Consider what diversity means to you, and what it might mean to work in a diverse organization. Have you ever been in a group of friends, classmates, or colleagues who all shared different views, came from different backgrounds, and had a wealth of different personal experiences? How did being part of that group compare to interacting within a group with similar thoughts, experiences, and upbringings as yours? Diversity strengthens the bonds between people and increases their capacity (individually and collectively) to grow and achieve. The global landscape is always changing and becoming more dynamic each day. Creating a work environment that is filled with people from different cultures or backgrounds and who have diverse ideas, thoughts, and experiences can bring forward new ideas, new ways of doing things, and new opportunities for greater success. A diverse environment can also bring new obstacles that must be overcome. In this Discussion, you will examine a real company and how it approaches diversity. You will explore with your colleagues the benefits and challenges of a diverse and inclusive organization. To prepare for this Discussion: Review this week’s Learning Resources. Focus on the leadership statement from the CEO of XYZ Corporation, Isabella Torres, and think about the points that Isabella emphasizes in her message. Conduct some research to determine which employers are among the best places to work from a diversity perspective. New lists of the top companies are produced annually by sources such as the DiversityInc website and Black Enterprise, Forbes, and Fortune magazines, to name a few. Consider the various ways in which an organization can be diverse. Review the Academic Writing Expectations for 2000/3000-Level Courses, provided in this week’s Learning Resources. By Day 3 Post an analysis of the benefits to an organization of having HR policies and practices related to diversity and inclusion. In your analysis, include the following: How do diversity and inclusion benefit organizations (including the people who are part of them)? Provide at least one specific, real-world example from your research.  What are two to three specific examples of diversity initiatives you located from your research? For each example, focus on a different aspect of diversity.  If you were an HR leader at your own workplace (or some company with which you are familiar), what recommendations would you make to help the organization improve its diversity and/or inclusion efforts?  To support your response, be sure to reference at least one properly cited scholarly source.

After reviewing the material for this module, research a real-world case in which an organization aligned its IT strategy with its business strategy. Address the following in a research report:  Description: How did the organization align IT strategies with business objectives? What were the benefits of the alignment? What were the challenges in implementing the alignment? What do you think was the most important argument for this alignment? Why? How could you quantify this alignment to gain support from senior management? From IT? Welcome to Module 12 of ECOM 500 – Business & Information Technology This week we will be considering IT Strategy, Sourcing & Strategic Technology Trends and will be looking at: IT Strategic Planning Aligning IT with Business Objectives IT Sourcing Strategies The Balanced Scorecard Strategic Technology Trends Strategic planning is a process used by corporations to identify their goals, the strategies necessary to accomplish those goals and the internal performance management system that will be used to monitor and evaluate progress. As we will discuss many corporation use a SWOT or gap analysis to identify the underlying factors driving their current performance. This, in turn, informs the selection of the most high-leverage strategies to create change. The strategic planning process culminates in the development of a strategic plan document that serves as the organization’s collective roadmap. While each organization is unique, the essential elements of any strategic plan include: Clear mission and vision statements to frame the context of the document Clear timelines for strategy implementation and progress monitoring Quarterly benchmarks or objectives that will inform progress towards annual goals Identification of the data sources used to track progress Indication of the individuals and/or offices responsible for each strategy We will cover how the IT strategy must be aligned to the overall corporate strategy in order for it to be effective. In the live lecture I will be using several videos. I am providing the links here in case you wish to view them Strategic Planning Overview https://youtu.be/9UmzHURxc-g SWOT Analysis - What is SWOT? Definition, Examples and How to Do a SWOT Analysis https://youtu.be/JXXHqM6RzZQ Apple SWOT analysis https://youtu.be/3avyWEqVUJg The Explainer Porter's Five Forces https://youtu.be/lPHruQHAECw Porters Value Chain https://youtu.be/a9LWp9y2fMw The Balanced Scorecard https://youtu.be/yQR31GtZU_M SMART Objectives HD https://youtu.be/5dTpj52AQdk Gartner Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2021 https://youtu.be/s3rlYWcwdDY