Please choose two of the questions listed below. Each is worth 10 points towards

Please choose two of the questions listed below. Each is worth 10 points towards your final grade. Please be sure to answer each part of the questions you choose. Each part is weighted equally on the grading process. Please see the grading rubric for additional guidance.
You must include relevant outside research (peer reviewed journal articles, books, cases, examples, etc.) to support your answers for each question. We will go over this in class. Thank you and if you have any questions, please let me know. Good luck!
1) Performance Appraisal
What is the best way for a manager to appraise workers who do relatively “difficult to measure” jobs such as software developers, architects, digital media professionals, attorneys, doctors, accountants, graphic artists, and app developers? What performance appraisal processes are firms currently using for these types of jobs? Please list at least five examples and include where you found these examples in your references. As a soon to be manager, what could be done to improve the processes used? How do you know? What does the evidence tell us? Should we even do performance appraisals at all? Why? Why not? For all parts of this question, consider (and include) the evidence that is out there (best practices, case studies, empirical studies/journal articles, etc.)? Please be specific. Thanks!
2) Counterproductive Behavior
Workplace violence, theft, dysfunctional behavior, ethical lapses, and counterproductive activities are challenges facing managers around the globe. What does the evidence tell us as to “why” employees engage in these behaviors? How are they similar to and different from one another? From a managers’ perspective, what are some of the best ways to a) prepare for, b) react to, and c) follow up on these types of challenges? Is it possible to select employees who will be good organizational citizens? Is it possible to avoid hiring those who will likely give us trouble? How do you know? Finally, how can we train employees to “do the right thing”? What overall management practices and policies appear to work best to guide employee performance? How do you know? For all parts of this question, consider (and include) the evidence that is out there (best practices, case studies, empirical studies/journal articles, etc.)? Please be specific. Thanks!
3) The Changing Nature of Work
After COVID-19, the rise of work from home, virtual offices, contingent/gig workers, hoteling, etc. are becoming more likely scenarios for organizations moving forward. What are each of these approaches? How are they similar? How are they different? What companies have been successful in using such techniques? How have they done so? What does the evidence tell us about how effective they are? What challenges face managers who are considering using some or all of these strategies? What do we know about human behavior relative to the old phrase, “When the cat is away, the mice will play?” For example, do employees need to be monitored by managers? Finally, from all of the evidence you gather, what will the future hold for workers in an industry you find interesting (accounting, finance, computer science, engineering, etc.)? Will more employees work from a remote location or is this trend not likely to grow? Why? Why not? As with all of the other questions, please use evidence to support your answers to these questions.
4) Corporate Culture and Managerial Practices
Firms like Netflix, Google, VSP, SAS, Southwest Airlines, and many others have developed and implemented positive organizational cultures in order to both a) benefit their bottom-line results, and b) develop a very engaged, committed, and satisfied workforce. How have they done it? How much do they spend (per employee) on the numerous benefits they provide employees? Is it worth the return? Why have they done it? If they can do it, why is it that other organizations do not follow their lead (or cannot)? How can any organization best create and sustain a positive organizational culture? What is the role of a manager in these organizations? Do they have to copy what others did? What if revenues and profits go down for a firm? How then can/should an organization justify these investments in their employees? What does the evidence say? What does the future hold? Overall, will other organizations follow this lead or is this type of “taking care of the worker” idea just a passing fad? After all, work is still a four-letter word (just kidding! Ha!) with all of the other questions, please use evidence to support your answers to these questions.
5) J CREATE YOUR OWN QUESTION J
***Want to create your own question? Please email me your idea PRIOR to creating your own. This must happen or else I cannot (unfortunately) give you credit. The final date I will consider this type of question is the end of Week 8. Please note that my intent is to help you craft a good question you are interested in answering. Thanks! I’m happy to help you!