Business management
THINKING ETHICALLY: WHO GAINS FROM EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT?
When Derek Christian wanted to run his own business, he bought a cleaning company called My Maid Service. The company had decent revenues but little growth, and Christian figure out why: employees were constantly quitting. With a turnover rate of 300%, Christian was filling the same job three times every year. The reason was simple. No one wanted a career cleaning houses, so people worked for the service only until they could find something closer to their real goals. Higher pay didn’t address the problem, so Christian accepted that no one would stay forever. He opted for an unusual kind of employee development: if an employee agreed to stay with My Maid Service for two years, the company would pay for training and development (including stretch assignments at the company) to help the employee toward the next 294295step of his or her career plan. Christian determined that the costs of this program are far less than he was spending to constantly hire and train entry-level employees. Customers, too, are more satisfied and loyal because they prefer having the same people clean their homes each time.
Derek Christian’s plan for employee development is clever, and because he is the business’s owner, he didn’t have to convince anyone but himself to try it. But imagine trying a similar program at a corporation that is owned by many stockholders. They might conclude that the cost is not in their best interests as investors in the business. Some employers even insist that employees pay for any training they receive because the employees are the ones who get the greatest benefit from what they learn.
One person who might not see a conflict is Wendy S. Becker, associate professor of management at John L. Grove College of Business. Becker advocates the idea that human resource practices should be sustainable. By acquiring, developing, and managing employees in a way that is socially responsible—concerned for their welfare and the welfare of their communities—organizations can, over the long term, be the places where the best people want to work. One way to do this, Becker says, is to hire people not just for their experience and accomplishments but also for their potential, even though these employees will reach their full value after the company has invested in their development. There is a risk that employees will take their newly learned skills elsewhere for better pay, but there is also a perhaps greater likelihood that employees will be more committed and loyal after the company invests in them. Perhaps if employers treat development programs as an investment in employees’ future value to the company, rather than as an expense to minimize, employees, too, will focus more on their value to the company.

Questions

1.

When a company spends money on employee development, who should receive the benefit—investors, customers, employees, or someone else? What is the most ethical way to distribute the benefits?

2.

Do employees who participate in an employee development program have an ethical obligation to remain with the employer afterward? Why or why not?

Read the “Thinking Ethically: Who Gains From Employee Development?” section at the end of Chapter 9. Answer the two questions at the end of the section and question #3 below in a 2-3 page paper.

In addition to the two questions in the text, answer the following question:
1. Describe and evaluate the usefulness of two traditional training methods that could be used to foster ethical behavior.
Follow the project guidelines below.
Requirements:
Complete a 2-3 page paper (not including the title and reference pages).
Answer each question thoroughly.
Demonstrate your understanding of the information presented in the weekly reading assignments by defining terms, explaining concepts, and providing detailed examples to illustrate your points.
Read the “Thinking Ethically: Who Gains From Employee Development?” section at the end of Chapter 9. Answer the two questions at the end of the section and question #3 below in a 2-3 page paper.
In addition to the two questions in the text, answer the following question:
1. Describe and evaluate the usefulness of two traditional training methods that could be used to foster ethical behavior.
Follow the project guidelines below.
Requirements:
1. Complete a 2-3 page paper (not including the title and reference pages).
2. Answer each question thoroughly.
3. Demonstrate your understanding of the information presented in the weekly reading assignments by defining terms, explaining concepts, and providing detailed examples to illustrate your points.
4. Include references from your reading assignments to reinforce and support your own thoughts, ideas, and statements using APA citation style.

Choose one (1) of the topics below and develop a three to four (3-4) paragraph essay (of at least 250-500 words) which adequately address the topic you have chosen.

Topic Choices:

• There have been many theories regarding how the pyramids at Giza were constructed. Most experts agree that they were constructed as burial monuments for pharaohs, but “how” these ancient people constructed monuments of such great size without modern machinery is a mystery which is still being debated.
• No one can say for certain what happened to the Mayan people, but theories abound and include varied possible alternatives to explain the abrupt and mysterious disappearance of the Mayan civilization.
• It is believed that Queen Hatshepsut dressed as a man to gain support of the Egyptians. After her death, her successor removed as many remnants of her rule as possible. Although a pharaoh, her mummified remains and tomb have never been conclusively found.
• Tutankhamen died young, at around 18 years of age. However, his cause of death has not been confirmed. Did he die of an injury, of illness, or was he murdered?
• Considered the “Mummy’s Curse,” a series of unexplainable, unfortunate, or tragic events that happened to the people who were present at the opening of Tutankhamen’s tomb.
• The monumental size and complexity of the Tomb of Shihuangdi is astounding. It is believed that the workers were forced to remain inside the tomb when it was walled shut so they would not reveal the secrets of its construction. What was the emperor’s purpose for such an elaborate burial place?
• Other topic choice recommended and approved by the professor and supported by the grading rubric

Write a 3-4 paragraph paper in which you:

1. Clearly state the “mystery” and provide a brief summary of at least two (2) theories which could explain the mystery. Because some theories may sound far-fetched, include the source or promoter of each theory – such as a scientist, a historian, a theologian, etc.
2. Identify one (1) of the theories and provide at least two (2) convincing reasons why the theory you have chosen is the best one to explain the mystery.
3. Use at least two (2) sources besides the textbook.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. (Note: Students can find APA style materials located in the course shell for reference)
• Include a cover page containing the tile of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Explain how key social, cultural, and artistic contributions contribute to historical changes.
• Explain the importance of situating a society’s cultural and artistic expressions within a historical context.
• Examine the influences of intellectual, religious, political, and socio-economic forces on social, cultural, and artistic expressions.
• Identify major historical developments in world cultures during the eras of antiquity to the Renaissance
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in the study of world cultures.
• Write clearly and concisely about world cultures using proper writing mechanics.

Criteria:

Thoroughly stated the “mystery” and provided a brief summary of at least two (2) theories which could explain the mystery. Thoroughly  included the source or promoter of each theory – such as a scientist, a historian, a theologian, etc.

Thoroughly identified one (1) of the theories and provided at least two (2) convincing reasons why the theory you have chosen is the best one to explain the mystery.

Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices.

0-2 errors present