Discussion 1: Risk management has consumed a growing percentage of the human resources professional's time over the past years. Workers compensation, corporate liability, and ever-changing laws/exposure to litigation have significantly raised the costs of doing business in the United States. If you were hired as the new "Risk Manager" of an organization, present two strategies that you would implement within the first month to gain a better control over rising costs in your department.

Discussion 2: Strategy is a complex word to some, but it has become vital to the new human resource professional. Human resources has become an important strategic contributor to an organization, raising its value in the organization. In assessing today's human resource professional, discuss the important knowledge and skills they should possess to raise their profile in the organization and their contributions to senior management.