Discussions

Part 1

Discussion 1: "Strong Brands"

Please respond to the following:

• Several companies use their brand as a competitive advantage. Given your knowledge about the global economy, identify three brands you believe have the strongest likelihood of remaining a source of advantage in the 21st Century and explain why.

• Explain the effects you believe the Internet's capabilities will have on the brands you identified in the previous discussion and what the owner of the brand should do in light of them.

Discussion 2: "Internal Environment"

Please respond to the following:

• From the e-Activity, analyze the internal environment of the company you researched to determine that company's strengths and weaknesses.

• Based on the strengths and weaknesses you discovered, determine what steps the company could take to positively impact the company's competitiveness. Explain your rationale.

Part 1

Discussion 1: "Seniority versus Merit Pay"

Please respond to the following:

• Compare and contrast seniority (longevity) pay with merit pay. Determine the advantages and disadvantages of each, including specific examples to support your response.

• From the e-Activity, determine which type of pay structure would benefit the company or organization the most. Provide your rationale.

Discussion 2: "The Pay-for-Performance Link"

Please respond to the following:

• Analyze the link between well-designed performance appraisals and merit pay and make at least two recommendations for improving the strength of that link across the greatest number or organizations. Provide your rationale.

• Examine the limitations of merit pay programs to determine which limitation is the most difficult to overcome and suggest ways to overcome these limitations. Provide specific examples to support your response.

• Watch Video

Merit Pay For Teachers Takes Center Stage: Unions, Candidates Weigh In (CNN, 2000).