a change maker within the organization. In
the presentation, your job is to use the PowerPoint as a tool and visual
reference while you present the problem, your proposed solution, and your plan for implementing the
solution. The key to success is utilizing your research and presentation skills
to clearly articulate the information to these key stakeholders while also
identifying their specific call to action.
After you have
practiced your presentation, record it, and post it to the YouTube website. You
will post a link to the video in the Main Forum to receive feedback from your
peers. You will submit the completed PowerPoint presentation and YouTube video
link to your instructor for review and feedback.
Refer to the resource
“Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations,” located in the Student Success
Center, for additional guidance on completing this assignment in the
appropriate style.
APA format is required
for essays only. Solid academic writing is always expected. For all assignment
delivery options, documentation of sources should be presented using APA
formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in
the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a
rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become
familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
PSC
495 Business Proposal Project Summary
Details:
The purpose of this
assignment is to begin drafting an internal business proposal that outlines how
you will implement the solution to the problem you have identified in your
organization.
There are several
parts to this assignment, and each part has been explained and briefly outlined
in the “Business Proposal Project Summary” document in the Course Materials.
That document should be used as a guide to assist you with constructing key
elements of the proposal. Word count guidelines are provided for each section
of the business proposal. For this assignment, you will complete the Purpose
Statement, Problem Statement, Data and Research Findings, Proposed Solution,
Stakeholder Analysis and Benefits, and Implementation Methods sections of the
Business Proposal. Much of this content has been generated in the Topic 1-4
assignments, as noted below.
Purpose
Statement (100-250 words)
provides clear statement of why the business proposal is being made.
Problem
Statement (revised as
needed from Topic 1 assignment feedback) including specific data (statistics
and numbers) related to how the problem impacts the business. This part of the
proposal should include the graph/chart/data you collected in Part 1 of the
Topic 2 assignment.
Data
and Research Findings (250-500 words)
should include a summary of what you learned from conducting research related
to what has already been done to address the organizational problem. This part
of the proposal should include the graph/chart/data you collected in Part 2 of
the Topic 2 assignment.
Proposed
Solution (250-500 words)
should include a summary of the top three problem solutions you considered to
address the problem. In addition to including the graph/chart/data you
collected in Part 3 of the Topic 2 assignment, this section should provide a
succinct discussion of the pros and cons of implementing each of the top three
solutions being considered to address the problem.
Stakeholder
Analysis and Benefits (500 words,
revised as needed from Topic 3 assignment feedback)
Implementation
Methods (250-500 words)
summarize specific strategies that will used to implement the problem solution
including time and costs associated with implementation.
It is important to
include specific data throughout the business proposal. Include statistics that
support the problem statement; can be used to establish and track goals; relate
to specifics of implementation, timing, and cost; and illustrate stakeholder
benefits. Keep in mind that the proposal is an internal document that will be
read by stakeholders within the organization where the problem exists. Focus on
this audience as you write. Within the Word document, include subsection titles to organize
content according to the categories listed above to provide easy reference
points for the reader.
APA format is required
for essays only. Solid academic writing is always expected. For all assignment
delivery options, documentation of sources should be presented using APA
formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in
the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a
rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become
familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to
submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the
Student Success Center.
PSC
495 Business Problem and Proposed Solution
Details:
The purpose of this
assignment is to explain how you will evaluate and measure the success of the
problem solution you intend to implement in the organization.
Write 250 words that
explain how you will measure whether or not the solution is successful in
addressing the problem and meeting the needs of the business, employees, and
customers. Success can be measured using both qualitative and quantitative
methods.
This summary will be
used as part of the Business Proposal Presentation in Topic 7 and the Final
Business Proposal you submit in Topic 8.
APA format is not
required, but solid academic writing is expected.
You are not required
to submit this assignment to Turnitin.
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