...Business Communication Trends Michelle Gordon XCOM/285 August 11, 2013 Shannon Owens Business Communication Trends The definition of business communication is the sharing of information between people within an enterprise that is performed for the commercial benefit of the organization. In addition, business communication can also refer to how a company shares information to promote its product or services to potential consumers. (WebFinance, 2013) Communication plays a critical role in student’s on-line day to day activities. A on-line student has to be flexible to balance school and family. Some of the flexibility options allow you to work anytime and anywhere. You are able to make your own schedule and incorporate it into your daily routine. The University of Phoenix requires you to participate four days a week. This means you have to log into your student portal at least four days and participate in class discussions and weekly discussion questions. If for some reason you could not participate you are required to check in with your instructor. Checking in will ensure you will not be dropped from your class. An on-line student is capable of meeting personal needs because you are able to go to school from anywhere. All you need is an Internet connection and a computer. You can take your on-line classes on vacation with you if needed. You can juggle so many personal tasks as an on-line student. For example, if you have a doctor’s appointment and need to answer some...
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...Flexible Work Schedule Survey Kasey Taylor LeTourneau University BUSI 4623OL: Business Research Methods October 25, 2012 Abstract The purpose of this survey was to determine whether or not flexible work schedules have a positive impact on productivity in the workplace. The survey was given to all employees at the end of a training class and turned into the instructor to give to the human resource department. The written survey consisted of 10 questions ranging from demographics to personal needs. We found employees with spouses and or children under the age of 18 were in favor of flexible work schedule having a positive impact for them personally on their productivity. The survey also revealed the need for individuals to feel they have some control and flexibility in their work schedules, which leads to a balanced personal and business life. Flexible Work Schedule The purpose of this survey was to determine whether or not flexible work schedules have a positive impact on productivity in the workplace. “Flexible work schedules” refer to choices pertaining to the location and/or time that work is conducted, whether it is formal or informal. Formal being policy from HR department that is written. Informal meaning the immediate supervisor has approved this flexible arrangement. The survey was emailed to 2,000 employees and 526 participants completed the survey. The survey consisted of several questions ranging from the use of flexible work arrangements to their level...
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...RECOMMENDATION #1. Improve the demand forecasts made internally by the Buying Committee in November just before Speculative Production. Instead of using just a simple average of the individual forecasts made by Laura, Carolyn, Greg, Wendy, Tom, & Wally, use a weighted average, with the weights reflecting past accuracy. RECOMMENDATION #2. Obtain market feedback earlier than Las Vegas, thereby converting some Speculative Production to Reactive Production. Sport Obermeyer can invite selected retailers to come in January to Aspen for an all-expenses-paid “Early Order Weekend”, where there is time for a”sneak preview” of the new line, some recreational skiing and socializing, and then the early placement of orders at a discount. To maximize the value of the market feedback, Sport Obermeyer’s “guest list” should include both large and small retailers and both urban and resort retailers. RECOMMENDATION #3. Decrease lead times for both raw materials and finished goods, thereby allowing more time to utilize existing capacity. Since the business strategy should emphasize Dependability more than Cost, lead-times can be reduced using some or all of the following methods: Choose suppliers of raw materials more on the basis of D than C. Expedite orders through information sharing with suppliers. Expedite shipments using faster (but more expensive) shippers. Establish some local (but more expensive) production capacity for “last minute” production. Other ways to reduce lead times...
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...Have you ever felt that I need to train no matter what I feel like today? I have found that sticking with my training plan is not the issue, however veering off it slightly and allowing for flexibility was very difficult for me. In my last two years of competing against Runners and Triathletes there have been a few injuries, chronic fatigue and potential burnout. I decided to step back this year while training for the marathon by preventing myself in falling in the same pattern again. Often times, the best barometer of feedback is not in watts, heart data or fancy graphs. Some of the best feedback comes from our gut instincts. Finding the joy in training and being opening up to being more flexible in our regimen is just as important as all the hard interval work or getting in the volume. This said, I decided to listen to my inner voice which said, “I think I need to rest more today.” That inner voice often sent me an SOS signal calling for either a brief physical or mental break. The best advice that I can give to you as a runner is to speak to yourself as if you were your own best friend. What would you say to a good friend if she or he felt pressure to so something on plan, but knew deep inside what they really needed? What would you say to your friend if he or she said that she was really, really tired and not up for doing something you had planned together? You’d probably say that “it’s okay – we’ll get it in another time.” The best runners, who perform well...
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...Employers and Workers The pace of life dictates ever changing priorities and requires acceptance, tolerance and flexibility. While a source of income is still required, the company where one is employed may not have as much influence if the career detracts significantly from the non-work related needs of the individual. Furthermore, if companies are insensitive to employee needs, and work becomes a significant source of stress, not only does worker productivity lessen but that company’s name and reputation as an employer may hinder its own ability attract necessary quality employees. Employees and employers alike are looking for ways to increase worker satisfaction. One increasingly attractive solution is the growing acceptance of a flexible work week and schedule. Prominent employers like Kraft Foods, Texas Instruments and First Tennessee Bank have implemented these changes for their workers to boost productivity while increasing job satisfaction (Forbes). Employers are also using these flex schedules as a way of attracting and retaining their employees. For example, “In 1999 only 18 companies on Fortune magazine’s list of Best Places to Work offered telecommuting. Today, 79 do (ABC News).” The definition of flexibility encompasses a wide range of topics such as: • Flextime (compressed work weeks and shift flexibility) • Telecommuting • Paid Time Off (personal days and vacation by the hour) “Business leaders are learning how to position flexibility as a powerful...
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...Daft explains that because these type companies are divided into departments, communication and coordination are slow and decision making may be poor (2013). 2. Another structure is the divisional approach. As opposed to the functional way, there are several teams across the same level that works on their own single product or service. Each of these teams has their own leader or manager. Pros of the divisional approach allow teams to be more focused on their own product or service. This allows them to be flexible and more reactive to changes (Daft, 2013. P. 320). Cons of this structure include higher overhead since it takes more employees to make up the teams and there may be a rivalry between teams due to competition. 3. The matrix is a combination of both functional and divisional (Daft, 2013 p. 321). There may be multiple higher leaders that manage different teams. These leaders report to higher supervisors. The matrix can be very effective since it can be flexible in a rapidly changing world. Teams work better together and have broader responsibilities. The downside to a matrix approach is that it may be more difficult to manage. This approach is very much decentralized, not hierarchical like the others. 4. Recent...
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...Assessment Activity BSBWOR501A Manage personal work priorities and professional development Assessment 76 Student ID: Question # Question Type: Assignment Name: Duration/Due: 1 week Marks 1 10 SKILLS THAT WEREN’T EVEN INVENTED A FEW YEARS AGO ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE NEAR FUTURE By looking at new positions that are emerging in the workplace, supervisors can get some idea of some of the skills they will have to develop in the future. There are three areas that seem to be emerging in a way that will have a major impact on the workplace: information, etiquette and life-work balance. Information is coming at us at an increasing rate. We have now stepped into what is known as the knowledge age, where information (converted to knowledge) is what will provide the competitive edge for organisations. Information and knowledge are fast replacing capital equipment as the key asset for conducting business. Administrative assistants will become information co-ordinators, managing the vast amounts of information to ensure that everyone has access to and is aware of the existence of information that will help them better perform their jobs. The supervisor will also have to manage larger amounts of information, ensuring their staff have access to information that is important to their job. Life-balance is a term appearing in more and more magazines and management books. Many workers have been thrust into the position of caring for ageing parents while also caring for their...
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...time you may elect COBRA continuation of benefits. Further information about your COBRA rights will be sent to you. The effect on your other benefits is explained in the chart attached to this letter. If you have vested stock options as of the date of your termination, access your Charles Schwab account or contact Charles Schwab per the contact information below to exercise vested options. If you have questions about your benefits or stock, please contact the appropriate entity listed below. Plans administered through: Aetna Healthcare 888-220-1017 https://member.aetna.com/Member_Public/ Definity Healthcare 866-333-4648 www.definityhealth.com Vision Service Plan (VSP) 800-877-7195 www.vsp.com WageWorks – Flexible Spending Accounts 877-924-3967 www.wageworks.com Delta Dental/WA Dental Service 800-238-3107 https://www.deltadentalwa.com Conexis – COBRA 877-722-2667 www.conexis.org Magellan – Employee Assistance Program 800-523-5668 http://www.magellanassist.com/ Minnesota Life 800-843-8358 Putnam Investments – 529 Plan 800-685-6542 www.ibenefitcenter.com The Vanguard Group – 401(k) Plan 800-523-1188 www.vanguard.com The Hartford – Disability 800-303-9744 Charles Schwab 800-654-2593 http://eac.schwab.com It is XXX policy to pay an employee for the balance of accrued but unused vacation at the time of termination. This payment ordinarily will be included in the employee's final paycheck. XXX...
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...Week Three Team Reflection HRM 531 Week Three Team Reflection Employee benefits and compensation are essential to a successful business. A company’s ability to thrive is often due in large part to the workers it employs. Because of this, it is important that the compensation and benefits the employer offers to the employees are competitive and comprehensive. Week three objectives include explaining how to create these benefit packages, determining the appropriate components of the employee compensation and benefits, and using organizational and market data to conduct human capital management functions. The learning team will explain the topics of struggle for the team, the topics of comfort for the team, and explain how these objectives relate to his or her area of work. Topics of Struggle One common area of challenge for members of the team during week three involves the objective relating to human capital management functions and how to use organizational and market research. Several team members indicate that this topic, which includes the two main fields of human capital management, is more difficult to comprehend. However, the team recognizes decisions on composing a benefits and salary package involves the two fields. The determination of benefits and compensation weigh heavy on this function and making sure that an organization is competitive within the market industry that they are in. If the company is using internal or organizational data, the company...
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...Incentive programs are one of many ways organizations motivate employees. Our goal is to design an incentive program that is aligned with the company’s goals, needs, skills, and abilities. Incentive pay can be determined by merit pay and performance bonuses. Studies have found that pay-for-performance plans help achieve organizational goals and desired performance results. Merit pay is a reward in which employees receive permanent pay increases such as raises as a function of their individual performance ratings. Although it can be different across industries, some recent surveys have demonstrated that 80% to 90% of organizations use merit pay plans (Heneman & Werner, 2005) Merit raises should be fair and based on performance ratings and the biggest increase is given to the best performers. Performance bonuses are monetary rewards for performance and not rolled into base pay. Bonuses must be earned and re-earned during each performance period. Bonuses are attractive to many organizations because the one-time cash reward links pay to performance and motivate employees. (Lawler, 1981; Lowery, Petty, & Thompson, 1996) There are several core legal requirements that will affect our employee’s benefits. These legal requirements include tax treatment of benefit, anti-discrimination laws, and accounting requirements. The federal and state governments require various forms of social insurance to protect workers from the financial hardships of being out of work. The IRS...
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...Melissa Renobato April 6, 2015 Case Study 6 Taking Responsibility: “High-Flying Labor Relations at Southwest Airlines” Based on the information provided the Phoenix policies for pay and benefits I find reasonable are that they pay part of the health insurance premiums and offer dental coverage. I like the automatic enrollment of life insurance and the option to purchase additional insurance for spouse and children. Also, the payments to the City’s pension plan from both employees and employers and the option to have a portion of their pre-taxed earnings to be deposited in a flexible spending account or health care of day care. I like that they get paid 8-15 hours per month for vacation and the paid holidays they receive each year. Another thing is the nearby childcare center that offers discounts to employees who may need it. The one thing I find unreasonable would be the 10 hours of sick leave they can receive each month when they work. Don’t get me wrong I do like that it’s 10 hours per month but the recommendation of change I would have would be to accrue 8 hours of sick leave whether the employee is there each month or not. The only benefit changes I would recommend would be the hours of sick leave received each month. Again, as I stated previously, I feel employees should get at least 8 hours of sick leave each month whether they show up for work or not. There are times that employees have to take time off during the month whether it’s...
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...and non-exempt positions, depending upon the job duties involved. Organizations use these types of positions for cost-effective measures and reporting structure. Understanding these classifications and using them properly ensures the fair and equitable treatment of employees and allows employers to operate their business in the most cost-effective manner. Regular Employees versus Temporaries The organization choses to analyze is a local fitness club that is an at will organization. The types of employments types include full time and part time hourly employees, positions based on commission, and independent contractors. Regular full time employees are provided benefits such as paid time off, holidays, retirement plans, health benefits, flexible spending accounts, life insurance policies, employee assistance programs, and tuition reimbursement plans. Temporary employees are hired on a temporary basis to fill positions for which an employee may be on leave such as FMLA, disability, or maternity. In some cases, temporary positions may result in regular full time positions if the organization sees a need to keep the employee. Hiring a temporary employee saves the organization the costs that hiring a regular employee would entail. Some organizations will offer benefits to temporary employees such as health benefits. Unlike regular employees, if the organization needs to cut back or is facing an economic downfall, temporary employees are usually the first to be let go. Regular,...
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...University of Phoenix | 100 Best Places to Work | Camden Property Trust | | MGT/312 Carl Nunziato Team B Della Bogan Heather Lacer Joseph Hellow Kathleen McDermott Kevin Moore | 11/9/2015 | Camden Property Trust is one of the largest multifamily companies in the US and is located in Houston, Texas...
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...What is a great Workplace ? 1. The Employee View : Great workplaces are built through the day-to-day relationships that employees experience — not a checklist of programmes and benefits. The key factor in common in these relationships is TRUST. From the Employee’s perspective, a great workplace is one where they: * TRUST the people they work for; * Have PRIDE in what they do; and * ENJOY the people they work with. 2. The Manager View : From the Manager’s perspective, a great workplace is one where they: 3. ACHIEVE ORGANISATIONAL OBJECTIVES; 4. With employees who GIVE THEIR PERSONAL BEST; and 5. WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM / FAMILY in an environment ofTRUST 4 things that makes companies great place to work for : A strong positive culture, firmly grounded in a meaningful purpose. ’Culture’ has, too often, come to mean ‘perks.’ But while a ping-pong table in the break room and coupons for burgers are fun – they’re not the core of a great culture. What people are looking for is an environment that supports and rewards excellence, honesty, mutual support, and fair dealing; where people get great results and they’re treated well….and neither is optional. Truly strong cultures are supported from the C-suite on down: the employees report that their boss – and their boss’ boss, and so on – live by the espoused values. That’s when a culture comes alive. People also want to feel that their strong culture exists to support meaningful work. For example...
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...Permanent General Companies, Inc., a leading non-standard auto insurance provider, is seeking qualified applicants for Property Claims Adjuster I. This is an entry-level trainee position, so if you are considering a career in claims, this is a great place to start! We offer great training, a well-defined career path and a fun and challenging work environment where the right candidate will learn and grow with the company. We pride ourselves on teamwork and quality customer service. If you do too, please check us out! Permanent General offers a generous benefits package to its employees including medical, dental, vision and life insurance after one month of employment; health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, paid time off (vacation, sick, holidays), 401(k) participation with a matching contribution, wellness initiatives and much more! Responsibilities: Reporting to a Property Claims Supervisor, this position will be assigned to a team of adjusters and be responsible for investigating and settling vehicle accident claims over the phone and through written correspondence. This level of claims adjuster will primarily handle 1st party claims and will get an introduction to 3rd party claims. These claims may involve limited coverage and liability investigations. Other essential job responsibilities include: - Evaluate and investigate policy coverage, liability and damages in a timely manner while following a set of general claims...
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