Education week 5 assignment

 

Executive Summary

• Read Chapter 5: Taking Action and Leading Change of the course textbook, One Step at a Time: A Roadmap for Problem Solving & Making a Difference.
• Review A Closer Look: Week 5: Social Responsibility and Change Agency.
• Read Writing an Executive SummaryLinks to an external site..
• Review the Model Executive Summary Download Model Executive Summary.
• Review all the feedback you received over the last four weeks.
• Download the Executive Summary Template Download Executive Summary Template.
• Review technical requirements for page length and source requirement.

 

Required Elements to be Included in Executive Summary Template

Select each arrow to review the requirements for each section of the Executive Summary Final Paper.

In the Problem Section,

• Describe the problem using the 5W1H method.
• Write the problem statement.

In the Background Overview Section,

• Explain whether the problem exists in a personal or professional context.
• Describe any cultural influences that may have caused or contributed to the problem.
• Evaluate the urgency of the problem.
• Explain why you think the problem is important.

In the Research Results Section,

• Share the results of your theoretical investigation and data collection.
• Share the results of your examination of sources for bias and trustworthiness.
• Share the results of the interviews you conducted about the problem.

In the Potential Solutions Section,

• Describe at least two potential solutions.
• Assess the realistic expectations to implement either solution.
• Evaluate the benefits and barriers to each solution.
• Identify the preferred solution and explain the choice.

In the Recommendations Section,

• Briefly describe your action plan to implement the solution.
• Explain how you can serve as a change agent for this problem.
• Describe the degree of change you can reasonably expect to achieve.
• Discuss how you can motivate others to be agents of change for this problem.

Select the arrow to review the formatting guidelines for the Executive Summary Final Paper.

Formatting Guidelines for the Executive Summary Final Paper

• must be 3 to 4 (not to exceed 4) double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA StyleLinks to an external site. as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA Formatting for Microsoft WordLinks to an external site. resource.
• must not exceed four pages in length.
• must include a separate title page with the following in title case:

  title of page in bold font

  Space should appear between the title and the rest of the information on the title page.

  student’s name
  name of institution (The University of Arizona Global Campus)
  course name and number
  instructor’s name
  due date

• must utilize first person or academic voice. Review the Academic VoiceLinks to an external site. resource for additional guidance.
• must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph.

  Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
  For assistance on writing Introductions & ConclusionsLinks to an external site., refer to the Writing Center resources.

• must use at least four credible sources in addition to the course text.

  The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible SourcesLinks to an external site. table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source.
  To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, review this Quick and Easy Library ResearchLinks to an external site. tutorial, which introduces the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.

• must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA: Citing Within Your PaperLinks to an external site. guide.
• must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center. Review the APA: Formatting Your References List Links to an external site. resource in the Writing Center for specifications.

Convert your completed template (paper) to a PDF document. Save the completed PDF of your paper to your computer and upload it to Waypoint. Be sure to double-check that it was properly saved and uploaded successfully.

Carefully review the

Grading Rubric Links to an external site.

for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Waypoint Assignment Submission

The assignments in this course will be submitted to Waypoint. Please refer to the instructions below to submit your assignment.

1. Click on the Assignment Submission button below. The Waypoint “Student Dashboard” will open in a new browser window.
2. Browse for your assignment.
3. Click Upload.
4. Confirm that your assignment was successfully submitted by viewing the appropriate week’s assignment tab in Waypoint.

For more detailed instructions, refer to the

Waypoint Tutorial Links to an external site.

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Previous

 

This executive summary will provide a high-level overview of the problem you selected in this course, the context of the problem, your research efforts and results, the different potential solutions, your recommended solution, and how a person can be an agent of change.

 
This executive summary will provide a high-level overview of the problem you selected in this course, the context of the problem, your research efforts and results, the different potential solutions, your recommended solution, and how a person can be an agent of change.

Executive Summary

The University of Arizona Global Campus

GEN499: General Education Capstone

The Problem

In a short paragraph, describe the problem using the 5W1H method. View the
Week 5 Model Executive Summary for guidance on each section’s content and approximate length.

Next, state the problem statement clearly and succinctly.

Background Overview

Briefly explain whether the problem exists in a personal or professional context.

In one or more paragraphs, describe any cultural influences that may have caused or contributed to the problem. Include your description of the problem, as examined through a cultural lens, from the Week 2 Discussion. Consider any biases around the situation.

Briefly evaluate the urgency of the problem. Explain why you think the problem is important. 

Research Results

In a paragraph, share the results of your theoretical investigation and data collection. Include the results of interviews conducted about the problem from Week 3.

In one or more paragraphs, share the results of your examination of sources for bias and trustworthiness. Include research and data results from Week 3. Review the

Integrating Research

resource for help incorporating sources into your writing. Cite any outside resources using in-text citations, referring to the

APA Citing Within Your Paper

resource for guidance.

Potential Solutions

Describe at least two potential solutions. Create a well-developed paragraph here for one solution.

Create a second well-developed paragraph here for the next solution.

Assess the realistic expectations to implement each solution. Evaluate the benefits and barriers to each potential solution. 

Identify the preferred solution and explain the choice. 

Recommendation

Explain how you can serve as a change agent for this problem. In a short paragraph, describe the degree of change you can reasonably expect to achieve. 

In one or more paragraphs, discuss how you can motivate others to be agents of change for this problem. Consider your audience and how you can get their buy-in.

Briefly state your action plan to implement the solution. 

References

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article.
Title of Periodical, volume #(issue #), pp–pp.

https://doi.org/xx.xxxxxxxxxx

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of book. Publisher.

http://doi.org/xxx.xxxx.xxxxxxxx

Author, A. A, (Year). Title of work. In A. Editor & B. Editor (Eds.), Title of book anthology (edition, if other than the first, pp-pp.) Publisher.

URL

(Original work published date)

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day).
Title of webpage. Site Name.
URL

**Include at least
four credible sources in addition to the textbook. For help formatting your reference entries, please see

APA: Formatting Your References List

. Be sure that each source you’ve used has both an in-text citation and a references list citation.

For this assignment, you do not need to format your work with double-spaced lines, indented paragraphs, or a hanging indent for your references. For professional writing, use double-spacing between paragraphs.

Model Executive Summary

I.M. Student

The University of Arizona Global Campus

GEN499: General Education Capstone

Professor Tough

August 8, 2032

The Problem

Over the last two years, our company has rapidly expanded and exceeded the expected
projections for growth. Whereas personnel have been added to handle the additional workload,
the physical environment has not been adjusted to accommodate the increase in staff. As a result,
there has been a small but steady decline in office morale and a corresponding drop in
productivity because there is nowhere for employees to recharge their batteries during work
hours.
In summary, the problem is that our office does not have a designated area for employees to
decompress during their work breaks which is having a negative effect on office morale and
productivity.

Background Overview

This problem exists in a professional context which is the physical design of the office facility.
The office was originally selected as it comfortably accommodated the small number of original
office staff. Four desks fit the open area, and a small couch and coffee table were placed at the
end wall for employee use. This arrangement worked well for the first 18 months of the
company’s existence.

In the second half of the second year, the business experienced exponential growth which
required additional staff to handle the work. The couch and coffee table were removed to
accommodate additional desks for the growth in personnel. At first, employees were excited
about the positive company growth and didn’t mind working eight-nine hours right alongside
their colleagues. After about a year, the fast pace of keeping up with the growth began to wear on
the employees, especially since there was no place to escape the constant buzz of telephone
conversations, the underlying hum of electricity from the monitors and computers, and quite
simply, the experience of always being with and around colleagues during the entire workday.
Employees began to feel more stress as it was clear there was nowhere to escape and recharge
their batteries other than leaving the office completely which is costly in terms of time and
money.

Office leadership has also experienced struggles due to the rapid growth of the company. When
the office was small, leadership could directly address all employees at once with ease and

Use the 5W1H
method to

develop your
problem

statement.

State the
problem
statement
clearly and
succinctly.

Include
your
description
of the
problem
from the
Week 2
discussion
here.

An executive summary is a
concise summary of a business
report. It restates the purpose of
the report, highlights the major
points of the report, and
describes any results,
conclusions, or recommendations
from the report.

An executive summary should be
aimed at an audience that is
interested in and wants to learn
more about the purpose of the
main business report.

https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/writing-executive-summary

informality; however, as the need for additional personnel led to hiring many more employees, it
became clear that mid-level leadership would be necessary to bridge the gap between employees
and upper leadership. Not having experienced the company from its inception, newer employees
did not feel as emotionally tied to the company and were less willing to accept growth pains such
as the limitations of the physical environment. As a result, employee concerns were not as
readily expressed which fed into the stress and decreased morale within the organization.

To be fair, many of the original employees also felt the stress of rapid physical growth of the
organization. However, they were not as likely to openly complain or criticize leadership for not
recognizing and acting on the problem as were newer employees.

To increase employee morale and resume productivity levels, this problem needs to be addressed
within the next few months before there is a serious impact on the organization’s finances and
organizational culture.

Research Results

Research to learn more about the problem has revealed some interesting results. A series of
informal, separate conversations with six different employees were conducted at a local coffee
shop that was quiet and offered comfortable seating. Two major themes arose from the
conversations. First, employees indicated that they did not like having to eat lunch at their desks
and were concerned that there was no place to store lunches (i.e. refrigerator, etc.). Second,
employees identified the lack of “quiet” space to gather their thoughts when faced with a
stressful situation as being a demoralizing issue.

There is a plethora of research to support the impact of employer practices on employee morale
as well as employee morale on office productivity. According to Jones and Farmer (2020),
having a designated “retreat” area for employees to use is beneficial to their psychological health
and can have positive effects on their physical health as well. We all know that stress can cause
multiple issues, so having a stress-free zone would benefit employees to clear their heads and
relax during their break times. Davis and Carter (2018) indicated in their research that employees
who feel heard and supported are more engaged and productive at work. Employees whose
employers listen to, and address concerns are more patient to await change. Trust between
employee and employer is also a very important factor that affects morale and productivity
according to Wilson (2022).

A conversation with the building management office indicated that in the past, tenants have been
given permission to remodel their offices as necessary. Tenants have also had the option to
relocate to a larger office space area (depending on availability). Building management is very
willing to work with our office as they want to keep us as satisfied tenants.

Potential Solutions

There are two potential solutions to address this problem. The first possibility is to expand the
current office to include a functional and sizeable breakroom that includes a small kitchen with
microwave and refrigerator. There is space in the adjoining empty office to relocate the adjacent

Consider
any
biases
around
the
situation.

Include
the
results of
interviews
conducted
about the
problem
from
Week 3.

Include
research
and data
results
from
Week 3.
Cite any
outside
resources,
using
in-text
citations.

Explain
both
solutions
described
in Week 4.

wall for the build out. This would also accommodate expansion of desk space in the main office
area and provide an additional private conference space for confidential meetings. The cost of
the buildout would be absorbed by the building management up front and rolled into a new
negotiated lease. Employees could continue to work in the existing space while construction was
in progress thereby making the transition somewhat seamless. The time frame for the project is
estimated to be approximately two months to get the necessary approvals, construction plans,
materials, and labor.

The second possibility would be to move into a larger office space that already has a separate
kitchen and large conference room on a higher floor. This move would involve a weekend move
which would not disrupt the flow of office work. This larger existing space would have a better
view and more room which would increase the monthly lease amount to be slightly more than
the new lease for a buildout.

Benefits to the buildout would be estimating and building out to accommodate future projected
company growth whereas benefits to relocate into a move-in ready office would be a more
professional and streamlined visual appeal for employees. Drawbacks to the buildout would be
signing a lease for a minimum of three years to recover the cost of the buildout whereas
drawbacks of the move-in ready office would be no possibility of additional buildout in the
future to further enlarge the office.

Recommendation

Having a separate break room will allow employees to disconnect from their work activities for a
while which can lead to increased morale and enhanced organizational climate, increased
productivity, and a more positive impact on customers and clientele.

It would require a considerable amount of capital to fund the project, but the return on the
investment to enlarge the office to include a breakroom or retreat and separate conference room
would be captured in the increased productivity provided by employees who are satisfied with
their work environments. The increase in the lease amount could be passed along to the
consumer by incrementally raising the cost of the product.

Of the two potential solutions, the recommended solution is to relocate the entire office to the
move-in ready office on the top floor of the building. Having met growth projections for the next
three years already and understanding the marketplace trends leads to the belief that growth will
slow to a more manageable pace for the foreseeable future. Moving into the finished office space
will also address and enhance employee morale more quickly whereas requiring them to work
alongside a noisy build-out would increase the existing stress to unmanageable levels.

The action plan moving forward would be to negotiate the new lease with the building
management by the end of next week, arrange for a weekend relocation in two weeks, and
celebrate the new space with the employees and customers.

State the
benefits
and
drawbacks
of each
potential
solution.

Consider
the
audience
and what
they need
to believe
and know
to get their
buy-in.

State the
action
plan.

References

Davis, B., & Carter, R. (2022, March 4). Listening to your employees: Benefits abound. Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/entry/listening-to-your-employees

Jones, A., & Farmer B. (2018). Benefits of employee retreats. Journal of Office Management,
8(3), 207-222

Wilson, S. (2022, January 10). Building employee trust [Video]. TED Conferences.
https://www.ted.com/talks/samuel_wilson_building_employee_trust

Include a list of References in your report. Note that in a business setting, an
executive summary is usually a section at the beginning of a longer business
report, with references listed at the end of that extended report.

The format for listing references in a professional summary or business report
may differ from an academic paper. For this assignment, use APA style for
your reference entries. Since a real-world business report may not follow APA
standards, you may make an exception by formatting these entries using
single-spaced lines without a hanging indent.

Include in-text citations to indicate where you used these sources in your
summary.

https://www.forbes.com/entry/listening-to-your-employees

https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/format-your-reference-list

https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/apa-citing-within-your-paper