BUS 407 – Assignments and Rubrics

© 2014 Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. BUS 407 Student Version 1142 (1248 02-4-2014) Final Page 7 of 14

Assignment 1: Training and Development in Small Businesses

Due Week 4 and worth 240 points

Select a small business with which you are familiar. Imagine that you have been called into that business to provide a consultation on training. Create a comprehensive training proposal for the business.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:

1. Analyze key elements of training and development geared toward improving the performance of the specific small business for which you are consulting.

2. Predict three to five (3-5) potential challenges that the managers or owners of the business could face in addressing organizational performance.

3. Justify the effects of detecting organizational gaps in small business, providing examples to explain the rationale.

4. Propose a competitive training strategy that will improve the position of the business in the market. The strategy should include, at a minimum, an agenda of training activities, rationale for instructional strategies used, and the return on investment (ROI) that will be gained from the strategy you have developed.

5. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

 Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

 Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

 Analyze concepts, meanings, and trends in training.

 Justify the importance of aligning training with organizational strategy.

 Evaluate theories associated with learning, motivation, and employee performance.

 Use technology and information resources to research issues in training and development.

 Write clearly and concisely about training and development using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric. Points: 240 / Assignment 1: Training and Development in Small Businesses
Criteria / Unacceptable
Below 60% F / Meets Minimum Expectations
60-69% D / Fair
70-79% C / Proficient
80-89% B / Exemplary
90-100% A
1. Analyze key elements of training and development geared toward improving the / Did not submit or incompletely analyzed key elements of training and development / Insufficiently analyzed key elements of training and development geared toward / Partially analyzed key elements of training and development geared toward / Satisfactorily analyzed key elements of training and development geared toward / Thoroughly analyzed key elements of training and development geared toward
performance of the specific small business for which you are consulting.
Weight: 25% / geared toward improving the performance of the specific small business for which you are consulting. / improving the performance of the specific small business for which you are consulting. / improving the performance of the specific small business for which you are consulting. / improving the performance of the specific small business for which you are consulting. / improving the performance of the specific small business for which you are consulting.
2. Predict three to five (3-5) potential challenges that the managers or owners of the business could face in addressing organizational performance. Weight: 20% / Did not submit or incompletely predicted three to five (3-5) potential challenges that the managers or owners of the business could face in addressing organizational performance. / Insufficiently predicted three to five (3-5) potential challenges that the managers or owners of the business could face in addressing organizational performance. / Partially predicted three to five (3-5) potential challenges that the managers or owners of the business could face in addressing organizational performance. / Satisfactorily predicted three to five (3-5) potential challenges that the managers or owners of the business could face in addressing organizational performance. / Thoroughly predicted three to five (3-5) potential challenges that the managers or owners of the business could face in addressing organizational performance.
3. Justify the effects of detecting organizational gaps in small business, providing examples to explain the rationale.
Weight: 20% / Did not submit or incompletely justified the effects of detecting organizational gaps in small business, providing examples to explain the rationale. / Insufficiently justified the effects of detecting organizational gaps in small business, providing examples to explain the rationale. / Partially justified the effects of detecting organizational gaps in small business, providing examples to explain the rationale. / Satisfactorily justified the effects of detecting organizational gaps in small business, providing examples to explain the rationale. / Thoroughly justified the effects of detecting organizational gaps in small business, providing examples to explain the rationale.
4. Propose a competitive training strategy that will improve the position of the business in the market. The strategy should include, at a minimum, an agenda of training activities, rationale for instructional strategies used, and the return on investment (ROI) that will be gained from the strategy you have developed
Weight: 20% / Did not submit or incompletely proposed a competitive training strategy that will improve the position of the business in the market, including an agenda of training activities, rationale for instructional strategies used, and the return on investment (ROI) that will be gained from the strategy you have developed. / Insufficiently proposed a competitive training strategy that will improve the position of the business in the market, including an agenda of training activities, rationale for instructional strategies used, and the return on investment (ROI) that will be gained from the strategy you have developed. / Partially proposed a competitive training strategy that will improve the position of the business in the market, including an agenda of training activities, rationale for instructional strategies used, and the return on investment (ROI) that will be gained from the strategy you have developed. / Satisfactorily proposed a competitive training strategy that will improve the position of the business in the market, including an agenda of training activities, rationale for instructional strategies used, and the return on investment (ROI) that will be gained from the strategy you have developed. / Thoroughly proposed a competitive training strategy that will improve the position of the business in the market, including an agenda of training activities, rationale for instructional strategies used, and the return on investment (ROI) that will be gained from the strategy you have developed.
5. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment.
Weight: 5% / No references provided / Does not meet the required number of references; all references poor quality choices. / Does not meet the required number of references; some references poor quality choices. / Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices. / Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices.
6. Clarity, writing mechanics, and formatting requirements
Weight: 10% / More than 8 errors present / 7-8 errors present / 5-6 errors present / 3-4 errors present / 0-2 errors present