Section 3: The Organizational Strategy- Part 1

For the Assignments in this module, you will continue in the role of a consultant who has been hired by the CEO of your selected company to lead a tiger team tasked with addressing issues the organization is facing.

You will continue to use the same organization you selected in Week 1. You have already analyzed the culture, social and economic climate, and purpose of the organization and evaluated the organization’s health and readiness and opportunities for change. In this final section, you will combine all your previous work and develop a strategy for the organization to address the issue(s) you have identified and help improve its performance over the next 3–5 years. As in previous weeks and for the purposes of this exercise, you are at liberty to use your creativity to fill in gaps in the details about the organization. Be sure to consider the different functional areas, or business units, within the organization to ensure thorough strategy development, validation, and implementation.

This week, you will begin to compile Section 3 of your playbook. Be sure to address the requirements for Part 1 and include specific examples (where appropriate) and relevant citations from the Learning Resources, the Walden Library, and/or other appropriate academic sources to support your work.

To prepare for this Assignment:

• Return to your MBAX 6990 Assignment Template to complete Section 3—Part 1 of your strategy playbook.

Submit your 2- to 3-page strategy development for the selected organization, to include the following:

Part 1: Developing the Strategy

• Based on the organizational issue previously identified (and in light of the organization’s mission, culture, and practices), propose the strategy you will develop for the organization related to improved organizational performance.
• Examine how the diverse perspectives of the organization’s internal and external customers/stakeholders (i.e., customers, employees, and the community) influence the development and execution of this business strategy.
• Identify anticipated risks associated with your proposed business strategy.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

For this assignment, your goal is to develop Part 1: Developing the Strategy of your MBAX 6990 strategy playbook. You should build on the organization you selected in Week 1 and the organizational issue you previously identified, rather than choosing an entirely new company or problem.

Your 2–3-page paper needs to accomplish three things: propose a strategy that improves organizational performance over the next 3–5 years, explain how internal and external stakeholders influence the strategy, and identify the risks that could affect its success.

Step 1: Review your previous assignments

Before writing, return to your Week 1 assignment and the work you completed in the previous modules. Your strategy must be consistent with your original organizational analysis.

Identify the following information:

• Selected organization: The company you have used throughout the course.

• Organizational issue: The specific problem affecting its performance, such as declining customer satisfaction, operational inefficiencies, employee turnover, or difficulty adopting new technology.

• Mission and culture: The organization’s purpose, values, leadership approach, and working environment.

• Readiness for change: The resources, strengths, weaknesses, and barriers that may affect implementation.

Use the evidence from your previous assignments to justify your proposed strategy. Avoid introducing a new organizational problem unless it directly relates to the issue you previously identified.

Step 2: Write Part 1 — Developing the Strategy

Your paper should be approximately 2–3 pages, excluding references if your instructor follows standard APA conventions. Organize the discussion under three main headings that correspond to the assignment requirements.

Step 3: Develop a clear business strategy

Begin by stating the strategy you recommend and explaining why it is appropriate for the organization.

For example, if your selected company is experiencing declining customer satisfaction because of inefficient service delivery, you might propose a three-year digital transformation and customer experience improvement strategy.

Your discussion should explain:

1. What organizational problem the strategy addresses.

2. What specific actions the company will take.

3. Which departments or business units will participate.

4. How the strategy aligns with the company’s mission, culture, and resources.

5. How success will be measured over the next 3–5 years.

Potential performance indicators include customer satisfaction, employee retention, operating costs, productivity, revenue growth, or service delivery time. Choose measures that directly relate to your identified organizational problem.

You may also organize the proposed strategy into phases: planning and pilot testing, implementation and expansion, and evaluation and continuous improvement.

Step 4: Explain stakeholder perspectives

The assignment specifically requires you to consider both internal and external stakeholders. Do not simply list them; explain how their perspectives could shape strategic decisions.

Connect your analysis to stakeholder theory. Bridoux and Stoelhorst (2022) discuss how stakeholder relationships and cooperation contribute to value creation and strategic management.

Explain how you would gather stakeholder input through surveys, interviews, consultation meetings, customer feedback, or cross-functional workshops. Show how the findings would inform priorities, reduce resistance, and support implementation.

Step 5: Identify anticipated risks and mitigation strategies

A strong strategy proposal acknowledges that implementation may not proceed exactly as planned.

Use a risk-and-response framework to organize your discussion.

Select only the risks relevant to your company. Explain which risks are most significant and how leadership will monitor them.

Strategic foresight can help organizations anticipate uncertainty and prepare for alternative future scenarios. Monteiro and Dal Borgo (2023) provide useful guidance on incorporating foresight into decision-making.

Step 6: Support your paper with academic sources

Use the following resources to strengthen your stakeholder analysis, strategic recommendations, and risk discussion. They are accessible online and include academic or institutional publications.

Resource 1: Stakeholder theory and strategy

Bridoux, F., & Stoelhorst, J. W. (2022). Stakeholder theory, strategy, and organization: Past, present, and future. Strategic Organization, 20(4), 797–809.

Use this article to explain stakeholder interests, cooperation, and value creation.

Read the peer-reviewed article

Resource 2: Strategic foresight and planning

Monteiro, B., & Dal Borgo, R. (2023). Supporting decision making with strategic foresight: An emerging framework for proactive and prospective governments (OECD Working Papers on Public Governance No. 63). OECD Publishing.

Use this resource to discuss uncertainty, future scenarios, and proactive planning. Although it focuses on government, its foresight concepts can inform organizational planning.

Read the OECD publication

Resource 3: Stakeholder management foundations

Freeman, R. E., & McVea, J. (2005). A stakeholder approach to strategic management. In M. A. Hitt, R. E. Freeman, & J. S. Harrison (Eds.), The Blackwell handbook of strategic management. Blackwell Publishing.

Use this foundational chapter to understand stakeholder analysis and its application to business strategy.

Access the publisher’s chapter page

The first two resources fall within the assignment’s five-year publication window as of October 2026. The third is a foundational source; supplement it with recent research from the Walden Library to meet the requirement for current academic evidence.

Step 7: Apply APA citations correctly

Include citations wherever you use ideas or evidence from your sources.

Examples:

• Parenthetical citation: Stakeholder relationships can contribute to organizational value creation and strategic decision-making (Bridoux & Stoelhorst, 2022).

• Narrative citation: Monteiro and Dal Borgo (2023) explain how strategic foresight can support proactive decision-making under uncertainty.

Make sure every in-text citation has a corresponding reference entry. Use APA 7th edition formatting, double spacing, and hanging indents in the reference list, as required by your instructor.

Step 8: Review the assignment before submission

Week 6Group Intervention and Research Design Proposal

Assignment

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to design and present a group intervention proposal grounded in an evidence-based practice that addresses the needs of a specific population served by your practicum agency. Through the development of a group research design, this project aims to apply research methods and utilize empirical evidence to inform, assess, and enhance services. The recorded presentation will demonstrate your ability to integrate competencies related to research-informed practice and program evaluation.

Course Outcomes

This assignment provides documentation of student ability to meet the following course outcomes:

• CO 5: Apply research methods and evidence to inform, assess, and improve social work practices, social welfare policies, and social welfare programs (Competency 4, 6, 7).

Due Date

Students must complete the Group Intervention and Research Design Proposal assignment

Directions

Complete this assignment following the steps for each section below.

Section 1: Video

1. You are to propose a group intervention and research design proposal using an existing evidence-based practice to serve a population served by your practicum agency.
2. The proposal must be a recorded slide show with narration for your Agency Instructor, classmates, and course instructor to review.
3. The recording must be between 7 and 10 minutes.
4. Organize your presentation and slide deck using the format outlined below. You should have no more than 14 slides.
5. Immediately following each slide number and title heading, follow the instructions.
6. Please remember this is a narrated video in which you are using the slides to answer questions. Use speaker notes to organize your thoughts. Do not read directly from each slide. Each slide should have no more than 40 words.
7. You are encouraged to share your video presentation with your Agency Instructor and discuss it during supervision.

Section 2: Organization and Delivery

Organize your slide deck (PowerPoint presentation) and presentation using the following outline and format:

1. Slide 1: Create a title that informs the audience what they can expect. The title slide should include your name and the date.
2. Slide 2: About the Organization. Briefly describe your practicum site.
3. Slide 3: Target Population. Briefly describe the target population for the group intervention.
4. Slide 4: About the Group Intervention – Part 1. Briefly describe the evidence-based practice or program by describing (1) the intervention, (2) its goals, and (3) its essential components.
5. Slide 5: About the Group Intervention – Part 2. Briefly describe the (1) frequency, intensity, and duration of the intervention, (2) setting, and (3) resources (including staffing) needed to implement the intervention with fidelity.
6. Slide 6: Implementation Plan. Briefly describe how the intervention would be implemented. Be sure to include information on training, fidelity measures, costs, and other resources necessary to implement the intervention.
7. Slide 7: Research Question. What is your research question or hypothesis?
8. Slide 8: Dependent Variables. What are your dependent variables (identify at least two), and how will they be operationalized? Describe your use of measures and your rationale for choosing these measures.
9. Slide 9: Data Collection. How long will it take for you to collect data? Describe your use of pre- and post-tests and when they will be administered.
10. Slide 10: Recruitment. Briefly describe your recruitment strategy for participants/research subjects.
11. Slide 11: Research Design. Describe the research design you have selected for this proposal and your rationale for why it was chosen. Consider the needs of the agency and the ethics guiding your choice.
12. Slide 12: Control Group. Briefly describe your methods for creating a control group. Describe your rationale for using (or not using) randomization. If randomization is used, describe your procedures.
13. Slide 13: Reporting Results. Describe how you will communicate results back to your practicum and participants.
14. Slide 14: References. Include all references using APA format.

Section 3: Format

1. Use at least three academic and relevant sources not found in this lesson.
2. Sources should be no more than five years old unless they are historical references.
3. Correctly cite and use in-text citations.
4. Follow grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation rules consistent with formal, professional writing.
5. Abide by Chamberlain University’s academic integrity policy.

Once you complete the recording, please check the quality of the video to make sure the picture is clear and the sound is audible. If the video is not audible, the instructor will not accept it, and you will automatically receive a zero.

You must upload the video file to My Media in Canvas. Links to online video-sharing platforms will not be accepted. Go to My Media in Canvas and click Media Upload. Drag and drop the file or choose the file to upload. All standard video formats (e.g., MP4) are accepted. This will save your video to Kaltura Media. When you are ready to submit your assignment, click “Start Assignment.” Next, click Text Entry. In the Rich Content Editor, click Embed Kaltura Media. Locate your video and click Embed. After you have embedded your video, click Submit Assignment.

Rubric

MSW545_W6_Assignment RubricMSW545_W6_Assignment RubricCriteriaRatingsPtsThis criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeVideo Length10 ptsExcellent7–10 minutes, clear narration, engaging delivery8 ptsProficientSlightly over/under time5 ptsNeeds ImprovementTime is significantly off0 ptsUnsatisfactoryNo video10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSlide Design10 ptsExcellentSlides are visually appealing, concise (≤40 words), and support narration8 ptsProficientSlides mostly clear, minor wordiness5 ptsNeeds ImprovementSlides cluttered or hard to follow0 ptsUnsatisfactoryNo slides10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeNarration5 ptsExcellent7–10 minutes, clear narration, engaging delivery4 ptsProficientSlightly over/under time2.5 ptsNeeds ImprovementTime is significantly off0 ptsUnsatisfactoryNo video5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTitle5 ptsExcellentTitle is engaging and reflects content4 ptsProficientThe title is clear but generic2.5 ptsNeeds ImprovementTitle is vague or missing key info0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or incomplete5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAbout the OrganizationDescription of practicum site5 ptsExcellentClear, concise, and relevant description4 ptsProficientClear, concise, and relevant description2.5 ptsNeeds ImprovementVague or lacks relevance0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or off-topic5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTarget Population5 ptsExcellentWell-defined, specific, and relevant to the agency4 ptsProficientDefined but lacks specificity or depth2.5 ptsNeeds ImprovementUnclear or overly broad0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or irrelevant5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeGroup Intervention Pt. 1Intervention, goals, components10 ptsExcellentThorough explanation with strong evidence base8 ptsProficientMostly clear, minor gaps in explanation5 ptsNeeds ImprovementLimited detail or weak connection to evidence0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or poorly explained10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeGroup Intervention Pt. 2Frequency, setting, resources10 ptsExcellentAll elements are clearly described and feasible8 ptsProficientMost elements are described but some lack clarity5 ptsNeeds ImprovementElements are vague or unrealistic0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or poorly developed10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeImplementation PlanTraining, fidelity, costs, resources10 ptsExcellentDetailed, feasible, and well-supported plan8 ptsProficientMostly complete, some elements underdeveloped5 ptsNeeds ImprovementPlan lacks depth or feasibility0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or vague10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeResearch QuestionClear and researchable question10 ptsExcellentFocused, relevant, and clearly stated8 ptsProficientRelevant but could be more focused5 ptsNeeds ImprovementVague or too broad0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or unclear10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDependent VariablesVariables and operationalization10 ptsExcellentClearly defined, measurable, and justified8 ptsProficientMostly clear, rationale could be stronger5 ptsNeeds ImprovementVariables unclear or poorly justified0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or incorrect10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeData CollectionTimeline10 ptsExcellentClear timeline with appropriate pre/post-tests8 ptsProficientMostly clear, some gaps in timing or testing5 ptsNeeds ImprovementTimeline or testing unclear or incomplete0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or not feasible10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeRecruitmentStrategy for participant recruitment10 ptsExcellentEthical, feasible, and clearly described8 ptsProficientMostly clear, some gaps in feasibility5 ptsNeeds ImprovementVague or unrealistic strategy0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeResearch DesignDesign and rationale10 ptsExcellentAppropriate, ethical, and well-justified8 ptsProficientMostly appropriate, rationale could be stronger5 ptsNeeds ImprovementDesign lacks clarity or ethical consideration0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeControl GroupControl group and randomization10 ptsExcellentClear rationale and procedures, ethically sound8 ptsProficientMostly clear, some details missing5 ptsNeeds ImprovementVague or ethically questionable0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReporting ResultsCommunication of findings5 ptsExcellentClear, ethical plan for sharing results4 ptsProficientMostly clear, some gaps in communication2.5 ptsNeeds ImprovementPlan is vague or impractical0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or not addressed5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSourcesIncluded at least three academic and relevant references5 ptsExcellentAll sources recent, relevant, and correctly cited4 ptsProficientMinor APA errors or slightly outdated sources2.5 ptsNeeds ImprovementMultiple APA errors or weak sources0 ptsUnsatisfactoryMissing or not APA formatted5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPA StyleAll citations and references are in correct APA format5 ptsExcellent0-1 errors.4 ptsProficient2 errors.2.5 ptsNeeds Improvement3 errors.0 ptsUnsatisfactory4 or more errors.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWriting RequirementsCommunicate with minimal English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation errors.5 ptsExcellent0-1 errors.4 ptsProficient2 errors.2.5 ptsNeeds Improvement3 errors.0 ptsUnsatisfactory4 or more errors.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeLate Deduction0 ptsNo Points DeductedSubmitted on time0 ptsPoints DeductedNot Submitted on Time – Points Deducted (5% deduction per day) Score of 0 if more than 7 days late0 pts
Total Points: 150

Textbooks and Resources

Required Textbooks

The following books are required for this course:

• Title: Publication Manual of the American Psychological AssociationAuthors: American Psychological AssociationPublisher: American Psychological Association (APA)Publication Date: 2019-10-01Edition: 7thAPA CitationAmerican Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). American Psychological Association.
• Title: Research Methods in Social WorkAuthors: David RoysePublisher: CognellaPublication Date: 2024-12-03APA CitationRoyse, D. (2025). Research methods in social work (9th ed.). Cognella.
• Title: Intersectional Approach to Human Behavior in the Social EnvironmentAuthors: Elisabeth Counselman CarpenterPublication Date: 2024-11-07APA CitationCounselman-Carpenter, E. (2025). An intersectional approach to human behavior in the social environment: Decolonizing theory to practice (1st ed.). Cognella.
• Title: Generalist Social Work PracticeAuthors: Janice GaskerPublisher: SAGE PublicationsPublication Date: 2023-02-12APA CitationGasker, J. (2023). Generalist social work practice (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
• Title: Social Policy for Effective Practice: A Strengths PerspectiveAuthors: Rosemary Kennedy Chapin, Melinda LewisPublisher: RoutledgePublication Date: 2023-03-31Edition: 6thAPA CitationKennedy Chapin, R., & Lewis, M. (2023). Social policy for effective practice: A strengths perspective (6th ed.). Routledge.

Step 1: Understand the assignment before creating slides

Your goal is to propose an evidence-based group intervention and a feasible research design for evaluating its outcomes. You are not simply describing a program; you are explaining how the program would be implemented, measured, and evaluated ethically.

Your presentation must meet these requirements:

• 14 slides maximum, following the specified 14-slide outline.

• 7–10 minutes of recorded narration.

• No more than 40 words on each slide.

• Speaker notes that expand on the slide content rather than repeat it.

• At least three relevant academic sources, generally published within the last five years unless historically important.

• APA-style citations and references.

• A recorded video uploaded to Kaltura through Canvas, not merely an external video link.

Recommended timing: Aim for approximately 8 minutes and 30 seconds. That gives you time to explain your research design without rushing.

Step 2: Build the slide deck and prepare your narration

The following is a slide-by-slide template. Keep the slide text concise and use the narration notes to explain the reasoning. Replace the illustrative details with accurate information from your practicum agency.

Slide 1: Title and purpose

About 20 seconds

Suggested slide text

Evaluating Group CBT for Adults Experiencing Depressive Symptoms Your Name Chamberlain University | MSW545 Date

Speaker notes: Introduce yourself and explain that your presentation proposes a group intervention, identifies measurable outcomes, and describes a research design to evaluate whether the intervention benefits the selected population.

Slide 2: About the organization

About 30 seconds

Suggested slide text

[Agency Name] • Community-based social services • Mental health and supportive services • Individual and group support • Referrals and community partnerships

Speaker notes: Describe your actual practicum agency, its mission, services, and the community it serves. Explain how the proposed intervention fits its existing services and addresses an identified service gap. Do not invent agency details.

Slide 3: Target population

About 30 seconds

Suggested slide text

Adults experiencing depressive symptoms • Age 18 and older • Connected to agency services • Appropriate for group-based support • Diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds

Speaker notes: Explain who would be eligible, why this population needs the intervention, and what barriers participants might face, such as cost, transportation, stigma, or limited access to individual therapy. Define eligibility with agency clinical staff.

Slide 4: About the group intervention — Part 1

About 45 seconds

Suggested slide text

Evidence-Based Practice: Group CBT • Identify unhelpful thought patterns • Practice cognitive restructuring • Develop behavioral activation skills • Strengthen coping and problem-solving

Speaker notes: Explain that group CBT helps participants identify relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sessions may include psychoeducation, guided practice, homework, and peer support. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis supports the evidence base for group CBT for adult depression (Wong et al., 2024).

Slide 5: About the group intervention — Part 2

About 35 seconds

Suggested slide text

Format: 8 weekly sessions Duration: 90 minutes per session Group size: 6–10 participants Setting: Private agency room Staff: Trained facilitator and co-facilitator

Speaker notes: Present these figures as a proposed schedule, not a universal CBT requirement. Explain how a consistent schedule, private space, trained staff, accessible materials, and appropriate group size support participation. Confirm the intervention manual’s recommended dosage and agency capacity before finalizing.

Slide 6: Implementation plan

About 45 seconds

Suggested slide text

• Obtain agency approval • Train and supervise facilitators • Follow a structured session manual • Monitor fidelity and attendance • Budget staffing, materials, and space

Speaker notes: Describe preparation, staff training, referral procedures, and weekly supervision. Estimate costs using actual agency pay rates, staff hours, training fees, materials, and space. Monitor fidelity through session checklists and supervision. Document adaptations and protect the intervention’s essential components.

Slide 7: Research question

About 30 seconds

Suggested slide text

Research Question: Among eligible agency clients, does an eight-week group CBT program reduce depressive symptoms more than usual services over the same period?

Speaker notes: Explain that the question identifies the target population, intervention, comparison condition, outcome, and timeframe. The corresponding hypothesis is that participants receiving group CBT will show a greater average reduction in depressive symptom scores than participants receiving usual services.

Slide 8: Dependent variables

About 45 seconds

Suggested slide text

1. Depressive symptoms: PHQ-9 total score 2. Anxiety symptoms: GAD-7 total score Both measured before and after the intervention.

Speaker notes: Explain that the PHQ-9 measures depressive symptom severity and the GAD-7 measures anxiety symptom severity. Both are standardized self-report measures. Compare score changes from baseline to post-intervention, and explain that lower scores indicate fewer reported symptoms. Use authorized measures and appropriate supervision.

Slide 9: Data collection

About 35 seconds

Suggested slide text

Week 0: Consent and baseline measures Weeks 1–8: Intervention and attendance Week 8: Post-tests Week 12: Optional follow-up

Speaker notes: Explain that baseline measures are collected before the first session and repeated after the final session for both groups. The optional four-week follow-up can assess whether improvements are maintained. Allow additional time for recruitment, consent, and secure data preparation.

Slide 10: Recruitment

About 30 seconds

Suggested slide text

• Agency-approved referrals • Flyers and voluntary invitations • Screen for eligibility • Obtain informed consent • Explain confidentiality and withdrawal rights

Speaker notes: Describe how eligible clients will hear about the study through approved referral channels. Participation must be voluntary, and declining must not affect access to services. Explain eligibility screening, informed consent, privacy safeguards, and the right to withdraw without penalty.

Slide 11: Research design

About 40 seconds

Suggested slide text

Quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design • Intervention and comparison groups • Compare changes over time • Protect privacy and voluntary participation

Speaker notes: Justify a quasi-experimental design if the agency cannot randomly assign clients. Comparing changes between groups provides stronger evidence than evaluating only intervention participants, although selection differences may influence results. Obtain required institutional and agency approvals before collecting research data.

Slide 12: Control group

About 40 seconds

Suggested slide text

Comparison group: Usual agency services • Same assessment schedule • No withdrawal of standard care • Match eligibility criteria • Randomize only if feasible and approved

Speaker notes: Explain that the comparison group continues receiving usual services. Random assignment can reduce selection bias when feasible, ethical, and approved. If randomization is not feasible, use comparable eligibility criteria and document baseline differences. Do not deny necessary services to create a control group.

Slide 13: Reporting results

About 30 seconds

Suggested slide text

• Share an accessible summary • Present group-level findings • Discuss limitations and improvements • Protect participant identities • Recommend next steps

Speaker notes: Explain that results will be shared with the agency instructor, leadership, and participants in an accessible summary. Report outcome changes, participation, limitations, and recommendations without identifying individuals. Describe findings honestly, including results that do not support the hypothesis.

Slide 14: References

About 15 seconds

Suggested slide text

References Wong et al. (2024) Öst et al. (2023) Cuijpers et al. (2023) Full APA references below.

Speaker notes: Briefly acknowledge the research supporting your intervention and design. The actual slide should contain complete APA references, not just abbreviated citations. Because full references may exceed 40 words, confirm with your instructor whether the word limit excludes the references slide.

Step 3: Strengthen your research design

Your instructor will expect you to justify why your chosen intervention and evaluation method are appropriate. Explain the following points in your narration.

Step 4: Use academic sources published within the required timeframe

Your assignment requires at least three relevant academic sources that were not included in the lesson. These peer-reviewed articles are suitable starting points for the illustrative group CBT proposal.

Source 1: Evidence for group CBT

Wong et al. (2024) conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis examining group CBT for adults experiencing depression. This source is particularly relevant to Slides 4 and 5.

Read the article on PubMed

PubMed

Source 2: CBT in routine clinical practice

Öst et al. (2023) reviewed CBT for adult depressive disorders in routine clinical settings. Use this research when explaining how evidence-based interventions may be evaluated in real-world service environments.

Read the article on PubMed

PubMed

Source 3: Evidence across treatment comparisons

Cuijpers et al. (2023) analyzed 409 trials involving 52,702 participants to examine CBT for depression across different comparison conditions. This article can help justify the intervention and discuss the importance of comparison groups.

Read the article on PubMed

PubMed

Additional resource: Implementing evidence-based practices

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides guidance on selecting, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based practices.

Explore the SAMHSA Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center

SAMHSA

APA 7 reference examples

Use the following entries as a starting point for Slide 14. Verify each source’s details against the published article before submitting.

Remember to add an appropriate in-text citation on each slide where you use research evidence, such as (Wong et al., 2024). Format the reference list with double spacing and hanging indents. For APA guidance, consult the American Psychological Association official reference examples guide.

https://apastyle.apa.org

Step 5: Prepare your narration and recording

A 7–10-minute presentation requires more explanation than the slide text alone provides. Use the following workflow to prepare your recording.

1. Write speaker notes in your own words for each slide, explaining the rationale behind your decisions and connecting them to research.
2. Practice speaking naturally instead of reading slide text word for word.
3. Time your full presentation. Aim for approximately 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
4. Use a consistent slide design, readable fonts, and simple visuals that support the research content.
5. Record your slideshow with narration and check that the picture is clear and the audio is audible throughout.
6. Upload the finished video to My Media in Canvas, then embed the Kaltura video in the assignment submission as instructed.

Step 6: Final submission checklist

Altruism Project

Altruism is the ability and willingness to help others. When a student develops a spirit of cooperation, empathy and generosity, these qualities enhance every lesson learned in the classroom and beyond. Altruism is often taught as part of philosophy, religion or psychology classes, although it can fit with many different subjects. Altruism activities not only help students learn more about the concept, but also experience altruism themselves.

Assignment Instructions: Consider the different kinds of needs people might have, such as food, shelter, money, education, friendship or transportation. Compile a list of these needs and place them into categories, such as “material needs” and “emotional needs.” Once you have identified these needs, discuss whether or not these needs are being met for different members of society. For example, people from low-income areas may not have access to education.

After you have become more aware of needs in society, plan an altruistic project. For example; volunteering at a homeless shelter or holding a fundraiser for a school in a poorer area. Explain how this project can improve society and make an impact on people’s lives. 

Assignment Requirements: APA format is required. Page 1 (title page), Page 2 (list of needs), Page 3 (altruistic project plan), and Page 4 (reference page).

Note: References and citations (in-text) are required to be in American Psychological Association (APA) format. Remember user resources located in the Plagiarism Information & APA Format Examples section for guidance.

Step-by-step guide to completing the Altruism Project

Follow these steps to organize your assignment according to your instructor’s requirements. Your paper must contain four pages, with each page serving a specific purpose.

Step 1: Prepare Page 1 — Title Page

Start by creating your APA 7th edition student title page. Center the following information on the page:

• Altruism Project — your paper title, in bold.

• Your full name.

• Your school or university.

• Your course name and number.

• Your instructor’s name.

• The assignment due date.

Remember to include the page number in the top-right corner. Use double spacing and one-inch margins unless your instructor provides different instructions. The APA Style student paper guide explains these formatting requirements.

https://www.apa.org

Step 2: Prepare Page 2 — List of Human Needs

On the second page, list different human needs and organize them into categories. Do more than list them: explain whether these needs are adequately met for different groups in society.

You can use the following examples to develop your discussion.

After listing the needs, explain that access varies according to income, location, disability, family circumstances, and available community resources. Avoid assuming that every person in a particular group experiences the same challenges.

You can connect your discussion to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which address poverty, hunger, health, and education.

United Nations Sustainable Development

Step 3: Prepare Page 3 — Altruistic Project Plan

Choose one realistic project that addresses a need you identified on Page 2. Your project should demonstrate generosity, empathy, cooperation, and a genuine commitment to helping others.

For example, you could propose a School Supplies Donation Drive for students in an underserved community.

Organize your project plan using the following headings.

A. Project Title

School Supplies Donation Drive for Underserved Students.

B. Identified Community Need

Explain that some students face difficulties accessing notebooks, pens, textbooks, and other essential learning materials because of financial constraints.

C. Project Objectives

State what you hope to achieve, such as collecting school supplies and improving access to learning resources for students who need assistance.

D. Planned Activities

1. Identify a school or community organization that needs assistance.

2. Consult teachers or community representatives to determine the most useful supplies.

3. Organize a donation campaign involving students, families, and volunteers.

4. Collect and sort donated materials.

5. Coordinate delivery with the recipient organization.

6. Evaluate the project by reviewing the supplies distributed and gathering feedback.

E. Resources Required

List the supplies, collection boxes, volunteers, transportation arrangements, and any funding needed. Obtain permission where required and coordinate with the receiving school before collecting donations.

F. Expected Impact on Society

Explain how the project could reduce the financial burden on families, improve students’ access to learning materials, encourage school participation, and strengthen community cooperation.

You can also explain how participating in the project may develop empathy and a stronger sense of social responsibility. Research reviews describe altruism and prosocial behavior in relation to actions intended to benefit others (Pfattheicher et al., 2022).

PubMed

Step 4: Prepare Page 4 — References

Your fourth page should contain the heading References, centered and bold. Include every source cited in your paper, formatted in APA style.

Here are examples of credible resources you can use.

Resource 1: Understanding altruism

Pfattheicher, S., Nielsen, Y. A., & Thielmann, I. (2022). Prosocial behavior and altruism: A review of concepts and definitions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 124–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.021

Read the research article on PubMed

Use this source to support your explanation of altruism and helping behavior.

Resource 2: Human needs and social inequalities

United Nations. (n.d.). The 17 goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Use this resource to discuss poverty, hunger, health, education, and inequality.

Resource 3: APA formatting

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Paper format. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format

Review the official APA paper formatting guidelines

Use this resource to check your title page, page numbers, spacing, margins, and reference list.

https://apastyle.apa.org

Step 5: Add APA in-text citations

Whenever you use information from a source, acknowledge it in the text. For example:

• Parenthetical citation: Altruism involves actions intended to benefit others (Pfattheicher et al., 2022).

• Narrative citation: Pfattheicher et al. (2022) reviewed different definitions of altruism and prosocial behavior.

Make sure that each cited source appears on your reference page and that every reference listed is used in your paper.

Step 6: Check the four-page structure

Before submitting, verify that your assignment follows the required layout.

Important: Your instructor has specified four pages, so keep your writing concise enough to fit the required layout. APA formatting conventions generally place the reference list on a new page, and your instructor’s explicit page requirements should guide how you organize the assignment.

250-300 WORDS ANWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

Reflect on your observations of HR departments adapting to changes such as technological advancements, shifting workforce priorities, and global dynamics. Share examples of proactive measures HR professionals have taken to anticipate and manage these changes. What skills and strategies do you think are essential for HR professionals to remain effective in a rapidly changing environment?

Human resource (HR) departments are increasingly adapting to technological advancements, changing employee expectations, and global workforce dynamics. These changes require HR professionals to adopt proactive strategies that support employees while helping organizations remain competitive.

One example of HR adapting to technological advancements is the introduction of digital recruitment platforms and human resource information systems (HRIS). These technologies streamline recruitment, payroll processing, employee records management, and performance evaluations. For example, organizations can use applicant tracking systems to identify qualified candidates more efficiently. HR departments can also introduce training programs to help employees develop digital skills and adapt to new technologies. However, they must address data privacy, cybersecurity, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Another important change involves shifting workforce priorities. Employees increasingly value flexible working arrangements, professional development, and work-life balance. HR professionals have responded by implementing hybrid work policies, employee wellness programs, and career development opportunities. These measures can improve employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. Additionally, HR departments can use employee surveys and feedback sessions to identify emerging concerns before they negatively affect productivity.

Globalization has also encouraged HR professionals to develop inclusive workplace policies and manage culturally diverse teams. Proactive measures include diversity and inclusion training, cross-cultural communication programs, and reviewing employment policies to accommodate different legal and cultural environments.

To remain effective, HR professionals need strong digital literacy, adaptability, communication, and critical-thinking skills. Data analysis is particularly important because it enables HR teams to identify workforce trends, anticipate staffing needs, and make evidence-based decisions. Strategic planning and continuous learning also help HR professionals prepare for future challenges rather than simply reacting to changes after they occur.

In conclusion, effective HR management requires anticipating change, investing in employee development, and aligning workforce strategies with organizational goals. By embracing technology, listening to employees, and promoting inclusive practices, HR professionals can strengthen organizational resilience and remain valuable strategic partners in a rapidly changing business environment.

Step 1: Understand what the question requires

Begin by reading the assignment carefully. You are expected to write a 250–300-word response addressing three main areas:

• HR changes: Explain how technology, changing employee priorities, and globalization affect HR departments.

• Proactive measures: Provide examples of how HR professionals anticipate and manage these changes.

• Essential skills and strategies: Discuss the skills and approaches HR professionals need to remain effective.

Make sure your response addresses all three areas rather than focusing on only one.

Step 2: Plan your introduction

Start with two or three sentences introducing the changing role of human resource management. Explain why HR professionals must adapt to developments in technology, workforce expectations, and global business environments.

Your introduction should establish the topic without going into too much detail.

Step 3: Discuss technological advancements

Explain how HR departments use digital tools to improve their work. Consider examples such as:

• Artificial intelligence and recruitment software.

• Digital employee records and payroll systems.

• Online training and performance management tools.

Explain how these tools improve efficiency while highlighting the importance of data privacy, fairness, and responsible technology use.

Step 4: Explain changing workforce priorities and global dynamics

Discuss how HR professionals respond to employees’ expectations through flexible working arrangements, well-being initiatives, professional development, and inclusive workplace policies.

Then explain how globalization creates a need for cultural awareness, international recruitment strategies, and compliance with employment laws across different countries.

Step 5: Identify essential skills and strategies

Describe the skills HR professionals need, including communication, adaptability, digital literacy, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.

Recommend proactive strategies such as continuous training, employee feedback, workforce planning, and regular evaluation of HR policies. Connect each strategy to the challenge it helps address.

Step 6: Write a strong conclusion

Summarize your main argument in two or three sentences. Emphasize that successful HR management combines technological innovation with employee support and strategic planning.

Avoid introducing entirely new arguments in the conclusion.

Step 7: Review your paper before submitting

Use this checklist to check your work.

Recommended resources

Use these reliable sources to deepen your understanding, find supporting evidence, and strengthen your discussion.

1. SHRM — HR technology

Explore how digital tools and AI are changing recruitment, employee management, and HR strategy.

Read SHRM’s HR technology resources

SHRM

2. CIPD — Managing organizational change

Learn how HR professionals engage employees, implement change, and build adaptable organizations.

Explore CIPD’s change management guidance

CIPD

3. International Labour Organization — Digitalization and employment

Explore research on how digital transformation affects employment, workers, and the future of work.

Read the ILO research review

International Labour Organization

4. SHRM — Artificial intelligence in the workplace

Find examples of AI adoption, workforce preparation, and responsible technology use in HR.

Explore AI and HR resources

SHRM

Final tip: Use the sample response as a model for organizing your ideas. Where appropriate, personalize it with observations from your own experience, support your claims with credible evidence, and follow your instructor’s citation requirements.

To develop a comprehensive strategic HR plan that aligns HR strategies with business goals and demonstrates the value of HR as a strategic business partner to senior leadership.

Instructions:

Part 1: Strategic Role of HR Professionals

1. Introduction:
   • Provide an overview of the strategic role of HR professionals in modern organizations.
   • Explain the importance of aligning HR strategies with business goals.
2. Strategic Alignment:
   • Analysis: Analyze how HR strategies can be aligned with business goals. Discuss the importance of this alignment in achieving organizational objectives.
   • Examples: Reflect on your experiences with HR departments that have played a strategic role in your organization. Share examples of successful HR initiatives that contributed to achieving business goals.

Part 2: Demonstrating Value to Senior Leadership

1. Introduction:
   • Explain the importance of HR professionals demonstrating their value as strategic business partners to senior leadership.
2. Influencing Business Decisions:
   • Examples: Reflect on your observations of HR professionals who have successfully influenced business decisions and contributed to strategic planning. Share one example of how HR initiatives were communicated and implemented to gain support from senior leadership.
3. Skills and Approaches: Discuss one or two essential skills and approaches HR professionals need to be recognized as valuable strategic partners.

Part 3: Preliminary Strategic HR Plan Development

1. Plan Components:
   • Develop a preliminary strategic HR plan that includes the following components:
   • Mission and Vision: Define the mission and vision of the HR department in alignment with the organization’s goals.
   • Strategic Objectives: Identify one or two key strategic objectives for the HR department.
   • Initial Initiatives and Actions: Outline one or two initial HR initiatives and actions that will support the strategic objectives.
   • Preliminary Metrics: Establish preliminary metrics to evaluate the success of the HR initiatives.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the key points discussed in the summary.
• Emphasize the importance of HR as a strategic business partner and the need for continuous alignment with business goals.

Strategic Human Resource Planning: Aligning HR Strategies with Business Goals

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Understand the Purpose of the Assignment

Before you begin writing, make sure you understand what the assignment requires. Your goal is to explain how Human Resources (HR) can contribute to organizational success, demonstrate its value to senior leadership, and develop a preliminary strategic HR plan.

Your paper should address three main areas:

1. The strategic role of HR professionals in modern organizations.
2. How HR professionals demonstrate their value and influence senior leadership.
3. The development of a preliminary strategic HR plan that supports organizational goals.

Throughout your paper, connect HR activities to measurable business outcomes, such as improved employee performance, reduced turnover, stronger leadership, increased productivity, and organizational growth.

Tutor’s tip: Avoid describing HR as a department that only handles recruitment, payroll, and employee records. Show how HR can influence important business decisions and help the organization achieve its long-term objectives.

Step 2: Write the Introduction

Begin with an introduction that explains the strategic importance of HR in modern organizations.

Your introduction should:

• Define strategic human resource management.
• Explain how HR contributes to organizational performance.
• Describe why HR strategies must align with business goals.
• Briefly introduce the three main areas your paper will cover.

For example, you could explain that HR professionals help organizations attract and retain talent, develop employees’ skills, plan for future workforce needs, and build a productive organizational culture.

End your introduction with a clear statement of purpose explaining that the paper will examine HR’s strategic role, its value to senior leadership, and a preliminary plan for aligning HR initiatives with business objectives.

Step 3: Develop Part 1 — The Strategic Role of HR Professionals

This section should explain how HR contributes to the achievement of organizational goals.

A. Analyze strategic alignment

Explain what it means to align HR strategies with business goals. Strategic alignment occurs when HR policies, programs, and decisions support the organization’s broader priorities.

For example:

• If an organization plans to expand into new markets, HR can develop recruitment and workforce-planning strategies to ensure the necessary talent is available.
• If the organization wants to improve productivity, HR can introduce targeted training, performance management, and employee development programs.
• If employee turnover is high, HR can analyze retention data and introduce initiatives to improve employee engagement and retention.
• If the organization is adopting new technology, HR can coordinate reskilling and change-management initiatives.

Discuss why this alignment matters. Explain how it can improve performance, reduce unnecessary costs, prepare the organization for change, and ensure that employees have the skills needed to meet business priorities.

B. Include workplace examples

The assignment asks you to reflect on your own experiences with HR departments that have played a strategic role.

Choose one or two genuine examples from your work experience or professional observations. Explain:

1. What business challenge the organization faced.
2. What HR initiative was introduced.
3. How HR worked with managers or senior leadership.
4. What results the initiative produced or was intended to produce.
5. How the initiative supported the organization’s goals.

Possible examples include a leadership-development program, a new employee-retention strategy, a targeted recruitment campaign, or a workforce-training initiative.

If you have not personally observed a successful initiative, be transparent about that limitation and ask your instructor whether a clearly identified hypothetical or published organizational example is acceptable. Do not present an invented experience as your own.

Tutor’s tip: Use a simple challenge–action–result structure. This will help you move beyond describing HR activities to explaining their strategic impact.

Step 4: Develop Part 2 — Demonstrating HR’s Value to Senior Leadership

In this section, explain why HR professionals need to demonstrate their contribution to organizational performance.

A. Explain the importance of demonstrating value

Discuss how senior leaders need evidence that HR initiatives support business priorities. Explain that HR can demonstrate value by connecting workforce information and HR program outcomes to business performance.

Examples of useful evidence include:

• Employee turnover and retention rates.
• Recruitment costs and time to fill vacancies.
• Training outcomes and skills development.
• Employee engagement results.
• Absenteeism and productivity trends.
• Leadership succession and workforce readiness.

Explain that HR should not simply report how many employees attended training or how many vacancies were filled. It should also evaluate whether these activities improved relevant outcomes.

For example, a training program becomes more strategically meaningful when HR can show that it improved employees’ performance in a critical business area.

B. Explain how HR can influence business decisions

Select one example from your professional experience or observations in which HR influenced a business decision or contributed to strategic planning.

Structure your discussion around these questions:

1. What business decision or challenge needed to be addressed?
2. What information or evidence did HR present?
3. How did HR communicate its recommendations to senior leadership?
4. How did HR gain support from decision-makers?
5. How was the initiative implemented?
6. What business outcomes resulted, or how would success be evaluated?

For instance, HR might use turnover data and exit-interview findings to demonstrate that the loss of experienced employees is affecting operational performance. HR could recommend a retention initiative, estimate its costs, establish measurable targets, and present progress reports to senior leadership.

This illustrates how HR can influence decisions through evidence, business understanding, and clear communication.

C. Discuss one or two essential skills

Choose one or two skills and explain why they are important. Two strong options are:

Data analysis and business acumen: HR professionals need to interpret workforce data, understand organizational priorities, assess costs and benefits, and connect HR initiatives to business outcomes.

Communication and relationship-building: HR professionals must explain recommendations clearly, understand senior leaders’ concerns, collaborate with department managers, and build support for workforce initiatives.

For each skill, explain how it helps HR earn credibility and participate effectively in strategic decision-making. Support your discussion with an example where possible.

Step 5: Develop Part 3 — Preliminary Strategic HR Plan

This is the practical component of your assignment. You will propose a preliminary plan that connects the HR department’s purpose and initiatives to organizational goals.

Choose an organization you know or a clearly identified hypothetical organization. If the assignment or instructor specifies a particular organization, use that organization instead.

A. Define the mission and vision

The mission explains what the HR department does and whom it serves.

The vision describes the future state HR wants to help achieve.

Your mission and vision should reflect the organization’s priorities.

For example:

• Mission: To attract, develop, and retain a capable and engaged workforce that supports organizational performance and employee growth.
• Vision: To become a trusted strategic partner that strengthens organizational effectiveness through workforce planning, leadership development, and evidence-based HR practices.

Adapt these statements to your selected organization’s industry, workforce, and business strategy.

B. Identify one or two strategic objectives

Strategic objectives should be specific enough to guide action and measurable enough to evaluate progress.

For example:

• Objective 1: Improve employee retention in critical roles over the next 12 months.
• Objective 2: Strengthen employees’ capabilities in key operational or leadership skills over the next 12 months.

Explain why each objective is important to the organization. Link the objectives to business needs, such as maintaining service quality, reducing recruitment costs, supporting expansion, or preparing future leaders.

C. Outline initial initiatives and actions

Identify one or two initiatives that directly support your objectives.

For example:

Initiative 1: Employee Retention Program

Potential actions:

• Analyze turnover data to identify departments or roles with high employee attrition.
• Conduct employee engagement surveys or structured feedback sessions.
• Review onboarding, career development, and recognition practices.
• Develop targeted retention actions with department managers.
• Review turnover trends regularly and adjust interventions when necessary.

Initiative 2: Workforce Skills and Development Program

Potential actions:

• Identify critical skills required to achieve business goals.
• Conduct a skills-gap assessment.
• Develop targeted training and mentoring opportunities.
• Involve supervisors in supporting the transfer of learning to the workplace.
• Evaluate employee performance and skills development after training.

Explain who would be responsible for implementation, what resources might be required, and when progress would be reviewed. Keep your proposals realistic for the organization’s size and available resources.

D. Establish preliminary metrics

Metrics help HR determine whether its initiatives are producing the intended results.

You can organize this part of the paper using a table like the following:

Where appropriate, establish a baseline using existing organizational data and set a realistic target after reviewing that baseline.

For example, rather than assuming a particular turnover reduction is achievable, review historical turnover rates, identify the most relevant employee groups, and agree on a target with leadership.

Explain how each metric relates to the strategic objective and how HR will use the results to improve the plan.

Tutor’s tip: Distinguish between activities and outcomes. The number of training sessions delivered is an activity measure; evidence that employees can apply the required skills is an outcome measure. A useful strategic HR plan should consider both.

Step 6: Write the Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize the major arguments without introducing new topics.

Make sure you:

• Reaffirm HR’s role in supporting organizational strategy.
• Summarize how strategic alignment helps HR contribute to business performance.
• Highlight the importance of demonstrating value through evidence and communication.
• Briefly restate the purpose of the proposed strategic HR plan.
• Emphasize the need to monitor results and adjust HR strategies as business needs change.

End by reinforcing the idea that HR is most effective as a strategic business partner when workforce decisions support the organization’s goals and produce measurable value.

Step 7: Organize and Review Your Paper

A clear structure will help you address every part of the assignment.

Use the following outline as a guide:

1. Introduction
2. Part 1: Strategic Role of HR Professionals
   • Strategic alignment
   • Workplace or organizational examples
3. Part 2: Demonstrating Value to Senior Leadership
   • Importance of demonstrating HR’s value
   • Example of influencing a business decision
   • Essential skills and approaches
4. Part 3: Preliminary Strategic HR Plan Development
   • Mission and vision
   • Strategic objectives
   • Initial initiatives and actions
   • Preliminary metrics
5. Conclusion
6. References

Before submitting, check that every required section is included, examples are explained rather than merely mentioned, the proposed HR plan is connected to business goals, and metrics can be used to evaluate progress.

Follow your instructor’s requirements for word count, formatting, citation style, and the number and type of references. If APA style is required, make sure in-text citations match the reference list.

Helpful Learning and Research Resources

The following resources can help you strengthen your understanding of strategic HR management, workforce planning, HR metrics, and organizational performance.

1. CIPD — Strategic Human Resource Management
   https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/factsheets/strategic-hrm-factsheet/
   Explore how HR strategy connects people management with organizational objectives.
2. SHRM — Society for Human Resource Management
   https://www.shrm.org/
   Find professional resources on HR strategy, workforce planning, talent management, and organizational effectiveness.
3. U.S. Office of Personnel Management — Human Capital Framework
   https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/human-capital-management/
   Review a structured approach to connecting workforce capabilities, strategic planning, and organizational results.
4. CIPD — People Analytics
   https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/factsheets/people-analytics-factsheet/
   Learn how workforce data can inform HR decisions and help demonstrate the impact of people-management initiatives.
5. Google Scholar — Strategic Human Resource Management Research
   https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=strategic+human+resource+management+business+performance
   Search academic research on the relationship between HR practices, organizational strategy, and business performance.

Use these resources to support your arguments and locate credible evidence. Cite the original publications you actually consult rather than listing sources you have not read.

Final Advice

Approach this assignment as both an analysis of HR’s strategic role and an opportunity to develop a practical plan. Explain why alignment matters, demonstrate how HR can influence business decisions, and propose initiatives with measurable outcomes.

Keep asking yourself one central question as you write: How will this HR strategy help the organization achieve its business goals?

If each major section answers that question clearly, your paper will be more focused, persuasive, and strategically relevant.

1.      Locate a performance of music within the genre of popular music that includes a very unusual instrument or includes a vocalist with a very unusual quality in their voice.
2.      Find a recording on youtube  (or other online site like vimeo, for example) and include link for others to listen.
3.      Listen thoughtfully to your chosen piece and discuss the following in your initial post for this week’s forum:
a.       List the name and composer of your chosen piece.
b.      Describe the voice/instrument using the key terms and concepts from chapters 5-8 (Form, Timbre, Rhythm and Meter, and Melody).

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Choose a Suitable Piece of Popular Music

Begin by selecting a piece of popular music that features at least one of the following:

• An unusual instrument: An instrument that is uncommon in popular music or produces a distinctive sound.
• An unusual vocal quality: A voice that stands out because of its tone, range, texture, delivery, or other distinctive characteristics.

Choose a piece that interests you and gives you enough musical material to analyze. Make sure the unusual instrument or vocal quality is clearly audible in the recording.

Tutor’s tip: Do not select a song simply because you like it. Choose one that allows you to explain what makes the instrument or voice unusual using specific musical observations.

Step 2: Find an Online Recording

Locate a recording of your chosen piece on YouTube, Vimeo, or another accessible online platform. Copy the direct link and include it in your initial discussion post so your classmates can listen to the same performance.

Before proceeding, check that the recording works and that the unusual instrument or vocal quality can be heard clearly.

You can begin your search here:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/

Step 3: Identify the Piece and Its Composer

At the beginning of your initial post, provide the following information:

• Title of the piece: State the name of the song or musical work.
• Composer: Identify the composer or composers when reliable information is available. If the work is credited to a songwriter or songwriting team, use the appropriate songwriting credits.
• Performance link: Include the URL of the recording you selected.
• Feature of interest: Briefly explain whether you are focusing on an unusual instrument or a distinctive vocal quality.

Do not confuse the performer with the composer. The performer is the person or group performing the music, while the composer or songwriter is credited with creating the musical work.

Step 4: Listen Carefully and Analyze the Musical Elements

Listen to the recording more than once. During your first listen, identify the unusual sound. During subsequent listens, focus on the musical concepts covered in Chapters 5–8: Form, Timbre, Rhythm and Meter, and Melody.

Use the following guidance to organize your observations.

A. Form

Form refers to the way a piece of music is organized. Listen for repeated and contrasting sections, such as verses, choruses, introductions, bridges, and endings.

Consider these questions:

• Does the song follow a verse-chorus structure?
• Does the unusual instrument or voice appear throughout the piece or only in certain sections?
• Does the sound become more prominent during a particular section?
• How does the arrangement help the piece develop?

Explain how the structure affects the listener’s experience.

B. Timbre

Timbre is the quality or character of a sound that helps distinguish one instrument or voice from another.

If you chose an unusual instrument, describe whether its sound is bright, dark, metallic, airy, buzzy, hollow, smooth, or rough, as appropriate.

If you chose an unusual voice, consider whether it sounds breathy, raspy, nasal, resonant, clear, or unusually high or low.

Ask yourself:

• What makes this sound different from more familiar instruments or voices?
• Is the sound soft, sharp, warm, piercing, or mellow?
• How does it compare with the other sounds in the recording?
• What effect does its timbre create?

Use descriptive terms that match what you actually hear rather than simply calling the sound strange or unusual.

C. Rhythm and Meter

Rhythm concerns the pattern and duration of sounds and silences. Meter refers to how beats are organized into recurring patterns of strong and weak beats.

As you listen, consider:

• Is the tempo slow, moderate, or fast?
• Is the beat steady or does the rhythm feel flexible?
• Does the unusual instrument or vocalist follow the main beat, anticipate it, or emphasize offbeats?
• Are there syncopated rhythms, repeated rhythmic patterns, or noticeable pauses?
• Does the music have a duple, triple, or another recognizable meter?

Explain how these rhythmic features contribute to the character of the performance.

D. Melody

Melody is a sequence of pitches heard as a recognizable musical line.

Listen to how the unusual instrument or vocalist creates or contributes to the melody. Consider:

• Is the melody ascending, descending, or moving within a narrow pitch range?
• Does it move mainly by steps or by larger leaps?
• Is the melodic line smooth and connected or short and fragmented?
• Does the vocalist use sustained notes, slides, or changes in pitch?
• Does the instrument carry the main melody, respond to the singer, or provide a contrasting musical line?

Describe the melodic features you can hear and explain how they make the performance distinctive.

Tutor’s tip: You do not need to use every technical term listed above. Select the concepts that genuinely apply to your recording, explain them accurately, and support your observations with specific examples from the music.

Step 5: Write Your Initial Discussion Post

Organize your post into clear paragraphs so your classmates can follow your analysis.

A useful structure is:

1. Introduction: Introduce the selected piece, its composer or songwriter, the performer, and the unusual instrument or vocal quality.
2. Recording link: Provide the link to the performance.
3. Musical analysis: Discuss form, timbre, rhythm and meter, and melody, using relevant terms from the assigned chapters.
4. Personal observation: Explain what makes the sound distinctive and how it contributes to the overall musical experience.
5. Conclusion: Summarize your main observations about the selected performance.

Your discussion should demonstrate thoughtful listening rather than simply summarize the song or state whether you enjoyed it. Explain what you hear, how it relates to the musical concepts, and why it matters.

Step 6: Respond Meaningfully to Your Classmates

After submitting your initial post, read and listen to your classmates’ contributions before writing your responses.

A response that only says “good job” or “great post” does not meet the assignment requirements. Your reply must contribute a meaningful observation about a musical element that the original post did not discuss.

For example, if a classmate focuses on timbre, you might discuss the song’s rhythm, meter, melody, or form.

A strong response should:

• Refer specifically to the classmate’s selected piece.
• Identify a musical feature you noticed while listening.
• Introduce a musical element that was not addressed in the original post.
• Explain your observation using relevant musical terminology.
• Maintain a respectful, constructive tone.

Example response framework:

“I enjoyed listening to your selected piece. In addition to the vocal quality you discussed, I noticed that the rhythm is particularly important to the performance. The repeated rhythmic pattern creates a steady pulse, while the changes in the vocal melody add contrast. These features contribute to the overall character of the song.”

Adapt this framework to the music you actually hear. Avoid submitting generic responses that could apply to any song.

Step 7: Check the Deadlines and Proofread Your Work

According to the assignment instructions:

• Initial discussion post: Thursday by midnight, Eastern Standard Time (EST), as stated in the assignment.
• Responses to classmates: Sunday by midnight, EST.

Submit your work before the applicable deadlines. If you are unsure about the time zone, confirm the course’s deadline settings with your instructor.

Before submitting, check that:

• You have named the musical piece and identified its composer or songwriter.
• You have included a working recording link.
• You have identified the unusual instrument or distinctive vocal quality.
• You have discussed the relevant concepts from Chapters 5–8.
• Your musical observations are supported by what you hear.
• You have responded to classmates with a new musical observation.
• Your writing uses clear, complete sentences and correct grammar.

Understanding the Grading Rubric

Use the rubric to prioritize your work.

• Initial response — 10 points: Answer the assignment questions and demonstrate an understanding of the relevant musical concepts.
• Responses to classmates — 7 points: Contribute meaningful observations about musical elements not discussed in the original posts.
• Writing quality — 3 points: Use clear, complete sentences and proofread for grammatical errors.

Total: 20 points

The strongest submission will combine accurate musical terminology, attentive listening, clear organization, and meaningful participation in the discussion.

Helpful Learning Resources

Use these resources to review the musical concepts before completing your post:

1. Open University — Discovering Music Through Listening
   https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/discovering-music-through-listening/
   A free learning resource covering musical elements such as timbre, melody, rhythm, meter, and structure.
2. Open University — Introduction to Music Theory: Form
   https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/introduction-music-theory-1-form/content-section-0
   Learn how repetition, contrast, verses, choruses, and other sections help organize a musical piece.
3. Open Music Theory — Free Online Textbook
   https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/
   Review music theory topics and strengthen your understanding of musical terminology.
4. Open Music Theory — Rhythm and Meter
   https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/part/rhythm-and-meter/
   Review beats, rhythmic patterns, meter, syncopation, and related concepts.
5. YouTube — Music Performance Recordings
   https://www.youtube.com/
   Search for recordings that feature an unusual instrument or a distinctive vocal quality. Check the performance details and credits before choosing your example.

Final Advice

Take your time with the listening process, refer to your assigned textbook chapters, and organize your thoughts before writing. Your goal is to show that you can recognize musical features, describe them using appropriate terminology, and explain how they contribute to a performance.

You can do this! Start by choosing a recording that genuinely interests you, then work through each step to develop a clear, thoughtful, and well-supported discussion post.

Using the case study, develop a project charter (use headings) of three pages no more.

In addition to the course textbook, research two additional resources. In your charter,

• Summarize the project’s scope and limitations.
• Design a business case for the project.
• Assess how the project will enable the corporate strategy.
• Assess how the project will apply CSR values.
• Calculate the Net Present Value (NPV) for the project business case. Derive the NPV using the following data and submit an Excel spreadsheet as an appendix:
  • Purchase price of $400,000
  • One-time project costs total of $100,000 spent in Year 0
  • Net benefits after taxes of $150,000 per year for five years
  • Salvage value for Year 6 and beyond of $400,000.
  • Summarize your results of NPV in the paper and refer to the Appendix.
• Develop a milestone schedule that includes five to seven elements.
  • Use the case study to derive the milestones. If the case is lacking, feel free to include a solution or milestone that you think Walmart would value.
• Predict the project’s risks, threats, and opportunities.
• Outline the resources needed for the project.
• Develop your plan to form a high-performing project team.
• Identify five important groups of stakeholders.

The Project Charter Development paper

• must be three

Kloppenborg, T. J., Anantatmula, V., & Wells, K. N. (2023). Contemporary project management: Plan-driven and agile approaches (5th ed.). Cengage Learning

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CASE STUDY

Logistics Service Improvement Project

The logistics service improvement project case study is the base for the assignments for Weeks 1, 2, and 3. Wherever “country” is mentioned, substitute the name of the country you selected for the Walmart case study.

Overview

International Logistics Services (ILS), a firm with $5 billion in annual revenues, provides

inventory storage—that is, a place to store goods near the point of sale—and last-mile delivery services to customers worldwide. ILS’s values are based on the triple bottom line of profits, people, and planet (Slaper & Hall, 2011). The firm’s mission is to provide reliable, accurate, and consistent inventory management and local delivery services in a socially responsible manner. In addition to inventory storage, ILS also provides cross-dock services at strategic locationsaround the world. They also own fleets of trucks in each country to deliver goods directly to retail outlets or consumers. Thus, ILS offers their customers a unique value proposition as a specialized third-party logistics provider. ILS’s focus on providing logistics services to their own customers enables the latter to effectively and efficiently serve their consumers in a just-in-time manner with minimal stock-outs. ILS’s customers include Walmart, car dealerships, and other retailers that serve consumers directly.

Employee Retention

You have chosen a country for the Walmart case study. International Logistics Services (ILS) has acquired a new warehouse and truck fleet in your selected country and within the vicinity of one or more Walmart stores. The newly acquired warehouse has 100 employees. The new director for logistics services (DLS) plans to address all the employees on Thursday. The DLS will present the vision, mission, and values. The DLS will also explain the strategic objective to secure Walmart as a customer. The DLS asks that you, the start-up project manager, follow with a presentation. The DLS asks you to deliver an audio-narrated presentation that

• explains what a project is,
• describes project management,
• provides a brief outline of the project goals,
• illustrates the project planning steps, and
• summarizes how CSR will be an important element of your project.

Your initial response should contain three PowerPoint slides with speakers notes lasting 5 mins

A firm known as International Logistic Services, or ILS, has acquired an existing warehouse and
transportation provider in your selected country for Walmart. ILS has an excellent reputation as
a firm concerned about profit, people, and the planet. That is, they strive for the triple bottom
line. ILS is located within the vicinity of one or more Walmart stores. The acquisition, however,
has inherited many problems, including safety, disregard for the environment, and financial
issues.
The newly acquired logistics service has 100 employees. ILS recently appointed a new director
of logistic services–DLS– who will sponsor the project to improve operations, recognizing that a
strategic objective is to win Walmart’s business. You have been selected as the project
manager.
The DLS has asked you to develop a project charter. The Project Management Institute, PMI,
defines a charter as a document issued by, or approved by the sponsor, to officially undertake
the project. The charter enables the project manager with authority to obtain resources, and to
plan the project, and eventually execute the project.
The sponsor has specified constraints for the project as follows—
• The business was acquired for $400,000. Thus, benefits that accrue from this project
must justify the investment.
• Project costs should not exceed $100,000.
• The project is expected to start in February and be completed by December in Year
Zero.
• Net benefits of the project should be $150,000 per year for the first five years, starting in
Year One. In Year Six, assume that the salvage value is $400,000.
Your charter must include a summary of the project’s scope and limitations, and a business
case for the project.
The business case should include the application of the corporate social responsibility values to
resolve the inherited problems; how the project will enable the corporate strategy to win
Walmart’s business, net present value for the project, using the data provided and calculated in
MS Excel. Attach the Excel document as an appendix to the charter.
• Summarize the results of your calculations in the body of the project charter.
• Describe a milestone project schedule that includes five to seven elements. A milestone
is a high-level task that includes a top-down estimate of the project duration and the start
and end times. Predict risks, unexpected threats, and opportunities that may occur
during the project.
• Outline the resources you will need for the project: team members, materials, and funds.
State your plan to form a high-performing project team.
• Identify five important groups of stakeholders that you should consider for the project.
Stakeholders include any party that has an interest in a project.
Why is this assignment important to you? Writing an effective project charter will help you
develop skills to effectively initiate a project.
As you write this assignment, consider that you may write as many as 50 to 100 charters during
your career, as many project leaders and sponsors have done. Many times, charters are called
by other names, such as request for proposal, budget justification, authorization for funding, and
so on. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your instructor

Final Case Study: Challenges Facing Urban Planners Assignment Instructions

Overview

This case study assignment is designed to test your ability to conduct effective research, gain a nuanced understanding of complex concepts, synthesize the ideas reflected in your research with those reflected in your required readings, and to evaluate and apply these ideas to an issue of urban planning.

Instructions

For this assignment, you will write an analysis critique of a case study in a traditional research paper format. Specifically, you must:

1) Analyze several of the Critical Challenges Facing an Urban Planner What are they? [See below] How do they affect the planning process? Why do they affect the planning process? What are second-order consequences?

Some Challenges (pressures that exert a decisive influence on a planning organization’s likelihood of future success.)

• Disruptive innovations
• Financing Difficulties
• Fragmented and overlapping governments, authorities, and special districts
• Untangling organizational purpose and organizational strategy
• Social conflicts, and rapid population growth
• The spread of scattered new development
• Outdated planning and zoning techniques
• Incorporating “what people think” (reputation and the social definition of value) in strategic planning

2) Analyze the Solutions to each Planning and Development Challenge selected (What are they How will they work? What are the impacts and second order consequences?)

3) Analyze the Partnerships That Can Mitigate, or Address each Planning and Development Challenges selected using a biblical worldview (What parties are involved in the comprehensive planning process? What do they contribute? What purpose do they serve? What are the impacts and second order consequences of their involvement?)

Resource Links

• American Planning Association (APA)
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
• Urban Institute
• Planetizen Urban Planning Resources
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• Google Scholar
• Purdue OWL APA 7 Guide
• Bible Gateway

Recommended Scholarly Search Terms

• Urban planning challenges and solutions
• Urban sprawl and sustainable development
• Financing urban infrastructure projects
• Regional governance and planning coordination
• Smart growth planning strategies
• Public participation in urban planning
• Biblical worldview and community development
• Urban planning stakeholder partnerships
• Land use planning and zoning reform
• Sustainable city development strategies

Week 6 Assignment

Healthcare Finance

Health Insurance Expansion

Healthcare market failures, such as adverse selection, can be addressed through government policy and regulation. By limiting barriers and providing access to health care through policies such as the health insurance expansion under the Affordable Care Act, policy makers can address failures and ensure adequate insurance coverage for healthy, unhealthy, and at-risk populations. For this Assignment, you examine the health insurance expansion policy and evaluate economic implications.

To prepare for this Assignment: 

• Analyze the rationale for health insurance expansion under the Affordable Care Act. How does health insurance expansion relate to the problem of adverse selection?
• Consider the economic implications of health insurance expansion in the United States. What are the economic implications of health insurance expansions for healthcare organizations in your own state or region?

Submit a 4- to 6-page paper, to address the following:

• Analyze the rationale for health insurance expansion. Include how health insurance expansion relates to the problem of adverse selection.
• Evaluate economic implications of health insurance expansion in the United States. Include, specifically, how health insurance expansions might impact healthcare organizations in your own state or region.

Note: The paper should be 4–6 pages, not including the title and reference pages. Your Assignment should be consistent with graduate-level writing, as described in the rubric. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from the Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources, as appropriate. Refer to the Week 6 Assignment Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this grading rubric to assess your work

Resource Links

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• KFF – Affordable Care Act Resources
• Healthcare.gov
• Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
• National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
• American Economic Association Resources
• Purdue OWL APA 7 Guide

Suggested Scholarly Search Terms

• Affordable Care Act and adverse selection
• Medicaid expansion economic impact
• Health insurance expansion healthcare finance
• ACA and hospital financial performance
• Insurance market stabilization under ACA
• Healthcare economics and risk pooling
• Medicaid expansion rural hospitals
• Health insurance coverage and healthcare utilization