Assignment: Case Study Introduction
In this course, you will complete four assessments based on the Atha Corporation case study. Based on the scenario provided in the Atha Corporation materials, you will simulate an organization-wide strategy of goal setting and achievement by creating alignment between daily activities, department objectives, and organizational goals. As a manager of the fictional Atha Corporation, you will examine two functional areas within the organization:
• The human resources functional area.
• Your choice of one of the following three additional functional areas:
1. Sales and marketing.
2. Operations and production.
3. Accounting and finance.
For each functional area (both the human resources area and your additional chosen functional area), you will create a strategic alignment worksheet (SAW), developing different sections of both forms through successive course assessments. You will also create organizational charts for both functional areas. Note that you are expected to choose your second functional area in this assessment, and to continue to use that same functional area throughout the course.
Preparation
To prepare for this assessment, complete the following:
• Select Functional Area: In addition to human resources functions, select one of the following functional areas to focus on:
o Sales and marketing.
o Operations and production.
o Accounting and finance.
• Download worksheets: Download the strategic alignment worksheets for your chosen functional area and for the human resources area. (The SAWs are linked in the Resources under the Required Resources heading.)
• View Videos: Watch the Presentation from the CEO video and the Atha Corporation: Planning video, both of which are linked in the Resources under the Required Resources heading. These videos introduce the Atha Corporation case study.
• Read Atha Corp Documents: Read the Executive Department Management Instructions and the Doubling Sales Memo, both of which are linked in the Resources under the Required Resources heading.
• Research Planning Processes: Conduct independent research to familiarize yourself with the process of developing organizational project goals and activities. You may find the materials listed in the Suggested Resources for this assessment helpful, or you may search for other resources.
Strategic Alignment Worksheets
Complete Section 1: Goals and Activities in the strategic alignment worksheet (SAW) for both functional areas. For this assessment, complete only Section 1 in each worksheet.
• Develop three new departmental goals (in addition to those provided in the worksheets).
• Identify activities that support achievement of each goal, and list the achievement deadline for completing each activity.
Instructions
For this assessment, consider that you were asked to assist an executive of the organization in establishing management goals and supporting activities for two functional areas of the organization. You will be acting as the interim department manager of each. Write a 2-3 -page summary analysis of the work you just completed for your Strategic Alignment Worksheets (SAWs). The executive is the primary audience for your summary, but he indicated he would likely share it with other key executives. To provide the executive with the best possible understanding of your work, your summary should address the following points:
• For the human resources functional area, analyze factors that define and shape management (such as the economy, customer needs and wants, and innovation). For that same functional area, assess the relative influence of these factors (which of them have more impact than others).
• For the second functional area you selected, analyze factors that define and shape management (such as the economy, customer needs and wants, and innovation). For that same functional area, assess the relative influence of these factors (which of them have more impact than others).
• Analyze the value of planning in strategic management and the risks of not planning. As part of that, describe how planning is important to the achievement of organizational goals.
• Indicate the research you used to support your work in arriving at the goals and activities.
• Describe the current or past experience (if any) you used as the basis for this activity.
Based on an executive audience, your summary should be well organized and written in clear, succinct language. Follow APA rules for attributing sources that support your analysis and conclusions.
Academic Integrity and APA Formatting
As a reminder related to using APA rules to ensure academic honesty:
1. When using a direct quote (using exact or nearly exact wording), you must enclose the quoted wording in quotation marks, immediately followed by an in-text citation. The source must then be listed in your references page.
2. When paraphrasing (using your own words to describe a non-original idea), the paraphrased idea must be immediately followed by an in-text citation and the source must be listed in your references page.
Submit all three of the following as attachments to this assessment:
1. Your SAW for the human resources area, with only Section 1 completed.
2. Your SAW for the additional functional area you chose, with only Section 1 completed.
3. Your summary paper.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.