In Unit 1 we introduced business ethics and explored ethical theory. In Unit 2 we began our discussion as to laws which affect workers. In this first assignment, the focus is on the ethical theories from Unit 1.

Consider the following factual scenario which was faced by the Volkswagen Automaker:

A Volkswagen engineer was directed to create defeat device software to temporarily cheat on emissions tests by turning pollution controls on only when being inspected by regulators. The engineers moral consciousness did not originally object and an intention formed to do as directed. But assume that before acting on the intention, the VW engineer becomes aware that the U.S. government was taking a much tougher approach to corporate wrongdoing and a company was harshly punished recently for violating government environmental regulations. Because of the new inconsistency between anticipated and actual outcomes, the engineer begins to have second doubts about the intention.

Select and define three ethical theories. Distinguish the differences between each and explain how each might be used as you recommend a course of action to be taken by the Volkswagen engineer.

Your analysis as to each ethical theory should be one page in length.

Use and cite at one additional authoritative source for each ethical theory other than the text materials.

In addition to fulfilling the specifics of the assignment, a successful memo must also meet the following criteria:

Length should be 3 pages, excluding your title and references page.
Viewpoint and purpose should be clearly established and sustained.
Assignment should follow the conventions of Standard English (correct grammar, punctuation, etc.).
Writing should be well ordered, logical and unified, as well as original and insightful.
Cite all sources on a separate reference page at the end of your paper and cited within the body of your paper using APA format.
Your work should display superior content, organization, style, citation, and mechanics in accordance with APA.
Academic Writer is APA’s tool for teaching and learning effective writing and the rules of APA Style.

Primark CSR
Read carefully the attached Case Study regarding how Corporate Social Responsibility shapes Primark’s management practice and organisational culture. Using this and other sources suggested in the lecture, answer the following questions:

Describe what is meant by Corporate Social Responsibility.

Explain the reasons for a company to undertake Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

Discuss why the HERproject has been a business success, over and above improving the well-being of
the workforce.

Assess to which extent Primark has been able to reconcile the interests of its shareholders with those of the employees of its suppliers.
(750 words APA 7th edition referencing

This case describes Hewlett Packard Enteprise’s “Dandelion Program,” which has developed a new service offering for the company’s clients by drawing on the special talents of people with autism. The company has deployed “pods” organized around 8 or 9 employees with autism, to function as high performance mini-ecosystems, which have turned out to be 30% more effective than average service teams (in some areas).

In this assignment, you are asked to analyze  Hewlett Packard Enterprise – The Dandelion Program.  The case centers around questions of how to adapt this successful model to new demands in a different service domain, specifically, cybersecurity and defense related areas. The case also explores how the company is innovating and refining its assessment and training processes in support of the program.

A case study is a description of a real-life business situation that allows you to apply management concepts already learned while examining theoretical concepts. Think of a written case analysis as a report being handed in to a manager for their study and subsequent action.

To effectively analyze a case study, you should read the entire case attempting to avoid any conclusions about the case the first time you read it. This will allow you to gather the relevant data about the situation before you propose any solutions or make any judgements. It is helpful to re-read the case several times to ensure that you havent missed a key detail.

Use the course materials to help analyze the case. Consider any discussions in the text or articles and, if necessary, map out organizational structures, list key components, and write down questions that come to mind. Consider that cases such as this one, like real life, may include details and issues that arent relevant to the diversity issues. Organizational life is messy and complex and, often, it is critical that a diversity expert or human resource staff person be able to sort out the information that is relevant to the diversity issue.

Resist the temptation to report on every detail. In a diversity initiative, an organization may not be able to address every detail and must focus on the central issues in the situation.  As you write your analysis, ask yourself how you know any particular fact or interpretation to be true and whether you have sufficiently justified your interpretation with actual data.

You may find these directions helpful in structuring your case analysis paper:

Write a summary of the case. Be succinct and generally keep the length to one paragraph.
Identify the key people if applicable. What are their names, titles, importance to the case and problem?
Identify the key issues or problems and then focus on what you think is the most important. Begin integrating your learning. Refer to your textbook chapters, additional reading, references you found that relate to this diversity issue or offer insights or suggestion for the problem identified, and the case itself that relate to this case and the problem you identified.
Propose a solution or multiple solutions. Support your proposed solutions with material from the readings. This is critical for you to present because solutions will demonstrate your new learning.
Make a recommendation. Provide a solid support full of detail from your readings. Please do not expect the instructor to read your mind.
The paper should be 4-6 pages, double-spaced, with 12-size fonts. Please submit the assignment only as a Word

Assignment:

In reviewing the PLE data, Elizabeth Burke noticed that defects received from suppliers have decreased (worksheet Defects After Delivery). Upon investigation, she learned that in 2010, PLE experienced some quality problems due to an increasing number of defects in materials received from suppliers.

The company instituted an initiative in August 2011 to work with suppliers to reduce these defects, to more closely coordinate deliveries, and to improve materials quality through reengineering supplier production policies. Elizabeth noted that the program appeared to reverse an increasing trend in defects; she would like to predict what might have happened had the supplier initiative not been implemented and how the number of defects might further be reduced in the near future.

In meeting with PLEs human resources director, Elizabeth also discovered a concern about the high rate of turnover in its field service staff. Senior managers have suggested that the department look closer at its recruiting policies, particularly to try to identify the characteristics of individuals that lead to greater retention. However, in a recent staff meeting, HR managers could not agree on these characteristics.

Some argued that years of education and grade point averages were good predictors. Others argued that hiring more mature applicants would lead to greater retention. To study these factors, the staff agreed to conduct a statistical study to determine the effect that years of education, college grade point average, and age when hired have on retention. A sample of 40 field service engineers hired 10 years ago was selected to determine the influence of these variables on how long each individual stayed with the company. Data are compiled in the Employee Retention worksheet.

Finally, as part of its efforts to remain competitive, PLE tries to keep up with the latest in production technology. This is especially important in the highly competitive lawn-mower line, where competitors can gain a real advantage if they develop more cost-effective means of production. The lawn-mower division therefore spends a great deal of effort in testing new technology. When new production technology is introduced, firms often experience learning, resulting in a gradual decrease in the time required to produce successive units. Generally, the rate of improvement declines until the production time levels off. One example is the production of a new design for lawn-mower engines. To determine the time required to produce these engines, PLE produced 50 units on its production line; test results are given on the worksheet Engines in the database. Because PLE is continually developing new technology, understanding the rate of learning can be useful in estimating future production costs without having to run extensive prototype trials, and Elizabeth would like a better handle on this.

Assignment:

Use techniques of regression analysis to assist her in evaluating the data in these three worksheets and reaching useful conclusions.

Summarize your work in a formal report with all appropriate results and analyses.

Assignment:

An important part of planning manufacturing capacity is having a good forecast of sales. Elizabeth Burke is interested in forecasting sales of mowers and tractors in each marketing region as well as industry sales to assess future changes in market share.

She also wants to forecast future increases in production costs. Develop forecasting models for these data and prepare a report of your results with appropriate charts and output from Excel.
.
An important aspect of business analytics is good communication. Summarize your findings and write up your answers to this case formally in a well-written report as if you were a consultant to Ms. Burke

IMPORTANT:

– Data to be used is attached as excel files, ONLY USE THIS DATA TO WRITE UP REPORT!
– A structure of the Consulting Report is attached, THIS TEMPLATE MUST BE FOLLOWED!
– Background of the case is also attached!

Assignment:

In reviewing the PLE data, Elizabeth Burke noticed that defects received from suppliers have decreased (worksheet Defects After Delivery). Upon investigation, she learned that in 2010, PLE experienced some quality problems due to an increasing number of defects in materials received from suppliers.

The company instituted an initiative in August 2011 to work with suppliers to reduce these defects, to more closely coordinate deliveries, and to improve materials quality through reengineering supplier production policies. Elizabeth noted that the program appeared to reverse an increasing trend in defects; she would like to predict what might have happened had the supplier initiative not been implemented and how the number of defects might further be reduced in the near future.

In meeting with PLEs human resources director, Elizabeth also discovered a concern about the high rate of turnover in its field service staff. Senior managers have suggested that the department look closer at its recruiting policies, particularly to try to identify the characteristics of individuals that lead to greater retention. However, in a recent staff meeting, HR managers could not agree on these characteristics.

Some argued that years of education and grade point averages were good predictors. Others argued that hiring more mature applicants would lead to greater retention. To study these factors, the staff agreed to conduct a statistical study to determine the effect that years of education, college grade point average, and age when hired have on retention. A sample of 40 field service engineers hired 10 years ago was selected to determine the influence of these variables on how long each individual stayed with the company. Data are compiled in the Employee Retention worksheet.

Finally, as part of its efforts to remain competitive, PLE tries to keep up with the latest in production technology. This is especially important in the highly competitive lawn-mower line, where competitors can gain a real advantage if they develop more cost-effective means of production. The lawn-mower division therefore spends a great deal of effort in testing new technology. When new production technology is introduced, firms often experience learning, resulting in a gradual decrease in the time required to produce successive units. Generally, the rate of improvement declines until the production time levels off. One example is the production of a new design for lawn-mower engines. To determine the time required to produce these engines, PLE produced 50 units on its production line; test results are given on the worksheet Engines in the database. Because PLE is continually developing new technology, understanding the rate of learning can be useful in estimating future production costs without having to run extensive prototype trials, and Elizabeth would like a better handle on this.

Assignment:

Use techniques of regression analysis to assist her in evaluating the data in these three worksheets and reaching useful conclusions.

Summarize your work in a formal report with all appropriate results and analyses.

Assignment:

An important part of planning manufacturing capacity is having a good forecast of sales. Elizabeth Burke is interested in forecasting sales of mowers and tractors in each marketing region as well as industry sales to assess future changes in market share.

She also wants to forecast future increases in production costs. Develop forecasting models for these data and prepare a report of your results with appropriate charts and output from Excel.
.
An important aspect of business analytics is good communication. Summarize your findings and write up your answers to this case formally in a well-written report as if you were a consultant to Ms. Burke

IMPORTANT:

– Data to be used is attached as excel files, ONLY USE THIS DATA TO WRITE UP REPORT!
– A structure of the Data Analysis Report is attached as PDF and MUST BE FOLLOWED!
– Background of the case is also attached!