Question Details

Part 1

Select a Company

Select a current company from this Web site to serve as the focal point of research and analysis during this course. You must notify the instructor of your choice of company by Tuesday of Week 2. You may NOT change the company selected during the course.

Step 3: Web Site In-Depth Review

About Section

• Review information on the company’s mission, core values, history, leadership, and strategy.
• Review the company’s history and examine its global presence in terms of production, facilities, manpower and corporate social responsibility.
• Review the company’s products or services, examining possible differences by geographic region or subsidiary/division.
• Review the company’s use of technology, examining possible differences by geographic region, product, subsidiary/division, or functional department (marketing, legal, information services, human resources, advertising, etc.).
• Review the company’s human resources philosophy and examine the demographics of its workforce, paying close attention to policies or practices relative to diversity, affirmative action, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.

Investor Relations Section

• Download and read the most recent SEC Form 10K, Annual Report, focusing on the Management Discussion and Analysis section and human capital related costs detailed in the financial statements and related footnotes.
• Download and read the most recent SEC Form DEF14A, Proxy Statement, focusing on Executive Compensation, the Report of the Compensation Committee, and compensation plans up for vote or ratification by shareholders, if any.
• Download and read Press Releases published over past 24 months, noting strategic initiatives that involve or affect human capital.

Careers Section

• Review Careers Landing Page and examine content that communicates the company’s people philosophy and shares insights on what it is like to work at the company.
• Review the company’s approach to recruiting experienced hires, job positing process, and college recruiting.
• Review the company’s compensation philosophy and its approach to total rewards.

Step 3: Assessment of the Current Human Resources Environment

Based on analysis of information obtained in Steps 1–3, prepare a professionally written report assessing the current human resources environment, suitable for presentation to the senior executives of the company. Your report should present your assessment of the human resource management topics listed below, indicating the impact of each on the company. The body of the report should be 8–10 pages excluding title, references page(s), and any appendices.

• Employee Engagement Strategies
• Global Talent Management
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Human Resource Technology
• Employment Law and Human Rights Issues
• Emerging Trends in Human Resource Management
• Human Capital Challenges in the 21st Century
• Best Practices in Human Resource Management

References

Fortune. (2020). Fortune 500. http://fortune.com/fortune500/

SHRM Foundation. (2021). Our vision. http://www.shrm.org/foundation

Part 2

Business Analysis Databases

• Using the Library database below, obtain and review business research reports on the company examined in Unit 1.
• Save copies of the reports as you will need to be able to refer to them during the remainder of the course.
• Business Source Complete (EBSCO): Business Source Complete offers full text coverage in all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, accounting, finance and economics. Additional full text, non-journal content includes market research reports, industry reports, country reports, company profiles and SWOT analyses.

Media and Public Relations Databases

• Using the Library databases below, search for stories and articles on the company relating to strategic human resources topics (e.g., employee or labor relations, human capital management, compensation and benefits, diversity, affirmative action, outsourcing, downsizing, employment law matters, etc.) published in the last 12 months. Save copies of the articles as you will need to be able to refer to them during the remainder of the course
• Newsstand (ProQuest) ProQuest Newsstand offers access to full text of over 1,300 newspapers. The collection includes national newspapers.
• Regional Business News (EBSCO) Regional Business News provides full text for more than 80 regional U.S. and Canadian business publications.

Step 2: Corporate Social Media In-Depth Review

Review the selected company’s presence on at least 8 corporate social media channels, paying particular attention to human resources issues or topics. Consider a diverse range of social media channels, including video sites, blogging sites, photograph-sharing sites, and more.

Step 3: Assessment of the Company’s Human Resources Posture

Based on analysis of information obtained in Steps 1–3, prepare a professionally written report assessing the company’s current human resources posture, suitable for presentation to the senior executives of the company. Your report should present your assessment of the human resources areas listed below. The body of the report should be 8–10 pages excluding title, references page(s), and any appendices.

• Benefits and Compensation
• Business Leadership and Strategy
• Diversity
• Employee Relations
• Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Organizational and Employee Development
• Talent Management
• Technology

Part 3

Refer to the SEC Form DEF14A Annual Proxy Statement obtained during Unit 1, identifying the company’s comparator group.

• Visit each of the companies’ Investor Relations Web sites. Download and review copies of their most recent SEC Form DEF14A, Proxy Statement, focusing on Compensation Philosophy, Executive Compensation, the Report of the Compensation Committee, and compensation plans up for vote or ratification by shareholders, if any.

Step 2: Library Research and Review of Comparator Group Companies

Using the Library databases below, review business research reports on the comparator companies.

• http://careered.libguides.com/university_AIUOnline/companyresearch Business Source Complete (EBSCO): Business Source Complete offers full text coverage in all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, accounting, finance and economics. Additional full text, non-journal content includes market research reports, industry reports, country reports, company profiles and SWOT analyses.

Media and Public Relations Databases

• Using the Library databases below, search for stories and articles on the company relating to strategic human resources topics (e.g., employee or labor relations, human capital management, compensation and benefits, diversity, affirmative action, outsourcing, downsizing, employment law matters, etc.) published in the last 12 months.
• Newsstand (Proquest): Proquest Newsstand offers access to full text of over 1,300 newspapers. The collection includes national newspapers including.
• Regional Business News (EBSCO): Regional Business News provides full text for more than 80 regional U.S. and Canadian business publications.

Step 3: Assessment of the Comparator Group Human Resources Posture

Based on analysis of information obtained in Steps 1–3, prepare a professionally written report assessing the overall comparator group’s human resources posture, suitable for presentation to the senior executives of the company. Your report should present your assessment of the human resources areas listed below. The body of the report should be 8–10 pages excluding title, references page(s), and any appendices.

• Benefits and Compensation
• Business Leadership and Strategy
• Diversity
• Employee Relations
• Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Organizational and Employee Development
• Talent Management
• Technology
• Best Practices in Human Resource Management

Part 4

Step 1: Assess the Company’s Human Resources Competitive Position

Leveraging the work completed in the Individual Assignments for Units 2 and 3, assess the company’s human resources competitive position. Be sure to evaluate the company’s position within the industry and among its comparator group.

Step 2: Identify and Evaluate Human Resources Risks and Opportunities

Leveraging the work completed in the Individual Assignment for Units 1–3, identify and evaluate the company’s human resources risks and opportunities. At least 3 risks and 3 opportunities should be included in your evaluation.

Step 3: Assessment of the Company’s Human Resources Competitive Position

Based on analysis of information obtained in Steps 1–3, prepare a professionally written report assessing the assessment of the company’s human resources competitive position, risks, and opportunities suitable for presentation to the senior executives of the company. Your report should present the information listed below. The body of the report should be 8–10 pages excluding title, references page(s), and any appendices.

1. Industry Competitive Position
2. Comparator Group Competitive Position
3. Human Resources Risks (minimum of 3)
   • Description
   • Analysis
4. Human Resources Opportunities (minimum of 3)
   • Description
   • Analysis
5. Overall Assessment of the Company’s Human Resources Competitive Position

Part 5

Step 1: Begin Assembly of Human Resources Report to the Board of Directors

Assemble the reports generated in Units 1–4 into a new, comprehensive report that will be completed in this assignment. This step should include aggregation of the following sections:

• Title Page
• Executive Summary [Placeholder: this is completed in Step 3]
• Table of Contents [Placeholder: this is completed in Step 4]
• Section 1: Current Human Resources Environment
• Section 2: Company’s Human Resources Posture
• Section 3: Comparator Group Human Resources Posture
• Section 4: Company’s Human Resources Competitive Position
• Section 5: Recommendations and Expected Impact [Placeholder: this is completed in Step 2]
• References [Placeholder: this is completed in Step 4]
• Appendices [Placeholder: this is completed in Step 4]

Step 2: Recommendations and Expected Impact

Based on the work completed in Units 1–4, develop at least 1 recommendation in each of the areas listed below that are designed to improve the company’s competitive human resources position. Be sure to include a detailed description of the recommendation, an overview of how the recommendation would be implemented, and a discussion of the expected impact of each recommendation.

1. Benefits and Compensation
2. Diversity
3. Employee Relations
4. Talent Management
5. Technology

Step 3: Executive Summary

Develop an overview (2–3 pages) presenting key points from all five sections of the report. Executive summaries are always included in reports to the board of directors as a courtesy, to allow them to quickly assess the overall report and facilitate discussion. The executive summary should be concise, factual, and professional in tone.

Step 4: Finalize Assembly of the Human Resources Report to the Board of Directors

Finalize assembly of the report, inserting the Executive Summary, Table of Contents, and the Section 5 Recommendations. Make sure the References listing is aggregated from all prior work. The final References listing should be alpha order, with citations in APA format. The Appendices should be ordered to correspond with the final report.