Gathering and Analyzing Input
This assessment will measure your progress in mastering the following course competencies:
Analyze how diverse ways of knowing heightens leaders’ abilities to enhance the future of organizations.
Assess the value of statistical thinking when leading complex organizations through change.
Evaluate how systems thinking impacts knowledge sharing across organizations and sector boundaries.
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the business professions.
Activity Instructions
This assignment gives you an opportunity to do an in-depth examination of methods for collecting information, data, and insights from diverse sources within an organization to learn about a problem or issue, as well as methods for analyzing that information. It will also help you begin building the problem-solving plan you will describe to senior leadership, as part of your course project in Unit 9.
This assignment has two parts; both parts should be submitted in a single document, with one title page, and all references at the end of the paper. Be sure to use headings to identify each part.
Part 1: Gathering Input Across Organizational Systems
For this part of the assignment, you will write a 4–5 page paper in which you synthesize information from the resources you found in your research in Part 1 of the Unit 5 Research Study, as well as the course readings, to address the following:
Evaluate the importance of collecting information, data, and insights from diverse sources within an organization.
Evaluate at least two methods for collecting information, data, and insights on an issue or problem.
In relation to the problem or issue, you selected for your course project, determine which methods for collecting information, data, and insights you would recommend to senior leadership.
As you analyze and evaluate the information in the articles, address the following:
Determine what seemed to be valid information in the articles.
Identify differences and similarities between the articles.
Identify gaps or controversies within the articles.
NOTE: The idea behind synthesizing and evaluating information in the articles is to do more than simply read and report on what you have read. Consider the sources of information within each article as you think reflectively and critically about them. You are evaluating the usefulness of the information in the articles for creating your plan for collecting information, data, and insights from diverse perspectives in the organization where you identified a problem or issue.
Reference (and cite) at least five resources, other than those included in the required course materials. Use APA style to cite and reference all resources used. (See Additional Requirements below Part 2 of the assignment.)
Part 2: Statistical Thinking and Analyzing Information, Data and Insights
For this second part of the assignment, you will write a 4–5 page paper in which you synthesize information from the resources you found in your research in Part 2 of the Unit 5 Research Study, as well as the course readings, to address the following:
Evaluate the importance of statistical thinking for problem solving or analyzing data.
Evaluate at least two methods for analyzing information, data, and insights.
In relation to the problem or issue you selected for your course project, determine which methods for analyzing information, data, and insights you would recommend to senior leadership. Among the methods you recommend, include:
Methods for analyzing patterns and trends in the organization.
At least one statistical tool or method.
As you analyze and evaluate the information in the articles, address the following:
Determine what seemed to be valid information in the articles.
Identify differences and similarities between the articles.
Identify gaps or controversies within the articles.
Reference (and cite) at least five resources, other than those included in the required course materials. Use APA style to cite and reference all resources used.
Additional Requirements
Written communication: Paper should be clear and well organized, with no technical writing errors, as expected of a business professional.
References: Use at least 10 total references, other than those included in the course materials.
APA Style: References and citations should be formatted using current APA style.
Total Length of two-part paper: 8–10 typed, double-spaced pages, with one inch margins. The title and reference pages do not count toward meeting the number of required pages.
Font: Times New Roman, 12 point.
