Good Morning, <bow>

-The Indpendence Games: Like Khan said we need to have a good showing in this competition folks. I have already submitted a graphics competition, Summit members please help out the IG by creating a competition for them. As much as there is a need for our membership to participate in the IG there is an equal need for Summit members to provide worthy competitions for the greater glory of the Brotherhood and Clan.

-Great Jedi Wars: Comming soon to a theater war near you!!! Be ready folks, nipping on the heels of the Indpendence Games is the GJW. Lots to do, but it should be a great time to be a DB member! Just keep in mind that its coming and that we need everyone to participate in it. Everyone from Consul to Novice!

- IRC Channels: The channel activity of late has be excellent. We are all benefiting from the channels and the way we are proporting themselves. I am pleased to hear that there are no real problems to date. (I was not on this weekend I hope there were no incidents).

- Membership: All I have to ask is why another member went to the Rogue list. Now I know people move around a bit til they find the House and Clan they like. But there is absolutely no reason someone should put out enough to goto the rogue list. Now personeal and real life can do that I know I have been rogue for time periods too, but some one under the rank of Jedi Hunter should NOT be going to the rogue list. That means one of two things, they did not understand the DB when they joined and that is our fault as well, or the Teams and Houses are letting some slip through the cracks. Please House Summit and Team Leaders watch your new members! Assign House mentors to them as soon as they enter.

</bow>

** Below is my JUST my grad school schedule for the next 4 weeks, this does not include my divorce procedings, my work, or family things I am responsible for. After reading it you will understand why I will have LITTLE sympathy for someone that says they can not participate due to real life in the IG and GJW. **

Week Three Online

Human Capital Development

· Evaluate the applications of human capital development.

· Develop a continuity plan.

· Build a five-year career development plan.

· Perform a workforce assessment.

ASSIGNMENTS

INDIVIDUAL

1.   Read your materials for Week Three on your rEsource page.  
   

2.   5-Year Career Development Plan  
   

In a 1,750-2,400-word paper, prepare your own five-year career development plan. Incorporate the following elements:

a. Identify your goals and objectives. How will you measure your objectives? How will your plan affect your work/life balance? What trends in HRM do you need to be aware of that could influence your plan?

b. Examine the critical skills and competencies required to achieve success. What transferable skills do you have and how can these skills be leveraged if you decide to take a different career or life path? How can your professional experience help you plan for the next 5 years of your career? What career-related training, formal education, and/or certifications do you need to help meet your career goals? Would it be helpful to join and participate in a professional association? Would it be useful to you to have a mentor?

c. List job satisfaction attributes. What specific work environment attributes would provide satisfaction?

d. Analyze the elements of effective retention and career processes. What retention-related issues are important to you; what ideally would your manager need to do to ensure that you don’t leave your company? What do you find rewarding and why?

Your paper must include at least three recent, peer-reviewed sources from the UOP library.

1.   Respond to the Discussion Questions posted by your instructor. Post to the Main Newsgroup by [INSERT INFORMATION].  
   

2.   Submit your Weekly Summary to the Main Newsgroup by [INSERT INFORMATION].  
   

LEARNING TEAM

1. Review the objectives from Week Three, and discuss additional insights and questions that may have arisen.
   

Week Four Online

Human Resources Processes and Systems - Content

· Apply the elements of an effective technical infrastructure.

· Create a recruiting and selection plan.

· Identify the elements of an effective training and development program.

ASSIGNMENTS

INDIVIDUAL

1.   Read your materials for Week Four on your rEsource page.  
   

2.   Respond to the Discussion Questions posted by your instructor. Post to the Main Newsgroup by [INSERT INFORMATION].  
   

3.   Submit your Weekly Summary to the Main Newsgroup by [INSERT INFORMATION].  
   

LEARNING TEAM

1.   Review the objectives from Week Four, and discuss additional insights and questions that may have arisen.  
   

2.   Human Resources Strategic Positioning Plan – Part 1  
   

Assume that your learning team is a consulting firm and Riordan Manufacturing has hired you. It realizes that potentially a large group of baby boomers could retire soon. You have been hired to prepare a comprehensive Human Resources Strategic Plan for this company that will sustain the human capital and enable the organization to:

a. Meet its ongoing goals

b. Support the organization’s goal to attract key technical and leadership human capital for long-term competitive advantage

Locate the Riordan Manufacturing virtual organization on your rEsource page. Then, prepare a 2,000-2,500-word paper addressing the following elements:

a. Company and Workforce Overview

1) Identify the company goals and needs

2) Evaluate the company’s business requirements for human capital

3) Describe how organizational culture plays a role in human resources

4) Assess workforce diversity issues

b. Prepare a “continuity plan” that includes the following workforce assessment:

1) Workforce demographics: What are the implications of changing workforce demographics including the aging workforce?

2) Job satisfaction: What are elements that lead to job satisfaction (e.g., money, flexible schedules, training, recognition)

3) Single point failure: Identify critical skills (“single point failure”); develop a plan to mitigate this single point of failure

4) Recruitment and selection:

a) Methods to recruit and select potential employees (logistics, media campaign, use of agencies, colleges, job fairs, promotional materials, interview process, relocation plan)

b) Methods to recruit other kinds of workers in the organization (e.g., part-time employees, supplemental workers, contingent workers, etc.). What is the rationale for the use of a variety of workers? What are the associated risks and advantages to using these types of employees and workers?

5) Recommendation. Develop a recommendation for a comprehensive selection strategy that meets the business objectives noted above.

Throughout your paper, integrate theories and concepts from your text and other sources as you review your organization. That is, what do the experts say should be happening; how does this relate to what is happening in your organization? Week Five Online

Human Resources Processes and Systems - Applications

· Analyze the elements of effective retention and career processes.

· Design elements of effective employee relations program.

· Examine the elements of an appropriate risk management program.

· Identify the applications of information provided by a Human Resource Information System.

ASSIGNMENTS

INDIVIDUAL

1.   Read your materials for Week Five on your rEsource page.  
   

2.   Employee Relations Plan  
   

Prepare a 1,200-1,800-page paper designing elements of an employee relations program from an organization of your choice. Identify policy implications, the goals of the program, how these goals support corporate goals, and the cost and benefits of implementing and maintaining the plan. Include these topics at minimum:

a. Employee rights and employee relations

b. Federal, state, and foreign regulatory compliance

c. Wellness programs, including employee assistance programs

d. Benefits (other than wellness programs)

e. Health and safety

f. Work/life balance issues

1.   Respond to the Discussion Questions posted by your instructor. Post to the Main Newsgroup by [INSERT INFORMATION].  
   

2.   Submit your Weekly Summary to the Main Newsgroup by [INSERT INFORMATION].  
   

LEARNING TEAM

1. Review the objectives from Week Five, and discuss additional insights and questions that may have arisen.
   

Week Six Online

Contemporary Issues in Human Resources

· Examine the elements of work-life balance.

· Assess the quality recognition criteria as they apply to human resource systems.

· Identify emerging human resource trends.

ASSIGNMENTS

INDIVIDUAL

1.   Read your materials for Week Six on your rEsource page.  
   

2.   Respond to the Discussion Questions posted by your instructor. Post to the Main Newsgroup by [INSERT INFORMATION].  
   

3.   Submit your Weekly Summary to the Main Newsgroup by [INSERT INFORMATION].  
   

LEARNING TEAM

1.   Review the objectives from Week Six and discuss additional insights and questions that may have arisen.  
   

2.   Human Resources Strategic Positioning Plan – Part 2  
   

Prepare a 3,000-3,500-word paper integrating theories and concepts from your text and other sources as you review the Riordan Manufacturing virtual organization on your rEsource page. Based on your researched information, create a Human Resource Strategic Positioning Plan for your client. Include a summary of Part 1 in addition to the following elements in order to support your recommendations.

a. One-page executive summary

b. Recruiting and Retention

1) Analyze methods for recognizing and retaining key employees and workers

2) Identify a process to replace key executive talent

3) Develop a process to identify high-potential employees; develop a process to “fast track” these employees

c. Legal Ramifications

Legal implications of issues covered in this assignment (e.g., as you consider your proposal, have you thoroughly researched any legal implications)?

d. Training and Development Program

Identify elements of an effective training and development program.

e. Technical infrastructure

Apply the elements of an effective technical infrastructure. Include application of information (such as requirements and considerations) provided by an HRIS.

f. Globalization

How is your strategy affected by the company’s decision to “go global” with its plant in China? What are the HR-related implications? Assess the challenges and opportunities of multinational cultural diversity and international talent management.

g. Recommendations

Make final recommendations to the client.

AS you can see I am writing more than any normal person would ever be at this time and I am doing the weekly Krath Comps and Judging in the IG as well as plan to participate. DON'T expect too much sympathy from me unless your dead.

<p>

KPN Gilkane (Krath)/PCON/Clan Exar Kun [ACC: INI]

RS/GC/(SC-SoA)/(StA-WG)/DC-KC-O-CS-D/Cr-3R-1A-1E/(LSS)

{SA: G:LS-G:MED-K:CORE} </p>