Discussion Question 1 What are the six planning tools and techniques? Using an example from your experience (as a student or at work), describe how you could use one of the techniques or tools to improve planning in your future. You may choose to apply your response to a specific goal in answering this question. Discussion Question 2 The two segments of the organization's environment are general and specific. Using an organization for which you are familiar, identify the factors that operate in each. Why is it important to understand an organization's environment? Discussion Question 3 Compare how the United States differs from another country of your choice on Hofstede's dimensions of culture. Explain how your knowledge of these differences would influence you as a global manager if you were doing business internationally. REMINDER: When a DQ asks for specific information about what concepts mean, you should use cited material from the textbook(s) to explain them, rather than provide your own opinion about what these might be. Don’t get me wrong, our experience and perspective is always a valuable part of your replies, so always focus on both the academic content and your own point of view. Each questions answer must included cited material and your ideas as well. TEXTBOOKS Schermerhorn, J. (2014). Exploring management (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. ISBN-13: 97811118620199 (Available as a custom eBook - includes only Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 16, and 17) http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/wiley/2013/exploring-management-custom_ebook_4e.php Schermerhorn, J., & Uhl-Bien, M. (2014). Organizational behavior (13th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. ISBN-13: 9781118517376 http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/wiley/2013/organizational-behavior_ebook_13e.php

Option #1: Variance Analysis and Benchmarking Your supervisor has asked you to prepare some calculations based on the company’s data and then research publicly available similar competitor information to see how your company is performing within the industry. Your company, CarryIt Inc., produces mass quantity, inexpensive tote bags for promotional marketing purposes, which is a very competitive business.Here is the available data for your company:Labor hours .25;Labor rate $11.75/hour;Materials input .5 yds. fabric;Materials price $1.50/yd.; andVariable overhead rate $5.00 per direct labor hour.You are also able to find an industry profile report via a Dun & Bradstreet database that has selected data from a few other companies in similar businesses as well as some industry statistics. Here’s the data available:Unit Variable Cost ItemStar CompanyGoldBag CorporationPromoTotes LLCIndustry DataLabor hours.35.20.30.30Labor rate$11.25$11.95$12.50$11.65Materials input.45 yds..675 yds..50 yds..55 yds.Materials price$1.65/yd.$1.35/yd.$1.55/yd.$1.50/yd.Variable OH rate$6.00 per direct labor hour$5.25 per direct labor hour$4.70 per direct labor hour$5.45 per direct labor hour For your task, in Microsoft Excel, compute the following measures:Total variable cost per unit for CarryIt, the competitors, and the industry average.What is the percentage of the total for each component (materials, labor, and variable overhead)?Assume industry data is your benchmark. What are the price and efficiency variances for direct materials and direct labor for each company?What is the percentage over standard by company and by variance?Below the computations in Excel, please summarize your observations about how CarryIt’s performance stacks up to its competition from the benchmarking exercise in 2-3 well written paragraphs. Include suggestions for areas of improvement and comments on areas where the company does well.Submit your responses in an Excel spreadsheet, neatly organized. Your paper must be formatted according to CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements (Links to an external site.). Reference Lynda.com in the CSU-Global Library (Links to an external site.) for Microsoft Excel tutorials or use the Excel Tutorials link found in the classroom if assistance is needed.Review the Module 6 Critical Thinking Rubric for full details on how you will be graded on this assignment.

Must be original and able to pass TURNITINCreate a written proposal in which you detail the complete design of an employee training program. Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you: 1.  Design a two (2) day training program for a group of twenty (20) employees. 2.  Identify two to three (2-3) training needs though a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and justify an approach for this training. 3.  Develop the training objective for this program based on an analysis of the business. 4.  Determine the training cost for the training program you are proposing. Include a detailed breakdown of time allotted for each piece, the subsequent cost analysis, and the total cost for the project as a whole. 5.  Select key training method (s) to deliver the program to employees, such as an e-Learning module or a one-day face-to-face training program. 6.  Create an agenda of activities for the training program. 7.  Use at least five (5) 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: ·  Identify when to conduct a Training Needs Analysis (TNA).  ·  Analyze the various approaches to performing a Training Needs Analysis. ·  Develop strategies for training design. ·  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: 300 Assignment 2: Designing a Training Program Criteria Unacceptable Below 60% F Meets Minimum Expectations 60-69% D Fair 70-79% C Proficient 80-89% B Exemplary 90-100% A 1. Design a two (2) day training program for a group of twenty  (20) employees. Weight: 15% Did not submit or incompletely designed a two (2) day training program for a group of twenty (20) employees. Insufficiently designed a two (2) day training program for a group of twenty (20) employees. Partially designed a two (2) day training program for a group of twenty (20) employees. Satisfactorily designed a two (2) day training program for a group of twenty (20) employees. Thoroughly designed a two (2) day training program for a group of twenty (20) employees. 2. Identify two to three (2-3) training needs though a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and justify an approach for this training. Weight: 15% Did not submit or incompletely identified two to three (2-3) training needs though a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and did not submit or incompletely   justified an approach for this training. Insufficiently identified two to three (2-3) training needs though a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and insufficiently justified an approach for this training. Partially identified two to three (2-3) training needs though a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and partially justified an approach for this training. Satisfactorily identified two to three (2-3) training needs though a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and satisfactorily justified an approach for this training. Thoroughly identified two to three (2-3) training needs though a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and thoroughly justified an approach for this training. 3. Develop the training objective for this program based on an analysis of the business. Weight: 15% Did not submit or incompletely developed the training objective for this program based on an analysis of the business. Insufficiently developed the training objective for this program based on an analysis of the business. Partially developed the training objective for this program based on an analysis of the business. Satisfactorily developed the training objective for this program based on an analysis of the business. Thoroughly developed the training objective for this program based on an analysis of the business. 4. Determine the training cost for the training program you are proposing. Include a detailed breakdown of time allotted for each piece, the subsequent cost analysis, and the total cost for the project as a whole. Weight: 15% Did not submit or incompletely determined the training cost for the training program you are proposing, including a detailed breakdown of time allotted for each piece, the subsequent cost analysis, and the total cost for the project as a whole. Insufficiently determined the training cost for the training program you are proposing, including a detailed breakdown of time allotted for each piece, the subsequent cost analysis, and the total cost for the project as a whole. Partially determined the training cost for the training program you are proposing, including a detailed breakdown of time allotted for each piece, the subsequent cost analysis, and the total cost for the project as a whole. Satisfactorily determined the training cost for the training program you are proposing, including a detailed breakdown of time allotted for each piece, the subsequent cost analysis, and the total cost for the project as a whole. Thoroughly determined the training cost for the training program you are proposing, including a detailed breakdown of time allotted for each piece, the subsequent cost analysis, and the total cost for the project as a whole. 5. Select key training method (s) to deliver the program to employees, such as an e-Learning module or a one-day face-to-face training program. Weight: 15% Did not submit or incompletely selected key training method (s) to deliver the program to employees, such as an e-Learning module or a one-day face-to-face training program. Insufficiently selected key training method (s) to deliver the program to employees, such as an e-Learning module or a one-day face-to-face training program. Partially selected key training method (s) to deliver the program to employees, such as an e-Learning module or a one-day face-to-face training program. Satisfactorily selected key training method (s) to deliver the program to employees, such as an e-Learning module or a one-day face-to-face training program. Thoroughly selected key training method (s) to deliver the program to employees, such as an e-Learning module or a one-day face-to-face training program. 6. Create an agenda of activities for the training program. Weight: 10% Did not submit or incompletely created an agenda of activities for the training program. Insufficiently created an agenda of activities for the training program. Partially created an agenda of activities for the training program. Satisfactorily created an agenda of activities for the training program. Thoroughly created an agenda of activities for the training program. 7. Use at least five (5) 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. 8. 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