Portfolio Milestone

Module 2: Portfolio Milestone – DUE NOV. 17

Portfolio Milestone (25 Points)

Important! Read First

Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not do both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission.

Option #1: Project Purpose and Plan

Step 1) Go to Week 8 and examine the Project Portfolio Option #1 instructions and expectations for the final report at the end of the term.

Step 2) In at minimum one full page, discuss the following topics in order, using the prescribed section headers in bold.

• Section 1- Value of the Portfolio Project.In this section, describe how the Portfolio Project may be valuable to your current job or career goals.
• Section 2- Project Plan. In this section, provide a timeline of how you plan to craft the milestones and final deliverable. Include key actions such as research, editing, feedback from peers (optional), and final submission due dates.

 Additional requirements

• This assignment is not a traditional APA-styled paper. Therefore, introduction and conclusion are not required for this assignment.
• Use one-inch margins, size 12 font, double line spacing, and page numbers.
• Use Microsoft Word format to submit your document.

Note that the Portfolio Milestones for Weeks 2, 4, and 5 must be completed by the end of the week that they have been assigned for credit. The late policy does not apply to project milestones. Failure to deliver these required portfolio-related assignments by the end of the week they are assigned will result in a 0. Please plan accordingly and stay on schedule with these and all course requirements.

Module 4: Portfolio Milestone- DUE DEC. 1

Portfolio Milestone (25 Points)

Important! Read First

Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not do both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission.

Option #1: List of 5 Potential References

A solid foundation of research will support the theoretical base and practical applications of your strategic recommendations. The Chief Operations Officer has requested examples of the research you may use to create your report, so that she can read background material while on business travel. The Chief Operations Officer is highly analytical and demands high quality, credible evidence. Therefore, compile and submit a list of at least five citations from peer-reviewed/scholarly references you may use for your final report in Week 8. The references must be in APA format.

Additional requirements:

• This assignment is not a traditional APA-styled paper; therefore, an introduction and conclusion are not required for this assignment.
• Use one-inch margins, size 12 font, double-spaced line spacing, and include page numbers.
• A minimum of five scholarly/peer-reviewed references must be included. Do not use blogs, Wikis, or anonymous sources. Visit the CSU Global Online Research and Writing Lab(Links to an external site.) to learn more about appropriate references.
• Use Microsoft Word format to submit your document.

Note that the Portfolio Milestones for Weeks 2, 4, and 5 must be completed by the end of the week that they have been assigned to receive credit. The late policy does not apply to project milestones. Failure to deliver these required portfolio-related assignments by the end of the week they are assigned will result in a 0. Please plan accordingly and stay on schedule with these and all course requirements.

Module 5: Portfolio Milestone- DUE DEC 8

Portfolio Milestone (25 Points)

Important! Read First

Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not do both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission.

Option #1: Purpose Statement for Hypothetical HR Department

Most of us are aware of the term purpose statement but are unsure of its real meaning within the business context. A purpose statement is a statement describing the organization’s or department’s purpose or the reason for its existence. It should accurately answer the questions below.

1. Who are we?
2. What do we do?
3. For whom do we do this?
4. How do we know when we are getting it done?

The purpose statement is the written summary of those answers. The most effective purpose statements are short, concise, and direct. A good purpose statement is between 2-3 sentences. See the steps below.

Step 1) Review the details of Option 1 from the Portfolio Project, to learn more about your company and the HR department.

Step 2) Given the organization’s needs and the CEO/COO’s directive to central certain HR functions, answer the four questions above about your proposed Human Resource Department in an itemized format. In other words, include each question and your answer under it.

Step 3) Based on your answers to the four questions, draft a 2-3 sentence purpose statement for your HR Department.

Step 4) Submit your HR Department Purpose Statement for review by the deadline.

Additional requirements:

• This assignment is not a traditional APA-styled paper. Therefore, introduction and conclusion are not required for this assignment.
• Use one-inch margins, size 12 font, double-spaced line spacing, and page numbers.
• Use Microsoft Word format to submit your document.

Module 8: Portfolio Project–DUE DEC 28

Portfolio Project (275 Points)

Important! Read First

Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not do both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission.

Option #1: Report to the Chief Operations Officer

Step 1) Assume your CEO, COO, and the VP of HR want certain HR functions to be centralized to meet the needs of the employees and achieve HR and organizational goals. This will promote consistency across the organization. As a result of the change, each area will have one single HR representative who will be the face of HR in the field, called an HR Business Partner. The HR Business Partners have access to the following centralized HR functions at headquarters:

• Recruitment Selection (Module 3)
• Performance Management (Module 4)
• Training Development (Module 5)
• Compensation Benefits (Module 6)

Step 2) Review the information found in the Hypothetical Organizational Data for HR Strategic Recommendations Report, found below the requirements for this assignment. This information provides background information for your organization and describes the problems with the current HR Department.

Step 3) In at least 10 full pages (excluding reference page and appendices) write a report to your Chief Operations Officer discussing the following topics in order, using the prescribed section headers in bold. 

• Section 1- Introduction. In this section,
  1. Describe the purpose and value of this report.
  2. Provide persuasive evidence as to why the COO needs to take action based on your recommendations.
• Section 2- Strategic Recommendations for Recruitment and Selection.In this section,
  1. Explain how this centralized HR function supports the HR department’s purpose statement submitted in Week 5.
  2. Provide recommendations and rationale on improving the consistency of the services, programs, and/or tools for employees and managers related to this HR function.
  3. Identify and define important quantitative HR metrics that can be used to measure the effectiveness of this human resource function. You must include the formula or equation to calculate quantitative measurements.
• Section 3- Strategic Recommendations for Performance Management.In this section,
  1. Explain how this centralized HR function supports the HR department’s purpose statement submitted in Week 5.
  2. Provide recommendations and rationale on improving the consistency of the services, programs, and/or tools for employees and managers related to this HR function.
  3. Identify and define important quantitative HR metrics that can be used to measure the effectiveness of this human resource function. You must include the formula or equation to calculate quantitative measurements.
• Section 4- Strategic Recommendations for Training and Development.In this section,
  1. Explain how this centralized HR function supports the HR department’s purpose statement submitted in Week 5.
  2. Provide recommendations and rationale on improving the consistency of the services, programs, and/or tools for employees and managers related to this HR function.
  3. Identify and define important quantitative HR metrics that can be used to measure the effectiveness of this human resource function. You must include the formula or equation to calculate quantitative measurements.
• Section 5- Strategic Recommendations for Compensation and Benefits.In this section,
  1. Explain how this centralized HR function supports the organization’s purpose statement submitted in Week 5.
  2. Provide recommendations and rationale on improving the consistency of the services, programs, and/or tools for employees and managers related to this HR function.
  3. Identify and define important quantitative HR metrics that can be used to measure the effectiveness of this human resource function. You must include the formula or equation to calculate quantitative measurements.
• Section 6- References. In this section, provide the full citations for 5 peer-reviewed credible sources according to the CSU Global Writing Center(Links to an external site.). You also incorporated these the references internally appropriately.

Additional requirements:

• This assignment is not a traditional APA-styled paper. A conclusion section is not required.
• You may have optional appendices after Section 6.
• Use one-inch margins, size 12 font, double-spaced line spacing, and page numbers.
• A minimum of 5 scholarly/peer-reviewed references must be included in the reference list and incorporated in the body as appropriate. (Do not include blogs, Wikis, anonymous sources, etc.). Use EBSCO, ProQuest, or other online library available through CSU Global Library’s A to Z online databases.
• Use Microsoft Word format to submit your document.

Hypothetical Organizational Data for HR Strategic Recommendations Report (for Portfolio Project Option 1)

Information about the Company

Company Name

You must identify a hypothetical corporate name during Module 5 as a portfolio milestone.

Company Industry

Information technology

Corporate Vision Statement

To become a world class company, the standard by which others are measured.

Corporate Mission Statement

Design and deliver the highest quality IT solutions utilized by 75% of the market while maintaining a 98% customer satisfaction rating.

Corporate Goals

• Increase shareholder value.
• Increase profits
• Increase customer satisfaction
• Increase employee satisfaction.
• Out compete our competition.
• Focus on a more targeted segment within our industry
• Positively shape the regulatory and policy environment to allow for innovation and build our brands reputation.
• Deliver a more differentiated motivating brand proposition.

Information about the HR Department

Problems with the Current Structure of Human Resources

We are only as good as our teams. Organizational HR functions have been known to create barriers and extra work for employees, preventing them from achieving organizational goals.  While we are a very successful organization, HR operates in a decentralized fashion. Currently, most HR related decisions are being made at the area office level. This means that HR practices and employment issues vary across the United States because there are over 5 area offices. This can impede our ability to respond effectively to new issues or carry out innovative employment relations strategies that are in the best interests of the organization. 

HR Department Goals

1. Create a centralized human resources function located at our corporate offices that identifies and supports individual needs and their use of locally assigned human resources contact.
2. Minimizing the inconsistencies that currently exist in HR policies and practices across areas; and implementing practice, process, and structural changes that will ensure the consistent application of best practices in the human resources function enterprise-wide.
3. Eliminating unnecessary duplication of processes and services in the HR function.
4. Ensure that HR personnel receive the training and experience they need to develop their expertise and cultivate opportunities for career advancement in the HR field.
5. Improve communications and information sharing among all areas to ensure consistent application of the HR function.

The Proposed Structure of Human Resources

The CEO, COO, and the VPHR want certain HR functions to be centralized to meet the needs of the employees and achieve HR and organizational goals. This will promote consistency across the organization. Therefore, each area will have one single HR representative who will be the face of HR in the field, called an HR Business Partner. The HR Business Partners have access to the following specialized HR services at the central office or headquarters.

• Recruitment Selection (Module 3)
• Performance Management (Module 4)
• Training Development (Module 5)
• Compensation Benefits (Module 6)

HR Purpose Statement

As a portfolio milestone during Module 5, you must create the HR purpose statement given the organization’s needs and the CEO/COO’s directive to central four HR functions.