| Each student will select two companies from Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to work for (feel free to use a more current list if one exists). One company must be technology-based and the other service-based. Use the following Web sites to make your selections: FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For Great Place to Work After completing in-depth analyses of the two companies, you will prepare a paper and share it with the class. PAPER REQUIREMENTS Your paper should demonstrate the following characteristics: Length of between 2500 and 3750 words (with a typical font and spacing, this will be between 10 and 15 pages) Includes an accurate profile of each company. Includes key human resource data: Turnover rate. Company values. Demographic profiles of the workforce (e.g., diversity). Identifies and discusses innovative human resource and organizational behavior practices used. Go beyond the fringe benefits provided. Be sure to conduct additional research from outside sources. Do not rely on the sites provided here to gather all of your information (e.g., CNN Money, glassdoor, etc.) Compares and contrasts the two companies in terms of why each made the list. Discusses, in depth, the key similarities and differences in approaches between the tech-based company and non-tech-based company. Draw conclusions and aspects of organizational culture. Discusses strategies for change utilized by either company, or both. Provides a linkage from the theories studied in this course, particularly from the textbook, to the practical use of those theories in the companies you choose to study. Your paper should be well organized and written in complete, well-constructed sentences with proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Your paper should be well-documented accurately and consistently in APA style PROCEDURE Step 1 Explore the Great Place to Work Institute to better understand the process for choosing the best 100 companies. Take a look at some of their helpful resources, such as the following articles. (You are not required to read all of these articles; just skim them for useful or interesting information.): Emerging Trends in People Management Beyond perks: Lessons from tracking the “100 Best” Trends from The 2013 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For The Difference Between Trust and Engagement Delivering a Mega Byte Step 2 Select your two companies and post your choices under the Final Project Company Choice Discussion Forum in Module 1. This assignment is first come, first served, so be sure to check that your selected pair has not already been chosen by another student. The course mentor reserves the right to deny the further study of a pair of firms, so be sure to make your selections early. Step 3 Schedule your work on your paper through Modules 2, 3, and 4. You will need to submit the paper in Module 5. Step 4 Submit your completed paper for grading during Module 5. Please check the course calendar for all due dates. You must submit your paper by the due date; all papers must be submitted to the mentor before they are posted on the discussion board in Module 6. Step 5 Post your paper on the discussion board in Module 6. You will then be required to read and respond to your classmates’ analyses. WRITING RESOURCES The following links provide online writing aids to help you with your paper assignments. OWL (Online Writing Lab) at Purdue University Writer’s Handbook, the Writing Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison APA Guidelines |
