1. http://www.swatch.com

The Swatch Group has grown to become one the most successful wristwatch manufacturer of our time. Currently it is the largest watch company in the world. This organization's response to its industry competitors was the Swatch watch, which is a slim plastic watch with 51 components that combined a top quality product with an affordable price. This innovative product first became available to consumers in 1983. Now the products have become so popular that a club was formed by the organization for its consumers. Swatch proudly claims that without the expertise and bright mind power of its employees, it would never have become so successful in the industry. Swatch has realized revenues of over $3 billion and controls about 25% of market share.

As you peruse this Website, gather information to compile a short report that responds to the following questions. How do the market pressures influence this organization's decisions pertaining to employee compensation? Identify the components that comprise this company's labor costs? Which is the most costly? Why? Develop a hypothetical sample pay grade structure for the Swatch Corporation. What types of conflicts may arise within this organization in relation to market pay surveys and job evaluations? What impact does the U.S. government's regulation have on this company's compensation management?

2. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/articles/totalcompchart.html

Explore the above chart at Washington Post Website of highest paid executives in Washington area. The highest paid executive tops a compensation package of over $57 million in 2003. Visit the company sites of the top two paid executives. Are the compensation justified in your opinion? Explain. How do they compare at the national and international level? Prepare a two-page report for class discussion.

3. http://www.avon.com

The beauty and other products produced by Avon are available in over 100 different countries around the globe. This organization proudly holds the distinctive title of being "the company for women" due to its vast contributions that are given to various causes supporting women's health.

Avon states it has been empowering women for more than 114 years. It takes pride in the fact that it strongly supports diversity within the organization and takes its responsibility to consumers and the environment seriously. The company has annual sales revenue that currently exceeds $5 billion.

Utilizing the information found within this Website, prepare a short report that addresses the following questions. What impact does this company's benefit packages have on its employees? Does this organization offer "family-friendly" policies and benefits? In your estimation, how could Avon control its benefit costs? Describe the nature of this company's unique work force.
Recommend a different approach to employee benefits that could be utilized by Avon.

4. http://www.intel.com

Intel was founded in 1968. Today, Intel is the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, supplying advanced technology solutions for the computing and communications industries. As of December 2003, the company employed 79,700 employees worldwide, with approximately 60 percent of them located in the United States. Intel values include: Customer Orientation, Discipline, Quality, Risk Taking, Great Place to Work, and Results Orientation.

Utilizing the information found within this Website, prepare a short report that addresses the following questions. What types of benefits does the company offer to its employees? Provide a detailed listing. What effects do you think these benefits have on the cost and workforce quality? Explain. How best Intel can ensure that its employees understand the value of these benefits? Do you believe all of these benefits are needed from the employees' viewpoint? Explain.

All the responses must be included in one word document.

This assignment must be sent through the turnitin link shown below. Please, check carefully the originality of your submission. If you use external sources to support your rationale, cite them in both within the text and in the references section. The word document must be: double-spaced/12-font/with margins, and references (if apply) . The instructor will not accept more than 5% of materials from external sources in the content of the document; otherwise, your work will be considered invalid