With instructor approval, students will select an organization that either has or is experiencing challenges with its compensation and benefit system. The student will provide a brief historical view of the organization. The student should assess the companys current challenge, review other organizations that had a similar situation (and the strategy they devised to address the issue), explore theories and strategies that should be contemplated to address the situation, and finally, include a recommendation to management regarding how to address/resolve the situation. Importantly, the student should ensure any recommendations are based on solid research and analysis and reflect a comprehensive solution to the problem.

The Final Paper must include a minimum of eight credible sources (in addition to textbook). Research topics must be reviewed in advance with the instructor. 

Writing the Compensation and Benefits Paper
This essay must reflect what is considered the current “state of the art” systems, reflecting both academic and professional (practical) orientations. The Final Paper must be 8-10 double-spaced pages (not including the title and reference pages) and be formatted according to APA style guidelines. This paper may be written in first person. This Final Paper should review the available research, discuss the implications of that research for the topic area, and provide conclusions. The paper should be organized into the following areas (use section headings to organize your key points):

Introduction: The area of research should be described and the purpose of the research. That is, describe the topic area in terms of (a) its relationship to the topic and (b) what you want to be able to contribute to the training literature by writing this paper. Your introduction must include a succinct thesis statement.
Review of the literature: Students must provide a brief historical view of the organization and assess the companys current challenges. This review will include an examination of other organizations with similar situations, including the strategies used to address their issues. Students need to explore theories and strategies that could address the situation. Identify any areas that may have not been addressed in the literature used for review. 
Implications: Assess any implications. Organize the implications of the literature in a manner that logically builds the case for your recommendations. For each of your implications be sure to reference the literature related to that implication. Be sure to indicate whether the implication is one that has already been made in the literature or if this is one that is original to you through your own analysis. 
Recommendations: Based on the research, students must make recommendations for a comprehensive solution to the problem. This is where you tie all the pieces together. Make sure your recommendations are organized in a logical order that synthesizes your major points relative to the purpose of your paper. Be sure that your recommendations are justified and have credible support. Inspire your audience to think about the practical application of your topic. Remember, this is the last thing you are leaving with your reader so make the context of your message clear, communicate the impact of your topic, and leave a lasting impression.
Conclusion: Be sure your conclusion summarizes your paper and explains how you have addressed the thesis statement.  

Your paper should include:

Must include a title page according to APA style.
Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement.
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought and analysis.
Must include section headings to organize your key points clearly.
Must include citations to references that support the assertions made and facts presented in the paper.
Must conclude a conclusion paragraph that ties directly back to your thesis statement.
Must use APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide to document all sources.
Must include, on the final page, a reference list that is completed according to APA style as outlined in the approved APA style guide.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Grading Rubric:
 
Total Possible Score: 30.00

Introduces the Area of Research and Describes the Purpose of the Research in Terms of Its Relationship to the Topic and What It Contributes to the Training Literature and Includes a Succinct Thesis Statement
Total: 6.00
Distinguished – Accurately and comprehensively introduces the area of research and describes the purpose of the research in terms of its relationship to the topic and what it contributes to the training literature. Your introduction must include a succinct thesis statement.
Proficient – Accurately introduces the area of research and describes the purpose of the research in terms of its relationship to the topic and what it contributes to the training literature. Minor details are missing.
Basic – Somewhat introduces the area of research and describes the purpose of the research in terms of its relationship to the topic and what it contributes to the training literature. Relevant details are missing or inaccurate.  
Below Expectations – Attempts to introduce the area of research and describes the purpose of the research in terms of its relationship to the topic and what it contributes to the training literature; however, significant details are missing and/or inaccurate.
Non-Performance – The introduction to the area of research and description of the purpose of the research in terms of its relationship to the topic and what it contributes to the training literature are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.
Provides a Brief Historical View of the Organization,Assesses the Companys Current Challenges That Includes an Examination of Other Organizations With Similar Situations, Explores Theories and Strategies That Could Address the Situation, and Identifies Any Areas that May Have Not Been Addressed In the Literature Used For Review
Total: 6.00
Distinguished – Accurately provides a brief historical view of the organization, comprehensively assesses the companys current challenges that includes an examination of other organizations with similar situations, including the strategies used to address their issues, thoroughly explores theories and strategies that could address the situation, and identifies any areas that may have not been addressed in the literature used for review.
Proficient – Accurately provides a brief historical view of the organization, assesses the companys current challenges that includes an examination of other organizations with similar situations, including the strategies used to address their issues, explores theories and strategies that could address the situation, and identifies any areas that may have not been addressed in the literature used for review. Minor details are missing. 
Basic – Provides a brief historical view of the organization, partially assesses the companys current challenges that includes an examination of other organizations with similar situations, including the strategies used to address their issues, somewhat explores theories and strategies that could address the situation, and identifies any areas that may have not been addressed in the literature used for review. Relevant details are missing or inaccurate. 
Below Expectations – Attempts to provide a brief historical view of the organization, assesses the companys current challenges that includes an examination of other organizations with similar situations, including the strategies used to address their issues, explore theories and strategies that could address the situation, and identify any areas that may have not been addressed in the literature used for review; however, significant details are missing and/or inaccurate.
Non-Performance – The brief historical view of the organization, a the companys current challenges that includes an examination of other organizations with similar situations, exploration of theories and strategies that could address the situation, and identification of any areas that may have not been addressed in the literature used for review are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.
Assesses and Organizes the Implications of the Literature In a Manner That Logically Builds the Case For the Recommendations, References the Literature for Each Implication, and Indicates Whether the Implication Has Already Been Made Or its Original
Total: 6.00
Distinguished – Accurately and comprehensively assesses and organizesthe implications of the literature in a manner that logically builds the case for the recommendations,references the literature for each implication, and indicates whether the implication is one that has already been made or if this is one that is original.
Proficient – Accurately assesses and organizes the implications of the literature in a manner that logically builds the case for the recommendations, references the literature for each implication, and indicates whether the implication is one that has already been made or if this is one that is original. Minor details are missing. 
Basic – Partially assesses and organizes the implications of the literature in a manner that logically builds the case for the recommendations, references the literature for each implication, and somewhat indicates whether the implication is one that has already been made or if this is one that is original. Relevant details are missing or inaccurate. 
Below Expectations – Attempts to assess and organize the implications of the literature in a manner that logically builds the case for the recommendation, references the literature for each implication, and indicate whether the implication is one that has already been made or if this is one that is original; however, significant details are missing and/or inaccurate.
Non-Performance – The assessment of the implications of the literature in a manner that logically builds the case for the recommendations, references of the literature, and indication of whether the implication is one that has already been made or if this is one that is original are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.
Recommends a Comprehensive Solution to the Problem That Ties All Pieces Together and Are Organized In a Logical Order That Synthesizes the Major Points Relative to the Purpose of the Paper to Ensure Recommendations are Justified and Have Credible Support While Inspiring the Audience to Think About the Practical Application of the Topic
Total: 6.00
Distinguished – Accurately recommends a comprehensive solution to the problem that effectively ties all the pieces together and are organized in a logical order that synthesizes the major points relative to the purpose of the paper to ensure that the recommendations are justified and have credible support, while inspiring the audience to think about the practical application of the topic. 
Proficient – Accurately recommends a comprehensive solution to the problem that ties all the pieces together and are organized in a logical order that synthesizes the major points relative to the purpose of the paper to ensure that the recommendations are justified and have credible support, while inspiring the audience to think about the practical application of the topic. Minor details are missing. 
Basic – Partially recommends a comprehensive solution to the problem that somewhat ties all the pieces together and are organized in a logical order that synthesizes the major points relative to the purpose of the paper to ensure that the recommendations are justified and have credible support, while inspiring the audience to think about the practical application of the topic. Relevant details are missing or inaccurate.  
Below Expectations – Attempts to recommend a comprehensive solution to the problem that ties all the pieces together and are organized in a logical order that synthesizes the major points relative to the purpose of the paper to ensure that the recommendations are justified and have credible support, while inspiring the audience to think about the practical application of the topic; however, significant details are missing and/or inaccurate.
Non-Performance – The recommendation of a comprehensive solution to the problem that ties all the pieces together and are organized in a logical order that synthesizes the major points relative to the purpose of the paper to ensure that the recommendations are justified and have credible support, while inspiring the audience to think about the practical application of the topic is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.
Summarizes the Paper and Explains How the Thesis Statement Was Addressed
Total: 3.00
Distinguished – Accurately and comprehensively summarizes the paper and effectively explains how the the thesis statement was addressed.  
Proficient – Accurately summarizes the paper and explains how the thesis statement was addressed. Minor details are missing. 
Basic – Partially summarizes the paper and somewhat explains the thesis statement was addressed. Relevant details are missing or inaccurate.  
Below Expectations – Attempts to summarize thepaper and explain how the thesis statement was addressed; however, significant details are missing and/or inaccurate.
Non-Performance – The conclusion of the paper and explanation of how how the thesis statement was addressed are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.
Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 0.75
Distinguished – Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.
Proficient – Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.
Basic – Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.
Below Expectations – Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: APA Formatting
Total: 0.75
Distinguished – Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.
Proficient – Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 
Basic – Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 
Below Expectations – Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Page Requirement
Total: 0.75
Distinguished – The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 
Proficient – The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 
Basic – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.
Below Expectations – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Resource Requirement
Total: 0.75
Distinguished – Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Proficient – Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Basic – Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.
Below Expectations – Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.