Kaplan GB560 full course (all assignments+discussions)

Unit 1 Assignment: Individual Project

Over the course of the next five weeks, your assignments will build from one week to the next until, in Unit 5, you have a fully prepared Business Process Change document. Each week you will address specific issues that will add to what you have completed in previous units or will serve as a foundation for information you will add in future units. In Unit 5 you will be responsible for preparing and submitting a final change management document encompassing your responses /answers from Units 1-4 (revised as necessary to address issues/concerns made by your professors each week).

You must use the Assignment template contained in Doc Sharing and prepare your Business Process

Change document using APA format (use the Kaplan Writing Center for assistance, if necessary).

Please note that you will need to obtain sources particular to the industry and/or organization selected. If you believe a confidentiality issue might arise particular to the organization you select, it is best to choose a publicly traded company. In other words, it is your responsibility to ensure you have access to the information required for this project. In short, please do not share any proprietary information regarding your organization.

Please submit this Assignment with your name, course number, section, and date to the

Dropbox before the end of the unit.

Hint: For details on using drop boxes in this course, click on the Academic Tools tab above, then

Dropbox Guide.

Project Details

Below are the details Scenario

Select one of the industries listed below and one type of organization relating to that industry (you will use this industry throughout the class):

Medical Care

? Hospital

? Clinic

? Hospice

Manufacturing

? Computers

? Textiles

? Electronic Equipment Unit 1 [ GB560: Designing, Improving, and Implementing Processes]

Service Industry

? Retail

? Restaurant

? Supermarket

If you wish to use a different organization from one listed here, please email the instructor to receive approval. Make sure you can apply the assignment requirements to the organization you selected.

For this Assignment you will need to complete the assigned reading and conduct research (use the

Internet or the Kaplan Library) to identify an industry and organization to analyze and to which your

Business Process Change document will apply. For this Assignment utilize the Assignment template in Doc Sharing and address the following questions for Unit 1 (your responses should be between 2 and 3 pages in length):

1. Provide the name of the organization (this must be a real organization and you may use the organization where you currently work); describe the organization’s size and summarize the primary mission of the organization. Don’t simply copy from the organization’s mission statement.

2. From your research of the organization, identify a single Business Process Change that the organization will need to contemplate and undertake in the coming year. These changes can result from new technologies, economic issues, or changes in the marketplace.

3. Utilizing the Capability Maturing Model (CMM) outline briefly what changes will need to be undertaken at each of the 5- stages (pages xxxiii-xxxiv).

4. Evaluate Porter’s three- -phase process (page 32, figure 2.1) for defining a company strategy and create a simple chart of the recommended change addressing issues in each phase.

Unit 2 assignment

You will be adding the information in this Assignment to the Assignment Template you began using in

Unit 1. Do not submit this Assignment as a separate document but as a continuation of your change document. For this project you will be creating two process diagrams. The websites below provides general instructions and visuals on how to use MS Word to create your process change diagram.

Their use is not mandatory and they are only suggestions. You may wish to do research on your own to find other ways to prepare process diagrams.

TechRepublic: Create process diagrams in less time with Word 2007’s SmartArt

Please click on the Directions Icon below to view your assignment details.

Hint: For details on using drop boxes in this course, click on the Academic Tools tab above, then

Dropbox Guide.

Individual Project Details

Below are the details of the tasks that you have to do for this unit:

5. Prepare two general process diagrams (see figure 9.2) for the Business Process Change you identified for question #2 in Unit 1.

5a. Diagram the current process steps taken by the organization for the process.

5b. Diagram any adaptations to the process steps after the change process is approved.

6. Evaluate and address the importance of the existing and future diagrams and how they assist the

organization in determining the validity of the suggested change (your response to this question

should be 3-5 paragraphs in length).

Unit 3 assignment

Unit 3 Assignment: Individual Project

You will be adding the information in this Assignment to the Assignment Template you used in Units 1 and 2 (please do not submit this as an individual document but as a continuation of your change document). Remember, you should not attempt to address the questions asked without first completing the required reading (you may find you need to do additional research using the Kaplan

Library or the Internet).

In this Assignment you will be evaluating implementation and continuous improvement methodologies as they relate to the Business Process Change you identified and evaluated in Units 1 and 2. Your response to these questions should be 3 - 5 pages in length.

Please click on the Project button below to view your assignment details.

Hint: For details on using drop boxes in this course, click on the Academic Tools tab above, then

Dropbox Guide.

Individual Project Details

Below are the details of the tasks that you have to do for this unit:

7. Assess one specific activity to be performed within the process change. From the assessment, identify the task being evaluated. Where would that activity be performed within the organization?

Who would perform the task, and who would manage, measure and evaluate task completion? Make sure you separate out the information requested (don’t place the information in a large block

paragraph).

8. Delineate and describe the differences between measuring human performance and task completion.

9. Explore Six Sigma as a method used to evaluate, measure, and encourage continuous improvement. From this exploration create a fishbone diagram that addresses one risk, a potential

defect, or a problem that may result from the change which may impact goal attainment.

10. Address the value of your fishbone diagram as a visual representation.

Unit 4 assignment

Unit 4 Assignment: Individual Project

You will be adding the information in this Assignment to the Assignment template you used in Units 1,

2 and 3 (please do not post this Assignment as a separate document but as a continuation of your

Change Document). Remember, you should not attempt to address the questions asked without first completing the required reading (you may find you need to do additional research using the Kaplan virtual library or the Internet).

For this Assignment your goal will be to evaluate and discuss metrics for measuring performance and task completion in the change process.

To successfully complete the Assignment your response to the questions will need to be between 3 and 5 pages in length:

Please click on the Project button below to view your Assignment details.

Hint: For details on using drop boxes in this course, click on the Academic Tools tab above, then

Dropbox Guide.

Individual Project Details

Below are the details of the tasks that you have to do for this unit:

11. Discover and describe at least 3 key performance indicators (KPI) for the suggested process change that must be continuously measured to ensure success. Ensure you separate out each KPI (don’t put your answers into a single block paragraph).

12. Conduct research (using the Kaplan Library or the Internet) to compare and contrast Six Sigma, the Balanced Scorecard, and ISO9000/9001 as different methods for preparing performance and completion metrics. Metrics are performance markers, utilized at different intervals during the process timeline, to measure adherence to schedule and attainment of goals.

13. Recommend one of the three methods evaluated in question #12 as the best one for your change process. Be sure to thoroughly support and defend your recommendation.

Unit 5 Assignment

For this Assignment you will finish using the Assignment Template you began using in Unit 1. Your submitted document will not only address the questions for Unit 5 but make the necessary corrections to your responses in Units 1, 2, 3 and4 (based on input from your professor). As a result the document you post will be a finalized project plan

.

Be aware if you do not revise and make changes to correct issues or concerns in your input for Units 1, 2, 3 or 4 you can lose up to 50% of the grade points for this project.

Do not attempt to address the questions asked without first completing the required reading (you may find you need to do additional research using the Kaplan Library or the Internet).

Please click on the \Directions iconbelow to view your assignment details.

Hint

: For details on using drop boxes in this course, click on the

Academic Tools tab above, then Dropbox Guide

.

Individual Project Details

For the last part of the process change plan it will be necessary for you to:

14. Produce an outline or a flowchart describing the entire change management plan.

15. Provide a complete summary of the entire plan (units 1, 2, 3, 4 and5) (this should run from between 3/4 and 1 1/2 pages of text).

Turn in a single, completed, paper containing your respon ses (with revisions if necessary) from your assignments in every unit.

Unit 6

This is a separate paper from the paper you prepared in Units 1-5. In this Assignment you will provide a critical analysis of the Business Process Change document you prepared and submitted in Units 1-5. The final document should be prepared in APA format (cover page, abstract, body, citations and references). The body of the final document addressing the questions below should be no less than 4 full pages of double-spaced text.
Please click on the Directions icon below to view your assignment details.

Hint: For details on using drop boxes in this course, click on the Academic Tools tab above, then Dropbox Guide.

Individual Project Details

Your paper should evaluate and discuss:

1. The importance of understanding Business Process Change as it relates to your future
employment plans.

2. Is a formal process change necessary for all organizational changes? If so, explain why. If not, explain why not?

3. Review the Business Process Change document you submitted in Unit 5 and describe in detail whether the information contained within sufficiently addressed issues related to the suggested change (made in Unit 1).

3 a. What additional information should be included in your specific change document for the
process(es) identified? Why would those items need to be included? If no additional items or
information is necessary explain why your document, as written, is thorough and complete as a process change plan.

4. Conduct a self-evaluation and describe your own performance and approach to the class
throughout the semester. What was your initial impression to the course and coursework and how did it change (if any) throughout the semester? What recommendations would you make to an incoming student regarding how to be successful in the course? Provide a thorough and supporting explanation for each answer.

Week1

Topic 1

To survive in a highly competitive environment, a business organization must adapt and change (evolve). Successful organizations seek continuous improvement in how they create and deliver products and services. This can include changing existing processes or inventing new processes. Such process changes are made utilizing a myriad of different methodologies including (but not limited to) CIMM, TQM, Six Sigma, Balanced Scorecard and ERP.

For this Discussion you will be evaluating the organization where you currently work (or previously worked) and address the following questions:

1. Which, if any, quality methodology does your organization use in evaluating its processes (CMM, TQM, Six Sigma, Balanced Scorecard, ERP, etc.)? If one is not used, explain why you believe your organization does not utilize a quality methodology.

2. Isolate and detail one process in your organization that was created, changed, or adjusted using the methodology identified in #1. If no quality methodology is used in your organization, then identify one process and explain how that process could be helped or improved by any of the quality methodologies.

3. Based on the process you identified, which type of process diagram from Chapter 9 would be most applicable to the process discussed in question # 2 and was such a diagram utilized by your organization?

week2

Topic 1

A common process methodology is the BPTrends approach discussed in the reading this week. Process creation, change, or revision can come from the top-down or from the bottom-up within an organization. With this in mind review the BPTrends Enterprise Methodology (Figure 3.2) and answer the following questions:

1. Why do you believe the ongoing strategy process (see figure 3.2) is a continuous loop? Make sure you provide information to support your answer.

2. Of the different process tools (see figure 3.2) which do you believe is the most difficult for the organization to control and why?

Week3

Topic 1

Process design and implementation is outcome driven. To achieve desired outcomes, successful process design results from an understanding of the task(s), which will complete or support the task(s), as well as any restrictions (legal, physical, or other) to the process design. But successful design implementation depends on the use of metrics to manage and measure the process(es). With this in mind address the following questions:

1. Select one task that you are currently or were previously responsible for performing. Isolate the type of metric measurement used to evaluate the task process to determine if the process was being followed correctly.

2. Address how frequently the process was evaluated and whether the feedback provided contributed toward or detracts from successful outcome(s) for that process. If no performance measurement is used, identify a set of measurements to evaluate the task and discuss how and why that measurement would ensure successful task completion.

Week4

Topic 1

Process creation, revision, and implementation are all predicated on the ability of the organization and its employees and vendors to accept change. The organization may have the will to change yet find its employees are reluctant and resistant to change.

For this Discussion consider this change resistance in addressing the following:

1. Evaluate the role of an Executive Level BPM Group. Who would be members of that group and how is this group responsible for reducing resistance to change?

2. Deduce at least one method by which the organization can reduce change resistance?

3. Does the use of Six Sigma, ISO9000 (ISO9001), or the Balanced Scorecard within an organization contribute toward or reduce resistance to process change? If so, how? If not, why not?

Week5

Topic 1

In your studies up to this point in the course it may appear as if the actual “design” of processes is cumbersome and time consuming. This need not be the case as there are many tools available in developing any process change management plan.

To address the questions below assume you have been chosen to develop and direct a Change Management Plan for your business (an immature organization).

1. Conduct research using the Internet and identify the type of software or management tools that you would utilize to help with each of the major steps in developing the plan. Summarize the software/suite selected and identify its key capabilities, advantages and disadvantages.

2. As the leader of the change project in an immature organization what level of direct involvement should you have in creation of the Change Management Plan? Should you be the primary author or should you delegate most of the responsibilities?

Week6

Topic 1

An important facet of process implementation is the ability for management to review and evaluate process design.

To successfully answer the discussion in this unit you will need to read the Ergonomics Case Study (Chapter 14) and focus on the “To-Be-Process Plan” described in the “To-Be-Process Diagram."

Your Discussion response should address:

1. What was your overall first impression of the “To-Be-Process” plan (be thorough in your explanation).

2. Identify at least two critical issues within the “To-Be-Process” plan that could lead to implementation success and failure.

3. Suggest at least one improvement to the plan.