Research Assignment 2: Week 6

DUE: Wednesday June 28, 2017 BEFORE 11:55 PM CST

Assignment Instructions:

Research Assignment 2: Week 6

Overview:

Pay for Performance in America’s public schools is an extremely controversial issue. Although the process has made inroads in business and is a means to help determine promotions, pay, and retention it has not been so well received in the Public schholl systems. However, there are some successful examples where teacher pay has been linked to student test scores. In Minnesota for example, some districts have stopped giving automatic raises for seniority and base 60% of all pay increases on employee performance. In Denver, unions and school districts designed an incentive program where teachers receive bonuses for student achievement and for earning national teaching certificates. However, some plans have not worked. For example, Cincinnati teachers voted against a merit pay proposal and Philadelphia teachers gave their bonus checks to charity rather than cashing them. It appears that having teachers involved in planning the incentive system is one key factor to success. The same can be said for all incentive plans – if employees don’t buy into them, they will not work.

Questions to Research:

1. How could an organization measure the effectiveness of their pay-for-performance plans?

2. From an employee’s perspective, what are the disadvantages of using a pay-for-performance plan?

3. From an employer’s perspective, what are the disadvantages of using a pay-for-performance plan?

Research Paper Instructions:

The research assignment this week is worth 20% of your final grade. The assignment is DUE Wednesday BEFORE, 11:59 PM CST and should be submitted as an MS Word attachment in either a .doc, .docx, or .rtf format. Your paper should be a MAXIMUM of eight (8) FULL PAGES of double written content work in 12 point font. In addition, you should include a MAXIMUM of five (5) REFERENCES or sources properly formatted in APA writing style in a Reference section at the end of your paper, an abstract, and a properly formatted APA cover page with each written assignment. Your paper should analyze the readings from the text and from your research into the subject of study. You are expected to conduct outside research aside from the text to support your ideas, arguments, and opinions. Discussions of key concepts, and a critical analysis of the research is required. Remember you are to critically analyze the data you find. Merely copying pasting and citing sources does not constitute scholarly writing. You must present ideas and positions and support or refute those arguments with credible references and sources.

While assigned readings are important; you must conduct independent research of the subject matter and critically analyze the materials presented. References and sources should support your ideas, arguments, and opinions; and not be the basis of your paper. The assignment should be a scholarly paper that is designed to analyze and academically discuss what you have learned and how you can integrate the learning into an organization now and in the future. Be sure to list references in proper APA format and ensure that all listed references are also cited in text. References and citations must be congruent, meaning all listed sources are cited in text and cited sources are listed in the references section at the end of your paper.

Your paper should adhere to APA formatting requirements (APA style cover page, in-text citations for each listed reference, and a reference page are required). Please make sure to proofread carefully. Grammar and spelling errors will affect the grading. It is very important that your critical analysis relates the course content to real-world applications from your work experiences or current events affecting HRM practices.

Reminder:

Late submissions will be governed in accordance with the late policy outlined in the course overview; lessons area. Management Program.

Rubric for Graduate Writing                   Writing Style and Grammar – Total Possible Points this section _20_          Above Standard = 8Requires No Improvement Standard = 7 ptsRequires Improvement Approaching Standard= 6 ptsRequires Revision Failing = 5 or lessRequires Significant Revision Tone, Voice & Style Convincing academic and scholarly voice; sophisticated and varied sentence structure; vocabulary and tone that engages reader and conveys high mastery of subject; specific and appropriate audience is addressed; language is gender and culturally sensitive. Strong academic and scholarly voice that might be more consistent; sentence structure and vocabulary may need variation; language is gender and culturally sensitive; the level of sophistication in this category is less than above standard. Attempts made to sound academic, but diction is occasionally inappropriate interfering with meaning; sentence structure conveys meaning, is average in complexity;language might be more gender and culturally sensitive. Author’s voice is rarely or never academic or scholarly, but instead is conversational or otherwise inappropriate; vocabulary and tone may be inappropriate; sentence structure is elementary; frivolous word usage may be employed; language is rarely or never gender and culturally sensitive.  Above Standard = 7Requires No Improvement Standard = 6 ptsRequires Improvement Approaching Standard= 5 ptsRequires Revision Failing = 4 or lessRequires Significant Revision Spelling, Sentence Structure, & Mechanics Strong command of spelling and grammar, including verb tense, subject-verb agreement and punctuation; complex sentence structure with no mechanical errors to interfere with meaning. Strong command of spelling and grammar, including verb tense, subject-verb agreement and punctuation; sentence structures with few mechanical errors. Spelling and grammatical errors including verb tense, subject-verb agreement, incomplete sentences and punctuation problems that interfere with meaning. Rarely or never makes proper use of spelling and grammar, including verb tense, subject-verb agreement, complete sentences and punctuation which greatly interfere with meaning.  Above Standard = 5Requires No Improvement Standard = 4 ptsRequires Improvement Approaching Standard= 3 ptsRequires Revision Failing = 2 or lessRequires Significant Revision Organization Paragraphs are economical, clear and concise with transitions, which flow seamlessly from one idea to another and encourage reader to continue reading. Paragraphs are clear and concise; transitions flow from one idea to another, but might be improved.  Lacks clarity and focus in paragraph construction; transitions are awkward. Little or no clarity or focus in paragraph construction; transitions are difficult or non-existent; overall presentation is disorderly and confusing.     WSG Points:  Comments or Notes:         Manuscript and APA Formatting – Total possible points This Section _20_          Above Standard = 5Requires No Improvement Standard = 4.25 ptsRequires Improvement Approaching Standard= 3.5 ptsRequires Revision Failing = 3 or less ptsRequires Significant Revision Manuscript Preparation The work represents proper manuscript preparation and presentation in current editorial style as determined by the instructor (APA 6th Ed. or SPS Publishing Style), including, but not limited to the use of margins, font, indents, paragraph format, line spaces, punctuation, and representation of numbers The work often represents proper manuscript preparation and presentation in current editorial style as determined by the instructor (APA 6th Ed. or SPS Publishing Style), including, but not limited to the use of margins, font, indents, paragraph format, line spaces, punctuation, and representation of numbers The work sometimes represents proper manuscript preparation and presentation in current editorial style as determined by the instructor (APA 6th Ed. or SPS Publishing Style), including, but not limited to the use of margins, font, indents, paragraph format, line spaces, punctuation, and representation of numbers The work rarely or never represents proper manuscript preparation and presentation in current editorial style as determined by the instructor (APA 6th Ed. or SPS Publishing Style), including, but not limited to the use of margins, font, indents, paragraph format, line spaces, punctuation, and representation of numbers Manuscript Organization The author organizes and labels chapters, sections, and subsections using the APA recommended heading styles (chapters, sections, and subsections, and so on) are included or represented as defined by the assignment or required by the instructor The author often organizes and labels chapters, sections, and subsections using the APA recommended heading styles (chapters, sections, and subsections, and so on) are included or represented as defined by the assignment or required by the instructor The author sometimes organizes and labels chapters, sections, and subsections using the APA recommended heading styles (chapters, sections, and subsections, and so on) are included or represented as defined by the assignment or required by the instructor The author rarely or never organizes and labels chapters, sections, and subsections using the APA recommended heading styles (chapters, sections, and subsections, and so on) are included or represented as defined by the assignment or required by the instructor Presentation of Quotations Line and block quotations are properly formatted and cited correctly Line and block quotations are often properly formatted and cited correctly Line and block quotations sometimes are properly formatted and cited correctly Line and block quotations are not or are rarely properly formatted and cited correctly Presentation of Data Tables, charts, graphs, and figures are relevant, labeled and formatted correctly, and represent the data accurately Tables, charts, graphs, and figures are often relevant, labeled and formatted correctly, and represent the data accurately Tables, charts, graphs, and figures are sometimes relevant, labeled and formatted correctly, and represent the data accurately Tables, charts, graphs, and figures are not or are rarely relevant, labeled and formatted correctly, and represent the data accurately    APA Points:  Comments or Notes:         References, Citations, and Supporting Documentation – Total possible points _20_          Above Standard = 8Requires No Improvement Standard = 7 ptsRequires Improvement Approaching Standard= 6 ptsRequires Revision Failing = 5 or lessRequires Significant Revision Supporting Documentation The document shows significant support for the logic or argument with a variety of peer reviewed scholarly work with limited use of non scholarly work and is inclusive of a broad and deep range of scholars, including critique and opposition The document often shows support for the logic or argument with a variety of peer reviewed scholarly work with some use of non scholarly work and is somewhat dependent on a limited range of scholars, including critique and opposition The document sometimes shows support for the logic or argument with a variety of peer reviewed scholarly work with some use of non scholarly work and is often dependent on a limited range of scholars, including critique and opposition The document rarely or never shows support for of logic or argument with a variety of peer reviewed scholarly work, and or is reliant on non scholarly work, or a limited range of scholars, including critique and opposition  Above Standard = 7Requires No Improvement Standard = 6 ptsRequires Improvement Approaching Standard= 5 ptsRequires Revision Failing = 4 or lessRequires Significant Revision Sources Sources are scholarly, accurate, and relevantAll citations are listed in the reference section and all references are citedThe reference section is accurate Sources are often scholarly, accurate, and relevantAll citations are listed in the reference section and all references are citedThe references section is often accurate Sources are sometimes scholarly, accurate, and relevant to use in the paperMost citations are listed in the reference section and most references are citedthe reference section is sometimes inaccurate Sources, when used, are rarely or never scholarly, accurate, and relevantFew citations are referenced, several references are not citedThe reference section is inaccurate   Above Standard = 5Requires No Improvement Standard = 4 ptsRequires Improvement Approaching Standard= 3 ptsRequires Revision Failing = 2 or lessRequires Significant Revision Quotation, Summary, & Paraphrase Proper use and relevance of quotation, summarization, and paraphrasing throughout Proper use of quotation, summarization, and paraphrasing is often used throughout Proper use of quotation, summarization, and paraphrasing is generally used throughout Proper use of quotation, summarization, and paraphrasing is rarely or never used throughout    RCSD Points:  Comments or Notes:         Critical Thinking, Logic, and Reasoning – Total Possible Points This Section _40_          Above Standard = 8Requires No Improvement Standard = 6.75 ptsRequires Improvement Approaching Standard= 6 ptsRequires Revision Failing = 5.5 or lessRequires Significant Revision Thesis Statement & Research Question(s) Thesis statement or research question(s) is unbiased, focused and clearly stated without overstatement or hyperbole. Thesis statement or research question(s) is unbiased and clearly stated, but more precision is needed. Thesis statement or research question(s) is understood or implied, but lacks clarity and focus and requires improvement.  Thesis statement or research question(s) are not clearly stated.  Argument Academic argument is original and dynamic, sound and well developed. Academic argument is sound and developed, however is less innovative and dynamic. The implied academic argument is sound, but requires development. Academic argument is not developed and requires significant revision. Evidence & Support Information presented is relevant and accurate;Core concepts are expressed, explained, and used correctly; author uses appropriate sources to support and defend veracity of argument. Information presented is accurate and most often relevant; core concepts are expressed, explained, and used correctly. Information presented is generally relevant and accurate; core concepts are generally expressed, explained and used correctly, however more evidence is needed. Information presented is rarely or never relevant and is inaccurate; core concepts are rarely or never expressed, explained and used correctly; author often relies on statement of sources to defend position. Analysis & Synthesis of Data, Case, or Argument Author is sensitive to, explains, and responds to other points of view, limitations and assumptions inherent in the argument or logic thoroughly and in-depth; author conveys broader significance to community. Author is sensitive to, explains and responds to other points of view, limitations and assumptions inherent in the argument or logic. Author attempts to explain and respond to other points of view, limitations and assumptions inherent in the argument or logic, but does so inadequately. Author rarely or never explains and responds to other points of view, limitations and assumptions inherent in the argument or logic, or may do so inadequately; author may rely on generalizations to do the work of solid analysis. Conclusions, Recommendations, & Implications Author is sensitive to the implications or positions taken; conclusions and recommendations are explained by the author’s line of reasoning which has addressed all thesis statements or research question(s) proposed; author conveys broader relevance to community. Author’s conclusions and recommendations are often explained by the author’s line of reasoning and often responds to the thesis statement and to all research question(s) proposed. Author’s conclusions and recommendations are sometimes explainedAuthor’s line of reasoning fails to respond to thesis statement or all research question(s) proposed fully. Author’s conclusions and recommendations are explained inadequatelyAuthor’s line of reasoning fails to respond to thesis statement or research question(s) proposed fully.    CTLR Points:  Comments or Notes:                  Total Points Earned: