Fundementals of human resource management

THE SOUTHERN WIDGET MANUFACTURING

Introduction

Founded in 2006, Southern Widget Manufacturing sets out to be the leading manufacturer of widgets in the world. Southern Widget has sales and distribution centers around the world including six centers in the US. The company is a member of the World Widget Manufacturing Association (WWMA).

Widgets are used as a display tool for several products including: PC, TV, auto parts, furniture, etc.

The Widget is a Bamboo based product making both environmentally and economically sound. Bamboo, like wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for many applications Widgets it is considered one of the fastest-growing plants in the world.

Mission Statement

·       Provide a high-quality, affordable product

·       Create long term relationships with customers

·       Respond immediately to changing needs of customers

·       Achieve complete customer satisfaction

·       Improve our customer services continuously

·       Maintain excellent employee relations

·       Sustain community involvement

Vision

The vision at Southern Widget Manufacturing is to utilize our well trained and satisfied employee teams to deliver outstanding customer services.

Mission

At Southern Widget Manufacturing every person in our company is a member of the team and a team player, with expectations that they perform their duties to their fullest capacity and potential. Our objective is a commitment to the highest quality of widgets and customer service. The customer’s satisfaction is our major focus, reached through innovative and cost effective production. We will lead the Widget industry with well trained and satisfied employees and pleased customers.

Address any five of the Southern Widget Manufacturing Company following company issues: Please send to [email protected].

1)    Francisco works at Southern Widget as a welder. Although he is provided with protective goggles and a face mask, overalls and other types of protective clothing are not provided. After three months of work at Southern Widget, Francisco notices his skin becoming drier and gradually changing color. Alarmed with this development, he approaches his supervisor asking for details of the materials he works with. The supervisor declines to reveal any kind of information. What authority and laws can help Francisco file a claim?

2)    Virginia's boss, Luke, constantly uses sexually explicit language while communicating with his female subordinates. Though many female employees are bothered with this behavior, no one has ever complained for fear of negative repercussions. However, Virginia files a complaint against Luke with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Will this be considered as discriminatory behavior? Why or why not? Explain the prohibitions under Title VII for related behavior.

3)    Policy 137: The paint booths contain many toxic chemicals and are possibly harmful to unborn fetuses. In an abundance of caution Southern Widget will not allow its female employees of child bearing age to accept a position in the painting area. Employees working in the paint area make $5.00 more than other production employees. Is this considered discrimination, what is this called? Explain

4)    Southern Widget employees are being asked for their opinion on which type of insurance they would like to have. The choices are HMO or PPO. Explain the difference as they differ from traditional health care providers? Pretend you are an employee and give you choice, explain.

5)    You have been asked to write a FLSA policy. Be sure to include the three major parts as it might relate to Southern Widget.

6)    Thomas a Production Foreman was terminated. He has filed a Company grievance. On April 2, Thomas was told to open discharge valves into the Mississippi River which he refused to do. Additionally, he has been told by the company President, with witnesses, that he was such a good employee he had a job for life. Southern Widget’s rebuttal is that he refused a direct order and the company’s policy clearly state, that there are no contract employees. Does he have a case on either point? Discuss and serve as the arbitrator with the decision.

7)    John, the company Custodian, was in a horrific car accident as a child but has fully recovered from his injuries and is considered a very healthy individual. During the accident, John was burned and still has several facial scars that have disfigured his face. Many employees at John's company stare as he walks by and get distracted by his appearance. Is John protected by the ADA? Explain.

8)    The Widget Operators Local Unions 621 filed a petition to have Southern Widget create an alternative dispute resolution, including the most common techniques. Is that a good idea for the company, if so, what how should it include?

9)    Southern Widget is preparing to announce a new compensation system. Before the system goes live, as the HR Training Supervisor, you are required to do a company training on what goes into a compensation system. You will need to explain and discuss issues like: job structure, pay levels, motivation, cost control, etc.

10) As a future Supervisor what did you learn about Human Resources that you did not know before taking this course? What will you do to include this knowledge in your supervisory role?

14. Discuss how a SCMS can reduce risk and liability.

GENERAL BUSINESS COURSE QUESTION:

Joe and Jill were talking about the role played by the Federal Reserve System in the United States. Joe seemed to be quite well informed about the functions and activities of our central bank. "You see, Jill, the Fed is the main guardian of our nation's economic stability," Joe declared. "In America, we don't want inflation and we don't want recession. To stretch the situation just a bit, we are frightened, absolutely terrified, by thoughts of hyperinflation and depression. So, the Fed maintains the right to alter the situation and protect us from these two monsters. And you ask, how they do that? The answer is the discount rate. That is the device that the Federal Reserve System uses to keep us safe."

Jill was enjoying listening to her friend explain it all. Joe continued, "Now the discount rate is the interest rate that the twelve Federal Reserve Banks around the country charge their member banks on a loan. So, when the discount rate goes up, all interest rates tend to go up. And, happy to say, when interest rates go up all over America, this tends to slow down any inflationary tendencies." Jill asked, "Does the Fed have other tools for stopping inflation?" "No," said Joe.

6) In which type of fund do you think you would invest, a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund? What is the difference and why would you favor one over the other?

Twelve samples, each containing five parts, were taken from a process that produces steel rods at Emmanuel Kodzi’s factory. The length of each rod in the samples was determined. The results were tabulated and sample means and ranges were computed. The results were:

a) Determine the upper and lower control limits and the overall means for x -charts and R -charts.

b) Draw the charts and plot the values of the sample means and ranges.

c) Do the data indicate a process that is in control? d) Why or why not?

i AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FORMULAS TO MAKE SENSE FOR Standard Deviation, SO IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN THE FORMULAS IN EACH CELL ON HOW YOU GOT THE ANSWER THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU

GENERAL BUSINESS COURSE QUESTION:

Joe and Jill were talking about the role played by the Federal Reserve System in the United States. Joe seemed to be quite well informed about the functions and activities of our central bank. "You see, Jill, the Fed is the main guardian of our nation's economic stability," Joe declared. "In America, we don't want inflation and we don't want recession. To stretch the situation just a bit, we are frightened, absolutely terrified, by thoughts of hyperinflation and depression. So, the Fed maintains the right to alter the situation and protect us from these two monsters. And you ask, how they do that? The answer is the discount rate. That is the device that the Federal Reserve System uses to keep us safe."

Jill was enjoying listening to her friend explain it all. Joe continued, "Now the discount rate is the interest rate that the twelve Federal Reserve Banks around the country charge their member banks on a loan. So, when the discount rate goes up, all interest rates tend to go up. And, happy to say, when interest rates go up all over America, this tends to slow down any inflationary tendencies." Jill asked, "Does the Fed have other tools for stopping inflation?" "No," said Joe.

7) Has the economy recovered from the last recession? What factors led you to your answer? You should be able to back up your opinion. Don't use blog opinions. Make sure your source(s) is/are based upon facts.

what are the things you need to make a basic presentation?
what are the ways of searching pictures on a website?

Managers and employees have long expressed dislike and skepticism about performance appraisal, as it is typically practiced in organizations. Some HR practitioners and consultants, such as Samuel Culbert, have advocated getting rid of the standard performance appraisal programs. Culbert has suggested that the arguments typically given for performance appraisal are invalid and, in a word, “bogus.”  

a. Describe two arguments or reasons that are typically given in support of formal performance appraisals.

b. Then explain why Culbert and others who are skeptical of performance appraisal believe these arguments are weak or bogus.

c. Explain your perspective on whether performance appraisals are necessary, and why or why not. If you believe they are not necessary, explain what procedures, if any, you would recommend to fulfill the functions that performance appraisals are said to fulfill.

Is a universal list of human rights that will be acceptable to all people in all societies possible? Can people in different countries agree on a common set of fundamental protections and guarantees for individuals? Consider parts of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. What elements seem universal? Which, if any, do not? If a common set is not feasible, how can international organizations identify and sanction rights violators?

GENERAL BUSINESS COURSE QUESTION:

Joe and Jill were talking about the role played by the Federal Reserve System in the United States. Joe seemed to be quite well informed about the functions and activities of our central bank. "You see, Jill, the Fed is the main guardian of our nation's economic stability," Joe declared. "In America, we don't want inflation and we don't want recession. To stretch the situation just a bit, we are frightened, absolutely terrified, by thoughts of hyperinflation and depression. So, the Fed maintains the right to alter the situation and protect us from these two monsters. And you ask, how they do that? The answer is the discount rate. That is the device that the Federal Reserve System uses to keep us safe."

Jill was enjoying listening to her friend explain it all. Joe continued, "Now the discount rate is the interest rate that the twelve Federal Reserve Banks around the country charge their member banks on a loan. So, when the discount rate goes up, all interest rates tend to go up. And, happy to say, when interest rates go up all over America, this tends to slow down any inflationary tendencies." Jill asked, "Does the Fed have other tools for stopping inflation?" "No," said Joe.

2) Joe probably can't answer this question, but you can. What happens in the Fed's open market operations?

Describe the new type of company that has evolved as a result of big data.

Carla McFarland was an associate professor of English literature at Highland College. She was the only single person in her department. Consequently, she was frequently assigned classes late in the evening, on weekends, and during the summer semester. She was also called upon to pick up visiting professors and serve as their escort and guide during their stays at the college. She received extra duty as adviser to the The Highland Review, the college's literary magazine. When McFarland complained about the unequal treatment, she was told that the married professors had family responsibilities that she did not have, which took up much of their time and prevented them from having the flexibility that she had. Thus, she would continue to carry the extra load. McFarland filed a complaint with the EEOC.

Can discrimination based on an employee's status as a single person be considered unlawful under the Civil Rights Act? Explain. Is this a case of disparate impact or disparate treatment? Explain. Final answer must be 3 sentences minimum.

See Wilson, Robin. Singular Mistreatment: Unmarried Professors Are Outsiders in the Ozzie and Harriet World of Aca- deme." The Chronicle of Higher Education (23 April 2004): A10-A12

prepare a detailed executive summary of System development life cycle to be distributed to technical and non technical members of the management team,the summary should describe the System Development Life Cycle in detail and provide critical analysis of the tool for the team.

• Two friends are considering launching a small company, which they believe has potential to grow into a large firm in the future. Identify three (3) important factors they should take into consideration when selecting a form of ownership. Next, recommend one (1) form of ownership you believe will best serve the organization now and in the future. Justify your response.
• Identify two (2) key criteria you would use to evaluate different franchise opportunities,

Toyota vehicle recalls At the end of 2009, Toyota Motor Corporation faced three separate related recalls of automobiles. The first recall, on November 2, 2009, was to correct a possible incursion of an incorrect or out-of-place front driver's side floor mat into the foot pedal well. which can cause pedal entrapment. The second recall, on January 21, 2010, begun after some crashes were shown not to have heen caused by floor mat incursion. This latter defect was identified as a possible mechanical sticking of the accelerator pedal causing unintended acceleration, referred to as Sticking Accelerator Pedal by Toyota. As uf January 28, 2010, Toyota had announced recalls of approximately 5.2 million vehieles for the pedal entrapment/ floor mat problem, and an additional 23 million vehicles for the accelerator pedal problem. Approximately 1.7 million vehicles were subject to both. Thus, investigations on such issues started immediately. On February 8, 2011, findings into the investigation were released After a 10-month search, scientists found no clectronic defect in Toyota vehicles. Driver error or pedal misapplication was found responsible for most of the incidents. The report ended stating. "Our conclusion is Tayota's problems were mechanical, not electrical." This included sticking accelerator pedals. and pedals cought under floor mats. In fact, in 2005. Toyota launched the "Customer First" program, to bring the voice of customers in an attempt to improve the quality of its vehicles. But it was quietly discontinued in early 20X19. A Toyota manager justified its elimination by announcing "We had come to believe that quality was maintained mainly in processes and not in products, and no quality at source was applied," Moreover, when implemented coerectly, any impeovement in quality processes can reduce waste and thus lead to reduced cost and improved profitubility. Therefore, Toystu wanted to know that if paying more in increasing the quality of their vehicles, would pay them the benefits they are aiming for, or it would be just another lost investment. but On October 24, 2013, a jury ruled against Toyotu and found that unintended acceleration could have been caused due to deficiencies in the drive-by-wire throttle system or Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS). 1) What two functional perspective on quality did Toyotan upply? Justify. 2) According to Juran's trilogy quality theory, in which step of the three was the problem? Justify. 3) Which sphere of the three spheres of quality was Toyota facing problem in? Justify? 4) Which point of 14 points of Deming's quality thenry was presented in the above case? Justify.

Design specifications require that a key dimension on a product measure 106 ± 12 units. A process being considered for producing this product has a standard deviation of five units.

a. What can you say (quantitatively) regarding the process capability? Assume that the process is centered with respect to specifications. (Round your answer to 4 decimal places.)

b. Suppose the process average shifts to 98. Calculate the new process capability. (Round your answer to 4 decimal places.)

c. What is the probability of defective output after the process shift? (Use Excel's NORM.S.DIST() function to find the correct probability. Round "z" values to 2 decimal places. Round your answer to 4 decimal places.)

Probability of defective output ?