ORG555: Leading Diverse Teams

ORG555: Leading Diverse Teams
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Course Description and Outcomes
In this course, students gain a comprehensive understanding of diversity as it applies to strategic planning, cultural change, and team dynamics. Students learn to identify the realities of developing and implementing diversity initiatives for the organization and the workforce, as well as explore emerging issues in diversity management.
Course Learning Outcomes:
 Explain what constitutes a global perspective and integrated approach to diversity.
 Identify and analyze the methods of organizational leaders who effectively manage diversity.
 Apply and analyze diversity strategies with respect to leading and managing an organization.
 Evaluate how diverse individuals in the workplace affect and are affected by the principles of leadership and management.
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus. Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Textbook Information is located in the CSU-Global Booklist on the Student Portal.
Course Schedule
Due Dates The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday. SAMPLE
 Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. MT and Peer Responses posted by Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.  Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until they achieve the scores they desire.  Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. MT. • Live Classroom: Although participation is not required, Live Classroom sessions are held during Week 2 and Weeks 5 or 6. There are two total sessions.
Week # Readings Assignments 1  Chapters 1 & 12 in Opportunities and Challenges of Workplace Diversity: Theory, Cases, and Exercises  Avery, D. R., Volpone, S. D., Stewart, R. W., Luksyte, A., Hernandez, M., McKay, P. F., & Hebl, M. R. (2013). Examining the draw of diversity: How diversity climate perceptions affect job-pursuit intentions. Human Resource Management, 52(2), 175-193.  DiversityBusiness.com (2013). America’s top organizations for multicultural business opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.diversitybusiness.com/news/supplierdiversity/45201338.asp  Melé, D., & Sánchez-Runde, C. (2013). Cultural diversity and universal ethics in a global world. Journal of Business Ethics, 116(4), 681-687.  Simons, S. M., & Rowland, K. N. (2011). Diversity and its impact on organizational performance: The influence of diversity constructions on expectations and outcomes. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 6(3), 171-182.  Discussion Board (25)  Critical Thinking (90) 2  Chapter 2 in Opportunities and Challenges of Workplace  DelPo, A., & Guerin, L. (2014). Chapter 3: Discrimination. In Manager’s legal handbook, (pp. 121-160). Berkeley, CA : Nolo.  Hammond, G., & Kleiner, K. (2013). Understanding and preventing harassment and discrimination at work. Feature Edition, 2013(3), 41-49.  Discussion Board (25)  Critical Thinking (90)  Portfolio Project, Topic (worth 25 points to Portfolio Project)  Live Classroom (0 points) 3  Chapter 6 in Opportunities and Challenges of Workplace Diversity  Richard, O. C., Roh, H., & Pieper, J. R. (2013). The link between diversity and equality management practice bundles and racial diversity in the managerial ranks: Does firm size matter? Human Resource Management, 52(2), 215-242.  Singh, B., & Selvarajan, T. T. (2013). Is it spillover or compensation? Effects of community and organizational diversity climates on race differentiated employee intent to stay. Journal of Business Ethics, 115(2), 259-269.  Discussion Board (25) Critical Thinking (90) 4  Chapters 5 & 7 in Opportunities and Challenges of Workplace Diversity  Hole, D., Zhong, L., & Schwartz, J. (2010). Talking about whose generation? Deloitte Review, 6, 84 – 97. Retrieved from http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_US/us/Services/additional-services/talent-human-capital-hr/5d6e2bb18ef26210VgnVCM100000ba42f00aRCRD.htm  Tacchino, J. I. (2013). Will baby boomers phase into retirement? Journal of Financial Service Professionals, 67(3), 41-48.  Women in the workplace: A research roundup. (2013). Harvard Business Review, 91(9), 86-89.  Discussion Board (25)  Critical Thinking (90) 5  Chapters 8 & 9 in Opportunities and Challenges of Workplace Diversity  Chapter 10 in Opportunities and Challenges of Workplace Diversity  Discussion Board (25)  Critical Thinking (90)  Live Classroom Option 1 (0 points) SAMPLE
6  Crowley, T. (2013). Wheelchair ramps in cyberspace: Bringing the Americans with disabilities act into the 21st century. Brigham Young University Law Review, 2013(3), 651-690.  Guerin, L. (2013). Chapter 2: Americans with disabilities act of 1990 (ADA). In Essential guide to federal employment laws, (pp. 39-57). Berkeley, CA: Society for Human Resource Management.  Madera, J., King, E., & Hebl, M. (2013). Enhancing the effects of sexual orientation diversity training: The effects of setting goals and training mentors on attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Business & Psychology, 28(1), 79-91.  Mathison, M. S. (2013). National origin, language & religion: Legally managing diversity at work. HR Specialist: Minnesota Employment Law, 6(8), 6.  Walker, K. (2014). Comparing American disability laws to the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities with respect to postsecondary education for persons with intellectual disabilities. Journal of International Human Rights, 12(1), 115-131.  Discussion Board (25)  Live Classroom Option 2 (0 points) 7  Arnold, P. (2011). The role of diversity management in the global talent retention race. Profiles In Diversity Journal, 13(3), 16.  Haas, H., & Nüesch, S. (2012). Are multinational teams more successful? International Journal of Human Resource Management, 23(15), 3105-3113.  Nederveen Pieterse, A., Van Knippenberg, D., & Van Dierendonck, D. (2013). Cultural diversity and team performance: The role of team member goal orientation. Academy of Management Journal, 56(3), 782-804.  Winkler, V. A., & Bouncken, R. B. (2011). How does cultural diversity in global innovation teams affect the innovation process? Engineering Management Journal, 23(4), 24-35.  Discussion Board (25) 8  Chapters 4 & 13 in Opportunities and Challenges of Workplace Diversity  Groysberg, B., & Connolly, K. (2013). Great leaders who make the mix work. Harvard Business Review, 91(9), 67-76.  Pegues, D. A., & Cunningham, C. L. (2010). Diversity in leadership: Where’s the love for racioethnic minorities? Business Journal of Hispanic Research, 4(1), 12-17.  Discussion Board (25)  Portfolio Project (350)
Assignment Details This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 1
Critical Thinking Option #1: Diversity Experience (90 Points)
Diversity encompasses a wide variety of experiences and differences, and our perspectives on diversity are often framed and informed by our culture, life experience, profession, and workplace.
Instructions:
In a well-written paper, compare and contrast four definitions of diversity. One will be from the U.S.-based Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM); the second will be from an international scholarly or business publication; the third will be from an international non-profit organization; and the fourth must be from a corporation or business located where you live (your city or your country).
Address the following in your paper:
1. Describe the definitions of diversity that you are comparing and contrasting and the sources of each.
2. Describe the SHRM and publication’s definitions. (Remember to describe the international scholarly or business publication you are using for a definition. What or whom comprises its key audience?) SAMPLE
3. Compare and contrast your definition of diversity with that of your chosen publication and that from SHRM. Be specific and evaluate each definition on its global inclusivity.
4. How do these definitions line up with your own diversity awareness or definition? Describe how your life experience—including your country of origin, culture, gender, race, and other factors—informs your diversity awareness. Provide specific examples of diversity-related situations you have encountered. Evaluate which categories of diversity you are most familiar with, and those with which you have the least experience.
Paper Requirements:
 For this assignment, you may want to refer to the handout Writing an Effective Essay. You may also want to view the sample paper, Does Your Paper Look like This?
 Your paper should be 4-6 pages in length, not including the required title or reference pages. Be sure your paper is formatted according to the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements.
 Review the grading rubric for this assignment, which can be accessed from the Course Information page, to understand exactly how you will be graded. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENT OPTION #2
Your Place in a Diverse Workforce (90 points)
Workforce diversity is multidimensional—including internal dimensions such as age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and physical ability—and external dimensions such as education, income, religion, geographic location, and other factors. The definition and scope of diversity varies across industries, type and size of enterprise, and country. As a manager, it is incumbent upon you to support and promote diversity in your organization.
Instructions:
Read the following article on the correlation between diversity and a firm’s ability to innovate:
Hewlett, S., Marshall, M., & Sherbin, L. (2013). How diversity can drive innovation. Harvard Business Review, 91(12), 30.
For this assignment, you will create a slide presentation. Assume you have been asked to evaluate the diversity policies of your organization. Base your presentation on a company you work for now, have worked for in the past, or one you would like to work for in the future. Your job is to create a slide presentation on diversity that you as a manager would present to your boss and to other managers.
Using your perspective as a manager, address the following questions in your presentation.
1. Describe the diversity policy of the organization. What areas of diversity policy are strong and which could use some improvement?
2. How does diversity influence innovation in this workplace or how could it influence innovation?
3. How does the diversity policy compare to that of a close competitor(s) and what are the ramifications of this?
4. Describe three specific action items or steps that the organization could undertake to improve diversity in the workplace. Include at least three challenges managers may encounter with a diverse workforce and at least three benefits.
Presentation Requirements
 Your presentation should comprise 8-10 slides, not including the title or reference pages, which you must include. You may use PowerPoint or internet-based presentation tools such as Prezi or Slide Rocket. Be sure to include the URL of your presentation when using internet-based tools. Paste the URL into a Word document and upload with your presentation. SAMPLE
 Your presentation must be formatted according to the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. You can find additional helpful guides on making presentations in the CSU-Global Library under the “APA Guide & Resources” link.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page, to understand how you will be graded on this assignment. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
Module 2
Critical Thinking Option #1: U.S. Diversity Law and Organizational Compliance (90 points)
In the United States, companies of all sizes, especially those with more than 15 employees, must adhere to nondiscrimination practices. Even if the company is so small that some of Title VII doesn’t apply, it is incumbent upon the manager to be familiar with federal antidiscrimination laws, including those relevant to gender, race and ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, and disabilities.
Instructions:
Choose one of these discrimination cases to research and evaluate (these are linked in the Week 2 assignments page):
 Calibuso et al. v. Bank of America Corp. et al. (2013) http://www.bofagenderlawsuit.com/pdf/20130906-settlement.pdf
 Otiz v. CVS Caremark Corporation et al. (2013)
 EEOC v. Alliant Techsystems (2012)
In a well-written paper, answer the following about the case you chose:
1. Describe the nature of the case. Describe the parties involved and provide a summary of the facts in the case.
2. Identify which of the antidiscrimination laws was violated in the case, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, ADEA, EPA, IRCA, ADA, or GINA.
3. Evaluate the seriousness and scope of the discrimination. What could have been done to prevent the discriminatory practices in the first place? Provide specific action steps you would recommend.
4. Explain the relevant law in light of its historical context and why it was enacted. How does the law protect the offended workers in this case?
Paper Requirements:
 Your paper should include an introduction and a conclusion and should be 3-4 pages long, not including the required title and reference pages, which you must include.
 Incorporate two scholarly references that are not required readings for this module. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find your sources.
 Follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
Critical Thinking Assignment: Option #2 Discrimination in the Workplace (90 points)
Instructions:
In a well-written paper, describe an ethical issue you encountered in the business world that falls within the realm of discrimination and laws governing anti-discrimination. For example, a student could write about his or her experience being fired, or penalized, due to religious preference or sexual orientation. A worker might write about experiences in the organization. SAMPLE
Note: If you have not personally or professionally confronted such an issue, you may choose to base your paper on a discrimination event that occurred anywhere in the world.
Address the following in your paper:
1. Identify and clearly define the discriminatory situation.
2. Identify any relevant laws and the laws’ provisions as they relate to your specific ethical issue.
3. Apply facts from your situation to the applicable law.
4. Identify any related ethical issues.
5. Incorporate two scholarly references that are not required readings for this module. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find your sources.
Paper Requirements:
 Your paper should include an introduction and a conclusion and be 3-4 pages in length, not including the required title and reference pages, which you must also include.
 Follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
PORTFOLIO MILESTONE: (This applies to both Portfolio options, #1 and #2)
Portfolio Topic and Plan for Portfolio Options #1 and #2 (worth 25 points to Portfolio Project)
Note: While you will not receive points this week for this preliminary deliverable, it is worth 25 points toward your final Portfolio Project.
This week, you will turn in a one-page paper describing the topic and plan for your Portfolio Project. Include the following information:
 Working title of the project
 The scope of your research
 How you intend to or might apply the knowledge gained from this project. That is, how will your findings be useful to you as a manager in your current or a future organization?
Review the entire Portfolio Project description on the Week 8 Assignments page and the grading rubric for the Portfolio, found under Course Information.
Module 3
Critical Thinking: Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Prejudice in the Workplace (90 points)
In any society, how we see ourselves and how others treat us depends on many factors. Race, ethnicity, and cultural background are identifiers of individuals. Most people have confronted prejudice based on these identifiers, either personally experiencing discrimination or knowing someone who has. Beyond ensuring the organization’s compliance with a country’s anti-discrimination laws, it is incumbent upon managers to support diversity in the workplace and to be culturally competent.
Instructions:
Write a paper in which you will relate your experience with prejudice in the workplace. If you do not have such experience directly, you may base your paper on someone you know who has experienced discrimination or on an actual case that occurred somewhere in the world. Address the following in your paper:
SAMPLE
1. Summarize the situation you are writing about—provide background such as how it happened, to whom it happened (you do not need to identify people by name), when it happened and where. Your goal here is to demonstrate to your instructor your ability to assess how racial, ethnic, and/or cultural prejudices are expressed in the workplace.
2. Explain the implications of the situation to the organization in terms of its stakeholders, its reputation, and its legal responsibilities. What laws, if any, were broken?
3. Identify any negative effects of the discrimination on the morale and functioning of coworkers and employees.
4. Relate three action steps that you as a manager would have taken to avoid the situation in the first place and three actions steps you would take to handle the situation after it happened. How would you address “cultural competence” in both instances?
Paper Requirements:
 Using the CSU-Global library as a source, provide two scholarly references. You may use the readings in the module.
 Your paper must be well written; 3-4 pages, and follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page and be sure to reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
Critical Thinking Assignment Option #2: Title VII and Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Competence (90 Points)
Discrimination in all its guises undermines employee loyalty, lowers or destroys morale, and diminishes productivity and quality of work. For both ethical and business reasons, it is incumbent upon you as a manager to prevent and remedy discrimination in the workplace.
In this assignment, you will develop a persuasive slide or video presentation to educate fellow managers on the need for cultural competency in an organization. (This can be one for which you currently work, have worked for in the past, or another company with 15 or more employees that you research.)
Instructions: Address the following in your presentation:
1. Appraise the level of racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity in the organization, particularly in relation to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and what forms of discrimination it expressly prohibits.
2. Describe a federal court case in which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued a for-profit corporation for violating one of the forms of discrimination covered under Title VII and that could also happen to your organization. Show why your organization could be culpable of legal violations with regard to discrimination.
3. Analyze a competitor to your organization with regard to its success in managing and promoting a diverse workforce according to Title VII. Compare and contrast the two organizations on policies that (a) ignore or mishandle discrimination, and (b) prevent and remedy discrimination.
4. Make suggestions for how your organization should move forward in educating employees about diversity and inclusion and for implementing new policies.
Presentation Requirements:
 Your presentation will be 10–12 slides or a 2-3 minute video. Follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements.
 In a separate one-page paper, be sure to include citations for all facts presented. You will need to upload these separately. You may use PowerPoint or Web-based presentation tools such as Prezi. Be sure to include the URL of your presentation when using Internet-based tools. Paste the URL into a Word document and upload it with your presentation.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment. SAMPLE
Module 4
Critical Thinking Option# 1: Women Executives and the C-Suite (90 points)
In recent years, women have broken through the glass ceiling by achieving senior executive (CEO, CFO, and COO) status in Fortune 500 companies–including General Motors, IBM, Oracle, Yahoo, and Facebook – to name a few. Yet, in 2012, only 17% of Fortune 500 company board directors were women. Still, a number of high-profile lawsuits were settled in 2013, including Calibuso v. Bank of America Corp. (BAC) in which the bank will pay $39 million to settle claims that it discriminated against women in its investment advice division. The suit alleged that the most lucrative clients were pushed to men, undermining women’s compensation and professional opportunities.
Instructions:
For this assignment, read the following article (the article is linked in the Week 4 assignments page) about women in executive management positions and incorporate the piece as an in-text citation in your paper: Kranc, J. (2014). Diversity’s bottom line. Financial Executive, 30(1), 34-39.
Select two organizations based in the same country that have made the news for their policies regarding women in executive positions, one for the better and one for the worse. Compare and contrast the organizations based on the following elements:
1. Describe the situation that led to the news coverage. What led to the situation? Was there a satisfactory conclusion or is the case ongoing? Describe the outcome or the current situation, and the players involved.
2. Describe any laws that were violated or may be violated.
3. Assess the impact of the gender diversity, or lack thereof, in each organization. Consider profitability, reputation, growth, and competitiveness, for example, but don’t be limited by this list.
4. Provide two scholarly references in addition to the Kranc piece in support of your assessment. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these resources.
5. Formulate three actions that a company with an already established gender diversity program can take to sustain or increase the number of qualified women at the executive and board level.
6. Formulate three actions that the company performing poorly in gender diversity can take to increase the number of qualified women at the executive and board level.
Paper Requirements:
 Your paper should be well written, include an introduction and conclusion, and be 3-4 pages in length, not counting the required title and reference pages, which you must include.
 Note that in addition to referencing the Kranc (2014) article, you must also incorporate at least two scholarly sources. Use in-text citations and include a reference section.
 Follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page, and reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
Critical Thinking Activity Option# 2: Ageism in the Global Workplace (90 points)
For this assignment, you will research an age discrimination case brought against a corporation or public institution anywhere in the world and settled within the past three years (since 2011). As an owner, executive, or manager of an organization of any size, you will be involved in decisions and policies that promote sound leadership and healthy employee relationships at all levels of the corporation.
Instructions:
In a well-written paper, address the following: SAMPLE
1. Describe the corporation or public institution you have chosen to study. Include its main business or mission, location(s), size, locations, the total number of employees, sales, and S&P or Fortune 500 rating (if applicable).
2. What was the situation leading to the lawsuit? Be sure to cite and reference all sources used.
3. What was the court verdict and penalty? Do you feel that it was appropriate? Why or why not? Support your opinion with research from at least two scholarly sources.
4. In your view, what was the negative impact of the court decision or media coverage on the company’s stakeholders?
5. Going forward, what actions should the company’s executives and management take to support gender equality and diversity? Provide specific guidelines and support your recommendations with research using at least two scholarly sources (in addition to the two used in #3, above). You may, in addition, use research from trade organizations, your textbook, and government or non-profit agencies to support your case, but these do not count towards the scholarly source requirement.
6. If the company is a multinational, what adjustments should be made to be in compliance with international gender diversity and antidiscrimination regulations?
Paper Requirements:
 Your paper should be well written, include an introduction and conclusion, and be 3-4 pages in length, not counting the required title and reference pages, which you must also include.
 Note that you must incorporate at least four scholarly sources, using in-text citations and reference page. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these sources.
 Follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page, and reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
Module 5
Critical Thinking Activity Option# 1: Setting Policy on Religious Holiday Leave in Compliance with U.S. Federal Law (90 points)
Religion permeates society and daily life and, for many, it requires special consideration in the workplace. In organizations with a diverse workforce, employees may identify themselves as Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, or members of other religions. Increased religious diversity in the workplace has led to a doubling in the number of religious discrimination claims over the past decade. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of l964 in the United States prohibits employers–in matters of hiring, firing, and other terms and conditions of employment–from discriminating against individuals because of their religion.
Instructions:
1. For this assignment, you are to take the role of a manager at an organization. This may be an organization with which you are actually affiliated (as an employee, student, or volunteer, for example), or, if you do not have an affiliation with an organization, you may select a well-known organization operating in the United States. Describe the organization and familiarize yourself with it so that you can make your responses based on the organization’s policy.
2. Prepare a policy brief that clearly defines how the organization will accommodate requests for religious holiday leave. Read the fact sheet from the EEOC in preparation for your assignment, EEOC (2010) Facts about religious discrimination, which is linked in the Week 5 Assignments page.
3. Include the following in your policy brief:
 Definition of religion as defined by EEOC and Title VII.
 The legal requirement to accommodate requests for religious holidays, and examples of the types of requests. SAMPLE
 Obligations on the part of the employer and employee regarding notification of religious leave.
 How the policy will be communicated to all employees.
 Articulate the specific policy language you wish to have approved by senior and executive management.
 Include an explanation of how employees and management will communicate and resolve scheduling conflicts that may arise as a result of multiple requests for leave.
 Explain how you will communicate this policy to your employees.
Paper Requirements:
 Your paper should be well written and 3-4 pages in length, not counting the required title and reference pages, which you must include.
 Follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements.
 Include two scholarly references not assigned for this module that support your policy statement. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these sources.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
Critical Thinking Activity Option# 2: Accommodating Religious Practices in the Global Workplace (90 points)
Countries have different approaches to religious practices in the workplace. In the Unites States, for example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 expressly prohibits discrimination against applicants or employees based on their religion. Still, there might be exceptions that can favor the employer.
Instructions:
1. Research a recent (2011 or later) case where an individual claimed religious discrimination as a basis for his or her being fired. It is preferable if you choose a case that occurred in the country in which you currently work or plan to work.
2. State the facts of the case.
3. Identify any relevant laws (these may be social, traditional, or legal) utilized by the court/authority in considering or determining the outcome of the case.
4. Define applicable legal/social doctrine or customs, provisions of the law or custom, and elements of a specific course of action.
Then, address the following:
5. Are there exceptions to the doctrines or customs named above that give employers an advantage in hiring and firing employees? Explain your answer.
6. What is the responsibility of employees with regard to their religious behavior in the workplace?
7. How might an employer avoid a religious discrimination lawsuit or issue? Provide three points on proactive religious policy in the workplace in the country you have chosen to study for your case.
Paper Requirements:
 Your paper should be well written and 3-4 pages in length, not counting the required title and reference pages, which you must include.
 Follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements.
 Include two scholarly references not assigned for this module that support your positions. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find these sources.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page. Reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
SAMPLE
Module 8
Portfolio Project (350 Points)
Note: There are two options for this assignment. Choose the one that best suits your learning style and needs. You need only complete one option.
Option #1: Organizational Diversity (350 points)
For this portfolio assignment, you will research a company or organization of your choosing regarding its organizational diversity. You might choose to examine an organization with a poor track record on diversity or one that has excelled in this area–the choice is yours. For your research, you will need to look at newspapers, social media, scholarly literature, trade organizations or trade press, government documents, company website, or legal briefs. Most likely you will need to examine a combination of these sources.
Preliminary Deliverable: In Week 2, you will submit your topic and plan in a one-page paper describing the topic and your plan for your Portfolio Project. Include the following information:
 Working title
 The scope of your research
 How you intend to apply the knowledge gained from this project, i.e. how your findings will be useful to you as a manager in your current or a future organization.
Instructions for Final Portfolio Project:
With your topic in hand, you will now write a paper that addresses each of the following items as they relate to your company. Note that each item in the list is worth equal value. Each answer must be reflective of your careful analysis of your sources. This means your answers must be backed up by specific references to your sources.
1. Provide a background and organizational framework for the organization including: relevant historical information, industry information, sales figures, mission, product, location, and customer or audience base.
2. Discuss the following types of diversity and the role each plays in the culture of the organization.
 Gender
 Age
 Race/Ethnicity
 Religion
 Sexual Orientation
 Disabilities
3. Provide a detailed explanation of how the top leadership of the organization has shown commitment, or lack of commitment, to diversity.
4. Provide a detailed explanation of this organization’s reputation amongst the public, the industry, and its stakeholders in regard to diversity initiatives. Support your answers.
5. Discuss the policies, procedures, and practices the organization has in place with regard to all forms of diversity in the workplace. This should also include the outcomes or results of not following the policies and procedures as well as the laws that may be particularly pertinent to the organization. Support your answers.
6. Analyze how this company could improve upon its current diversity strategy to improve its overall corporate performance. Support your answers.
Additional Assignment Requirements:
SAMPLE
 The paper must be 10-12 pages in length, not including the title and reference pages, which you must include. Be sure your paper has an appropriate introduction and conclusion.
 Include at least six references. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find your sources.
 The paper must be formatted in alignment with the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. This includes in-text citations and a reference section.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page, and reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
Option #2: Organizational Diversity (350 points)
Create a proposal for an actual organization that needs to come into compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on how the firm might do so. Select a company that has been involved in a legal suit within the past three years. For your research, you will need to look at newspapers, social media, scholarly literature, trade organizations or trade press, government documents, company website, or legal briefs. Most likely you will need to examine a combination of these sources.
Preliminary Deliverable: In Week 2, you will submit your topic. For that “Portfolio preliminary deliverable,” you will turn in a one-page paper describing the topic and your plan for your Portfolio Project. Include the following information:
 Working title
 The scope of your research
 How you intend to apply the knowledge gained from this project: How your findings will be useful to you as a manager in your current or future organization.
Instructions for Final Portfolio Project:
With your topic in hand, write a paper that addresses each of the following items as they relate to your chosen company. Note that each item in the list is worth equal value. Each answer must be reflective of your careful analysis of your sources. This means your answers must be backed up by specific references to your sources.
1. Provide a background and organizational framework for the organization including: relevant historical information, industry information, sales figures, mission, product, location, and customer or audience base.
2. Assess the organization with regard to diversity and state its diversity issues.
3. Construct a situational analysis of the company’s Title VII compliance issues.
4. Devise a SWOT analysis of the company relative to its diversity challenges.
5. Provide a detailed explanation of how the top leadership of the organization has shown commitment, or lack of commitment, to diversity.
6. Assess the company’s vulnerability relative to Title VII and the specific regulation that it is in danger of violation.
7. Develop specific action steps the company should take to remedy its Title VII violations.
Assignment Requirements:
 The paper must be 10-12 pages in length, not including the required title and reference pages, which you must include. Be sure your paper has an appropriate introduction and conclusion.
 Include at least six references. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find your sources.
 The paper must be formatted in alignment with the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. This includes in-text citations and a reference section.
 Review the grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page, and reach out to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.
Course Policies SAMPLE
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation 45% Critical Thinking Activities 35% Final Portfolio Paper
0% Live Classroom
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
A-
90.0 – 94.9
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
In-Classroom Policies
For information on late work and incomplete grade policies, please refer to our In-Classroom Student Policies and Guidelines or the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-Global institutional policies.
Academic Integrity
Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism, reusing /re-purposing your own work (see CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements for percentage of repurposed work that can be used in an assignment), unauthorized possession of academic materials, and unauthorized collaboration. The CSU-Global Library provides information on how students can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use the Library and Internet resources.
Citing Sources with APA Style
All students are expected to follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements when citing in APA (based on the APA Style Manual, 6th edition) for all assignments. For details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA resources within the CSU-Global Library under the “APA Guide & Resources” link. A link to this document should also be provided within most assignment descriptions on your course’s Assignments page.
Netiquette
Respect the diversity of opinions among the instructor and classmates and engage with them in a courteous, respectful, and professional manner. All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you meant? How will the person on the other end read the words?
Maintain an environment free of harassment, stalking, threats, abuse, insults or humiliation toward the instructor and classmates. This includes, but is not limited to, demeaning written or oral comments of an ethnic, religious, age, disability, sexist (or sexual orientation), or racist nature; and the unwanted sexual advances or intimidations by email, or on discussion boards and other postings within or connected to the online classroom.
If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know. SAMPLE