Find a news story about a U.S. company that is changing its balance sheet in some way that we have covered in this course. For example, the company might be issuing or repurchasing debt or common stock, increasing or cutting its dividends, changing its pension plan or stock-based compensation plan, modifying its lease terms, or asking its suppliers to alter their payment terms.

Write a short essay — under two pages — on the following:

Describe the transaction.
What reasons does the company give for conducting the transaction?

How will the transaction affect the company’s balance sheet?

Besides the reasons the company discloses for conducting the transaction, what additional reasons might the company have for conducting the transaction? In particular, what benefits is the company trying to get and/or what risks is the company trying to lessen?

Please submit your essay as a Microsoft Word document. You must provide a complete citation of the article (author, title, publication date, periodical name) and upload a PDF of the news article. The news article must come from either The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The LA Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe, or Bloomberg News / BusinessWeek.

Five years ago you joined a global mid-size unionized manufacturing firm as an HR manager. The role was one of managing a traditional HR department; in other words, the HR department was seen as primarily a staffing and administrative function.

At the time you were hired, your Board of Directors asked you to inform them as to what strategic human resource management is all about and how you saw your HR department (and its functions and subsequent activities) transforming to such a new role as a strategic partner.  Your company decided to transform the HR role from a traditionalist function to that of a strategic partner in the organization.

It has been five years since you began that transformation and the HR department is now seen as a strategic business partner to the organization. The Board of Directors, at an upcoming meeting, has asked you to describe how you have adapted to this role of strategic HR manager and what are the business implications?  You have 5 minutes to present your information so you decide to focus on your top priorities and their success. Include in your response to the discussion:

What two HR functions did you address and why? For example, HR function might include reduced voluntary turnover of key talent, such as expatriates, by the development of training for expatriates and their families, etc.
How did you measure the success of your work? What documentation would you provide to them to demonstrate your success (Hint: what specific metrics would you use to demonstrate your success)? in the case of an expat, consider the cost of training and the cost to replace an expat.

You are in your first job at an arts consulting company.  Your supervisor has asked you to write a white paper on innovation in the arts.  The paper will end up on the companies website to show that the company is a thought leader in this field.

You will be evaluated on the following:

Demonstration of understanding of innovation and how innovation is achieved in the arts.
Depth of your understanding of the innovation.
Use of multiple sources (people, books, articles, blogs, podcasts etc.)
Novelty
Format
Watch these videos:  https://youtu.be/uIgJTQiv7wQ

Innovation Paper (1)

Criteria   
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDemonstrates an understanding of innovation and how innovation is achieved.        20.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDepth of your understanding of the innovation in the organization you choose.        20.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDepth of research and use of multiple sources (people, books, articles, blogs, podcasts etc.).    20.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeNovelty.  20.0 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeFormat.    20.0 pts

Total Points: 100.0