Overview Regardless of where in the world you are working or who you are working with, developing a comprehensive understanding of the clients, organizations, manufactures, businesses, and industry leaders that you work with is key to your professional success. In the “Self Assessment 1″ assignment you completed, you considered how culture impacts your perspectives, expectations, interpretations, and world views. In this assignment, you will conduct research about your assigned client to develop a comprehensive understanding of your client, including their background, interests, goals, professional and corporate culture, and, as applicable, their philanthropy. Businesses are often conceptualized as one-dimensional entities who operate based on the single goal of making as much money as possible. While ensuring that a business is profitable is obviously necessary, businesses, like the people who run them, have varied interests and perspectives, as well as different beliefs about what is valuable or what expenses are worthwhile. For example, through their Innovative Learning program, Verizon (Links to an external site.) has recently begun working with Title 1 schools to integrate technology throughout the schools and disseminate devices to the students. Additionally, they are building high tech STEM labs in middle schools (and are soon expanding to high schools), and have worked with ASU to help develop appropriate STEM curricula and implement teacher training. In addition to accessibility and education, Verizon also has sustainability goals (Links to an external site.), goals for human prosperity (see their Reskilling and Upskilling (Links to an external site.) and Employee Volunteers (Links to an external site.) pages), and offers a variety of grants (Links to an external site.). Similarly, your prospective clients understand themselves as fitting in with and being part of the communities they exist in in some way. As a professional, you must develop a comprehensive understanding of your clients’ values, perspectives, and needs in order to develop solutions that help them achieve their goals. Purpose To develop a comprehensive understanding of your client (client set for brewery groups), including: o o o o o o o Your client’s history Your client’s values Your client’s goals Your client’s needs Your client’s goals and objectives Your client’s cultural perspective Your client’s place, perceived place, or desired place in the larger community As well as to develop audience centered communication competencies, including: o o o o o o Audience appropriate openings and closings in emails Clear, complete, and targeted messages Understanding what the specific audience you are addressing needs or wants from you Thinking about your message from the perspective of your specific audience Organizing information and/or messages so it is easy for your specific audience to follow and understand your message Using standard formatting to make your message clear, organized, easy to read, and professional in appearance Objectives Through the analysis of an assigned client, this assignment develops a foundation for achieving the following GenEd Human and Cultural Diversity assessment objective: ”’SLO1: Demonstrate the ability to see issues from the perspective(s) of other groups/cultures by describing the values and communication styles found in groups different from one’s own and the way in which those differences can affect styles of verbal and nonverbal communication. Satisfactory: 1) Student demonstrates adequate understanding of the complexity of elements important to members of another group/culture. 2) Student recognizes and participates in cultural differences in communication and begins to negotiate a shared understanding based on those differences Exceeds Expectations: 1) Student demonstrates sophisticated understanding of the complexity of elements important to members of another culture. 2) Student articulates a deep understanding of group/cultural differences and is able to skillfully negotiate a shared understanding based on those differences. Assignment Overview and Prompt For this assignment, you will respond to a prompt, which is presented as an email from your project manager, Maya Harris. As such, you will respond to the prompt as though you are responding to an email. Because you are responding to an email from your project manager Maya Harris, it is important that you write your response as though you are actually responding to your project manager. Things to Consider Audience Centered Communication Because the primary audience for your report is your project manager, Maya Harris, you must consider her expectations, preferences, communication style, requests, and perspective as you complete your report. Below are some things that you know about your boss: What you know about Maya Harris: The youngest of 4 children, Maya Harris lived in New Zealand until she was 15. At 15, her parents (from Ghana and Norway), both doctors who worked with Doctors Without Borders, accepted teaching positions at Stanford University in California. Maya holds a BS in Chemistry and Soil Science (California Polytechnic State University), and a MA and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering (UC Berkeley). Maya Harris has worked for: The DOD; Caltrans; General Motors; and Equipoise Corporation. As a project manager, Maya Harris concurrently oversees 1-7 projects at a time, depending on project scope and client profile. The firm entrusts Harris with many of its most important projects. Harris boasts a portfolio full of large, high profile projects and highly sought after clients. She is well known for her organization, thoroughness, creative thinking, and leadership. She expects high quality, innovative, thoughtful, and thorough work from her teams. She is always on the lookout for excellent team members, and has a knack for building symbiotic teams, improving her teams’ and firm’s competitive edge and rates of success. Harris expects team members to be resourceful, reliable, and collaborative. Getting Answers to Your Questions In professional instances like this, your superiors are likely to assume that you have knowledge that you may not actually have. For example, what information is she expecting in the report? How should it be formatted? What citation style should you use? Often times, co-workers or office administrators are great resources for answers to these kinds of questions, and many companies have specific format guidelines for various document types. But sometimes you’ll need to use your best judgement, and you must always take your specific audience into account to make your work shine. In this case, we will assume that you’re new to the company, and aren’t really sure what to do. Thankfully, you have a friend who works for the same company, so you ask them for guidance. This is what they tell you: 1) Citation Style: The company, Engineering Solutions, uses IEEE citation style (Links to an external site.) (as you suspected!) 2) What to Include: Client research reports must always include: ””’Background and history Location information, including general location history, population and demographic data, and topographical notes Client values and/or goals, as publicly stated via mission statements/”About” info on websites, as well as via any relevant news articles ? Instances of the client taking actions or implementing policies that support their value claims, such as a company who claims to have/support strong family values who also offers 12 months paid maternity leave to employees List of recently completed, current, and planned projects with 1-3 sentence summary, listed in descending order of recency However, different project managers will want some additional info, too, and Maya Harris is well known for her thoroughness, organization, and planning. This means you’ll need to include the additional information that she specifically requested in her email. 3) Document Formatting: Concerning report formatting…. well, when your friend started explaining it to you your eyes glazed over, so they emailed you this empty shell document download that has the general format they usually use laid out for you. Your friend even included some general directions for what you must include in each section! But remember, you’ll need to add headings and subheadings for the additional information that your boss asked for in her email. ? You can also change the style as you see fit, create a different cover page, etc. *IMPORTANT*: This assignment has two overarching purposes: to develop a comprehensive understanding of your client and to develop audience centered communication competency. As such, you are expected to carefully and thoughtfully consider all aspects of this assignment based on your understanding of your boss’s perspective and expectations (your boss is Maya Harris). In order to aid your independent thought and communication competency development, teams’ average score totals (the total that will be shown on the score board, not your individual grades) will be issued a 5 point deduction for every instance where more than one question is asked per team, more than one team member asks a question, or a question is asked that is answered/addressed/linked in the assignment description/assignment document, or that can be answered fairly easily via internet research or group discussion. Therefore, it would be wise to discuss your questions and thoughts with your team members first, to only ask a question that is deemed very important by the entire team and unanswerable via internet research or discussion, and to specifically assign one person to ask the question on behalf of the entire team. ”’To be clear: This assignment is an INDIVIDUAL assignment, and is NOT collaborative; however, the question penalty will encourage independent thinking as well as help you simultaneously develop self- and team-reliance. The penalty is also based on your target audience’s preferences and characteristics; asking your boss a bunch of questions that you could probably think through and work out yourself, or with the aid of some group discussion or a quick internet search would reflect poorly on you and on your team. The penalty will affect your team’s overall standings, but will not impact your individual grade. My Client is Publix Supermarkets, Inc. Resources might be useful: http://corporate.publix.com/ https://sustainability.publix.com/storefront/ https://sustainability.publix.com/export/ http://seafood.greenpeaceusa.org/stores/publix/ https://consumergoods.com/publix-ramps-sustainability-and-sourcing-efforts https://sustainability.publix.com/meat_seafood/fishery-improvement-projects/ https://sustainability.publix.com/customer-service-desk/plastic-bag-reduction/ Re: Client Acquisition [Your Name] Tuesday, 6/15/2021 5:00 PM To: Maya Harris [Include your email message here. First, include an appropriate greeting. Next, explain that you have complete the report, that it is attached as a PDF, and then summarize the content of the report. Finally, end with an invitation for questions or/and discussion, and an appropriate sign-off.] [REPORT TITLE] [Document title] [Document subtitle] Abstract [Draw your reader in with an engaging abstract. It is typically a short summary of the document. When you’re ready to add your content, just click here and start typing.] [Your Name] [Email address] [Your Name] i [REPORT TITLE] Contents Background and History ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 Location Information …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Values and Goals …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 EXAMPLE 1: Climate Action ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Goals ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 Supporting Actions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 EXAMPLE 2: Family Values ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Goals ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 Supporting Actions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 Take a look at this helpful tutorial on creating and managing your Table of Contents in Word [1]. [Your Name] ii Background and History ~1 paragraph, sometimes 2 depending on the client For tips on using Microsoft Word styles, see this linked YouTube video [2]. Location Information Include general location history, population and demographic data, and topographical notes; this section is usually formatted with the general history as a short paragraph at the top, with a table including the data and topographical notes under that. See these resources for tips on creating and formatting tables in Microsoft Word: ”How to Create and Customize Tables in Microsoft Word [3] 8 Formatting Tips for Perfect Tables in Microsoft Word [3] Values and Goals This section will include an overview of your client’s values and/or goals, as publicly stated via mission statements/”About” info on websites, as well as via any relevant news articles. Larger clients often have a broader set of values and goals, in which case you’ll write a broad overview, then create a secondary heading for each stated value, with relevant goals in a tertiary heading under it. For example, if your client claims to want to secure the future via climate action and have strong family values, then your formatting will look like this: EXAMPLE 1: Climate Action 2-4 sentence summary of this value, as stated by the client Goals ‘Bullet point any goals attached to this value Supporting Actions Here, you’ll include instances of the client taking actions or implementing policies that support their value claims. This is important for assessing how seriously the client supports their claimed values and is pursuing their stated goals EXAMPLE 2: Family Values 2-4 sentence summary of this value, as stated by the client Goals ‘Bullet point any goals attached to this value Supporting Actions In this subsection, you’ll include instances of the client taking actions or implementing policies that support their value claims, such as a company who claims to have/support strong family values who also offers 12 months paid maternity leave to employees, for example: [Your Name] Page |1 [REPORT TITLE] ”[Client’s name] offers 12 months paid leave for births and adoptions. If both parents work for the company, they both get the benefit and can split it up, as long as all of it is used within 2 years of the birth or adoption. o Unused PTO will be carried over into sick-leave, with the goal of giving parents increased flexibility to stay home with their sick children when necessary [Client’s name] also offers subsidized on-site daycare and preschool Projects Current Projects Project Name Project started [date started]. Brief (2-3 sentence) description of the project. Recently Completed Projects Project Name Project started [date started]. Brief (2-3 sentence) description of the project. Planned/Future Projects Project Name Project started [date started]. Brief (2-3 sentence) description of the project. [Your Name] 2 [REPORT TITLE] References [1] M. Gunnell, “How to Create and Manage a Table of Contents in Word,” How-to Geek, 12 July 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.howtogeek.com/426644/how-to-create-a-table-of-contents-inword/. [Accessed 2 June 2021]. [2] K. Stratvert, “How to Use Styles in Microsoft Word,” 10 May 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOVU6qQ2iOM. [Accessed 5 June 2021]. [3] O. W. L. Purdue, “IEEE Overview,” 2021. [Online]. Available: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/ieee_style/ieee_overview.html. [Accessed 5 June 2021]. [4] “Academician Help,” 22 February 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.academicianhelp.co.uk/blog/a-quick-guide-to-ieee-referencing-in-microsoft-word. [Accessed 5 June 2021]. [5] Microsoft, “Create a bibliography, citations, and references,” 2021. [Online]. Available: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-bibliography-citations-and-references17686589-4824-4940-9c69-342c289fa2a5. [Accessed 5 June 2021]. Use IEEE style for the reference page. Of course as a professional engineer you’ve definitely used this style before, but just in case you need a refresher, here’s a link to the Purdue IEEE Overview page [3] (with links to the Reference List page, too). Remember, your citations will be listed and numbered according to the order in which they appear in the report. This is easy to do if you set it up in Word. This linked website offers step-by-step instructions on how to use Microsoft Word’s reference tools to help you manage your IEEE references [4]. If you want some additional info, take a look at this Microsoft Support tutorial about managing your references [5]. [Your Name] 3 Purchase answer to see full attachment

Mastering the Art of Online Learning: Your Guide to Acing Online Courses

Introduction

In recent years, the popularity of online courses has skyrocketed, offering learners the flexibility to acquire new skills and knowledge from the comfort of their homes. However, succeeding in online courses requires a different approach compared to traditional classroom settings. To help you make the most of your online learning experience, this article presents essential strategies and tips to ace your online courses.

1. Set Clear Goals and Plan Ahead

Before embarking on an online course, establish clear goals and objectives. Determine what you hope to achieve by the end of the course and break down your goals into manageable milestones. Create a study schedule that aligns with your other commitments, ensuring you allocate dedicated time for coursework, assignments, and revision.

2. Create a Productive Study Environment

Establishing a conducive study environment is crucial for online learning success. Find a quiet, well-lit space where you can concentrate without distractions. Remove any potential interruptions, such as notifications from social media or email. Organize your study materials and have a reliable internet connection to ensure seamless access to course materials.

3. Actively Engage in the Course

Active participation is key to mastering online courses. Engage with course materials, including videos, readings, and interactive components. Take comprehensive notes, highlighting key concepts and ideas. Participate in discussion boards, forums, and virtual meetings to interact with instructors and peers, fostering a sense of community and enhancing your understanding of the subject matter.

4. Manage Your Time Effectively

Online courses offer flexibility, but it’s essential to manage your time wisely to avoid falling behind. Create a detailed schedule, allocating specific time slots for coursework, assignments, and studying. Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable segments to prevent procrastination. Prioritize tasks based on deadlines and dedicate focused time to each one, ensuring consistent progress throughout the course.

5. Develop Effective Communication Skills

Online courses often rely on written communication, making it crucial to hone your skills in this area. Be concise and clear in your written responses, paying attention to grammar and spelling. Actively participate in discussions, asking thoughtful questions and providing constructive feedback to your peers. Regularly check your course emails and notifications, ensuring you stay updated with any important announcements or changes.

6. Utilize Available Resources

Take full advantage of the resources provided by your online course platform and instructors. Familiarize yourself with the learning management system (LMS) and explore its features. Access supplementary materials, such as textbooks, lecture slides, and external resources recommended by instructors. Utilize online libraries, research databases, and tutorial services to deepen your understanding of the subject matter.

7. Stay Motivated and Engaged

Maintaining motivation throughout an online course can be challenging, particularly when faced with competing priorities or a lack of face-to-face interaction. Set short-term goals and reward yourself upon their completion. Connect with fellow learners through virtual study groups or online forums to foster a sense of camaraderie. Regularly remind yourself of the benefits and personal growth associated with completing the course successfully.

8. Seek Support and Clarification

Don’t hesitate to seek support or clarification when needed. Reach out to your instructors for guidance or clarification on course material. Utilize online discussion forums to ask questions or engage in collaborative problem-solving. Leverage the support services provided by your course platform or institution, such as technical support or academic advising.

Conclusion

Online courses present unique opportunities for self-paced learning and personal growth. By setting clear goals, creating a productive study environment, actively engaging with course materials, and managing your time effectively, you can maximize your chances of acing online courses. Remember to stay motivated, seek support when needed, and make the most of the available resources. Embrace the flexibility and adaptability of online learning to achieve your educational goals.