Knowledge Integration Exam

Be sure to base your discussion of these issues on the theories and principles in the reading you have done throughout this seminar. This is not a research project. The purpose of the assignment is to demonstrate your knowledge of and ability to apply the principles and theories discussed in the course materials. Do not consult sources outside the assigned AMBA 610 course materials. Using sources that are not in the course materials may result in point deductions. Your exam should contain specific references to the textbook and other course materials. When making reference to course materials, be sure to include proper APA formatted citations and indicate direct quotations by using quotation marks and proper page citation. Course materials include the textbooks, articles, and any additional material posted by your instructor. Do not use any website materials.

Do not post a separate document for each question. Your final document should include ONE reference list at the end of the document with all of the references you used in your responses. The reference list is required but will not count toward the allowed number of words. In addition to the reference list, you should also cite sources in your text when appropriate.

You must address all questions. Your answers should be limited to the number of words indicated for each question. Failure to adhere to length parameters will result in deduction of points. It is advisable to use the word count feature to check.

Point Allocation: 80% of your grade will be based on the quality of the content of your responses to the questions. The content points allocated to each question are indicated. In addition, consistent with the practice followed throughout the course, 20% of your grade will be based on the quality of your attention to graduate level grammar, punctuation, usage, spelling, and APA citation requirements.

Content - 80 points

 Issue 1 - Ethics and Legal Environment - 35 points.  (1,000-word limit)

Sara Topps is a highly respected Senior Vice President at BetaZeta Corporation and is well known for her community service work. Sara has been at BetaZeta for a decade and has risen from the ranks, starting out as an assistant project facilitator and steadily progressing to a senior-management position. Sara’s performance evaluations during her time at BetaZeta have ranged from Very Good to Outstanding performance. Sara’s leadership on many BetaZeta projects has resulted in increased revenue for the company. She is generally well respected in the company, but, as is often the case with office politics, there are some people who had competed with her for positions in the past and are envious of her success.

Shortly after Sara’s most recent promotion to Senior Vice President, Artie Pope, who was also a candidate for the position, attended a conference. Artie was very disappointed about not getting the promotion, and, after a few too many drinks at a social gathering, he shared his disappointment with a couple he had just met that night. He was comparing his qualifications with Sara’s and he inadvertently mentioned her by name. The business world is sometimes a small one, and, as it turned out, the man Artie was talking with, Kilgore Trout, had known Sara at a previous job. Kilgore mentioned to Artie that he was pleased to hear that Sara had completed her MBA at UMUC because when he knew her she had dropped out for family reasons.

When Artie returned to work, he went to Human Resources and told Anita Ramos, an HR representative that he had heard from a reliable source that Sara had not completed her MBA and he thought that HR should check on this. 

Current Human Resources policies at BetaZeta require potential employees to submit transcripts from the degree-granting institutions for all degrees on their resumes, but this requirement was not in place at the time when Sara first began working for BetaZeta.  After discussing this issue with her manager, Anita contacted Sara and told her that HR needed to update her records. Anita asked Sara to contact the educational institutions where she had received her degrees to request that official transcripts be sent directly to Human Resources at BetaZeta.

This request made Sara’s heart sink, because, in fact, she had never received her MBA.  She was 18 credits from completion when she had to drop out because of family obligations. She really needed a job at that time and had put the MBA degree on her resume to enhance her chances of getting hired. An MBA was not a requirement for the assistant project facilitator job that she was hired into ten years ago, but it is a requirement for the Senior Vice President position she currently holds. However, some of the current Senior VPs, who assumed the position prior to the MBA requirement, do not have MBAs. 

Using Professor Joseph Badaracco's "right-right" framework, including all steps and tests, analyze this question:

How should Human Resources resolve this situation? Be sure to make a clear recommendation and state your reasons. Be sure to cite any reference sources you use from the AMBA 610 course materials. Do not use any materials outside of AMBA 610 course materials.

Issue 2 - Organizational Environment - 35 points (1,000 words limit)

Rafael has been a glass designer and blower for the past 17 years. He operates his small business under the name “Rafael’s Art Glass” out of a workshop in the northeast and makes custom pieces that appeal to an "artsy" market. Although his customers are mostly young, they are affluent and willing to spend money for unique, high-quality items, so “RAG” (as it’s commonly referred to) products command a premium price. Currently, the sculptures are produced in one workshop in Binghamton, NY and sold in only three locations in the U.S.: New York City; New Orleans, LA; and to a limited market in Princeton, NJ (Rafael is a Princeton University graduate). Production is approximately 2,000 pieces per year, with prices ranging from $800 - $7,500 (and sometimes more) per item. The items are produced in quantities ranging from single, made-to-order, one-of-a-kind designs to limited-availability items of no more than 100. After Rafael appeared on a popular cable television reality show, "Accessory Wars," his glass designs gained instant national recognition. Even though he was one of the earlier designers to be "fired" from the show, the publicity resulted in many fans for RAG designs. Now, people across the country want to have RAG pieces in their homes. Rafael has been approached by a big art-design industry investment firm that is willing to fund his expansion. They have told him that, despite the bad economic conditions, they believe now is the time for him to expand to take advantage of the television boost to his popularity. In addition, they believe that there is now demand for his pieces in markets outside of the U.S. Since design trends are often fleeting, the investors advise Rafael that he should "go big now" and try to capture as large a market share as possible. Of course, he would have to produce items in larger quantities and sell them at lower prices to do so. Rafael is used to running a small business, but all of this is new to him. He knows the company will have to invest in more trained staff and production equipment to meet the increased demand.   

Rafael has hired you to give him advice about how he should proceed.

Answer the following questions about RAG. Be sure to state clearly any assumptions you make about the organization as part of the description of factors to consider and state the reasons for including each factor. Use organizational structure language and theory in your response.

• In deciding whether or not to produce larger quantities, what factors should Rafael consider?  
• What specific recommendations do you have for Rafael?

Be sure to cite any reference sources you use from the AMBA 610 course materials.  Do not use any materials outside of AMBA 610 course materials.

Form:  Follow your instructor’s specific format guidelines. Graduate level structure, grammar, spelling, punctuation, word usage and citations:  20 points

 Source: Browne, M. N., & Keeley, S.M. (2012). Asking the right questions: A guide to critical thinking, 10th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall