Question: Please answer the following highlighted questions.

1. What are some ways that management can ensure the creative process is encouraged throughout the organization?

2. Summarize the basic steps in any planning process.

3. Describe how strategic planning should be integrated with tactical and operational planning.

4. Summarize the types of choices available for corporate strategy.

5. Describe the keys to effective strategy implenentation.

6. In business when we make decisions, whether right or wrong, it is important that we document the reason/support for the decision. In the case of determining which route to take with the organization''s accounting system there would typically be a lot of documentation to support the decision.

Some items that might be documented would be:

1. Steering Committee minutes

2. Executive approval

3. Business case

What are some other items that you might document to support your decision?

7. When recommending a solution to be implemented it is important to understand the cost-benefit of implementing the solution. For example, with a software solution the development and implementation cost could be quite large up front, but then require little maintenance or human involvement going forward.

Why is it important to understand the boundary conditions--scope, time, and cost--of any project?

8. Below is the group discussion.

Reflect on the group collaboration process in defining the problem.

Select two potential creative solutions for the problems you identified

Include a summary of methods your teams utilized to develop the creative solution.

Group Discussion:

The problem in the article "Mismanaged Layoffs Can Go 'Horribly Wrong'" is that most of the employers are making serious mistakes in the process of laying-off workers. Although they have been trained to handle corporate crisis, some have failed to follow the right channel in laying-off the workers, which can lead to adverse implications in an organization. This eventually leads to decline in productivity of an organization. Consequences can arise depending on the way these employers handle the whole matter. This can have an impact both internally as perceived by other employees and externally as viewed by clients and other contractors long after the employees have been laid off. Mark Swartz recommends that job loss should be handled with caution. The employers should recognize the negative impact this can have on the whole organization. For instance, other employees may develop fear and resentment and thus affecting productivity (The Globe and Mail, 2013). Mostly, organizations reduce their workforce and don't even consider the consequences of this decision. While trying to cut back and save money to show they are cutting cost, all they are doing is hurting the company in the end.

Employers should be transparent and compassionate in laying-off the workers. Organizations should have their managers trained to handle these scenarios before they take place and cause legal situations. Sometimes it is even important to evaluate if job loss is even necessary. Sometimes employers lay off workers to achieve goals that are not even realized at the end. As argued by Mr. Hornstein, other alternatives to job loss should be considered, including cutting wages, using fewer contract workers and transferring workers to other departments (The Globe and Mail, 2013).

However, in cases where job losses are absolutely necessary, then they must be handled with respect. Organizations should recognize the rules of the termination process and be fair to the employees that are facing termination. The whole process is humiliating to the worker being laid-off; hence, the employers should do it in a humane way bearing in mind that they are dealing with people and not commodities (The Globe and Mail, 2013). The law should also be followed in the process, which includes paying severance to the workers being terminated and giving the employees notice of their termination at the time to consider what they are being offered in their sendoff package in form of severance. In doing so, the reputation of the company will be upheld and hence higher productivity.