Greetings and all that jazz! This is typically the most exciting part of the course, since it’s a blank slate or potential for experience. We have to start somewhere, though, and I choose the rich pool of culture, that ispolitical culture. Thus the first assignment is more of an orientation, or prerequisite to the study of state and local government. One of the most enduring truths about this overall subject is “all politics is local” (the uniquely qualified late House Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill)

I have posted in Block 1 (on the homepage)  a reading/reference about political culture. I always tell my 2306 students that political culture in a very local thing, like slang (vernacular) is to language. In a state a big and diverse as Texas, you need a good grasp of what has influenced and shaped political culture here to begin a legitimate understanding of state politics and the government itself. Big Note: when I say “good grasp” I’m not implying that you should involve opinion or that you reject or espouse the core ideas of the various (and competing) subcultures. You all probably have a formed view (by a piecemeal process called political socialization) already. For the purpose of this core degree requirement, we’re just navigating the system to understand it as such.

Whew, glad to get that out of the way. In summary, THINK OF POLITICAL CULTURE this way:

step 1: culture = why/how we do things here: food, music, dress, tradition, family norms, etc.

step 2: political culture = how we “do political things” here: government structure, priorities in law & policy, election styles, etc.

step 3: differences, or clash of political culture – based on competing priorities (public goods vs. private goods OR new ways vs. old ways) Culture explains WHY residents of a particular place prefer, want or reject policies put forth by government, or the manner in which government behaves.

Next, think SUBCULTURES—the component parts of the culture– often referred to as 1. traditionalistic, 2. individualistic, 3. moralistic….These are PATTERNS within the political culture of Texas–all three are visible in certain issues, decisions, elections, etc.

FOR ASSIGNMENT:   Please click on “political culture week 1” posted in Block 1.  Read over the excerpt and pp. 596-598 in Chapter 19 and then submit a comparative summary of the 3 cultures. This is very informal, you can word (spelling is important though) and structure your response as you like. Include the following:

1. What is the core idea/premise of each subculture?

2. How do they differ about bureaucracy and political parties/ideology

3. Which is each subculture focused on, private society, or the public community?

Assignment 2: Alcohol and Drug Abuse

The abuse of both alcohol and drugs has increased to a dangerous level at the healthcare facility where you work as an HR manager. You decide to develop a policy for your institution to minimize alcohol and drug abuse by your staff (including clinical e.g. physicians, nurses and nonclinical personnel).

Click here to see a sample corporate policy on drug and alcohol abuse

Create a substance abuse policy applicable to all personnel at your healthcare facility. The policy should include the goals, objectives, and purpose of the policy, expectations of clinical and nonclinical personnel, the testing procedure, disciplinary action and consequences.

Submit the policy which should be no more than three pages in a Word document to the M2: Assignment 2 Dropbox by Wednesday, June 12, 2013. Make sure to cite any outside resources you use in preparing your policy.

SAMPLE CORPORATE POLICY ON DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE

Statement of Need
(Company) has a strong commitment to the health, safety and welfare of its employees, their families and its customers. Widely available statistics and information establish that the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse is increasing and that the effect is devastating to lives, business and the community at large. (Company) is concerned because of the potential for abuse among some of our employees. The safety of our employees and the general public could be endangered. Our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure workplace requires a clear policy and supportive programs relating to the detection, treatment and prevention of substance abuse by employees.

Goal
It is the goal of (Company) to provide a safe workplace by eliminating the hazards to health and job safety created by alcohol and other drug abuse. We believe this goal to be in the best interest of our employees and our stockholders.

Scope
This policy applies to all employees of the company while on the job and to situations where an employee’s off-the-job or off-premises conduct impairs work performance or undermines public confidence in or harms the reputation of (Company). It is also intended to apply to employees of firms doing business with the company while on our premises.

Although (Company) has no intention of intruding into the private lives of its employees, we recognize that involvement with alcohol or other drugs off the job eventually takes it toll on job performance. Our concern is to ensure that employees report to work in a condition to perform their duties safely and efficiently in the interest of their fellow workers and customers as well as themselves.

Policy Statement

1.    (Company) will not tolerate or condone substance abuse. It is our policy to maintain a workplace free from alcohol and other drug abuse and its effects.

2.    It is the policy of (Company) that employees who engage in the sale, use, possession or transfer of illegal drugs or controlled substances, or who offer to buy or sell such substances; the use of alcohol during working hours; or the abuse of prescribed drugs will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

3.    It is the policy of (Company) to commit the resources necessary to achieve and maintain a drug-free and alcohol-free environment.

(Company) expects the full support of this policy by all employees and all persons doing business with the company.

Procedure
To provide a safe drug-free and alcohol-free working environment, (company) will:

1.    Establish definitive rules and regulations.

2.    Provide increased awareness through training, education and communication on the subject of alcohol and other drug abuse.

3.    Recognize that there may be employees who have an alcohol or other drug problem and stand willing to assist in the resolution of that problem by encouraging employees to seek help through employee assistance programs.

In addition, (company) may take any or all of the following actions:

1.    Conduct alcohol and other drug screen tests both prospective to and during employment.

2.    Inspect persons and their property in our employ or doing business with (company).

3.    Cooperate with outside law enforcement agencies.

4.    Take any other actions deemed necessary and appropriate by (company).

Company Responsibility
As a responsible employer and member of the community (company) will:

1.    Create an awareness in employees and their families of the impact of substance abuse.

2.    Administer programs that consider employee rights, are positive in their intent and are within legal boundaries.

3.    Support the establishment of programs to assist employees with alcohol and other drug abuse or dependency problems.

4.    Utilize all channels and resources available to it to educate and increase the awareness of employees and the general public.

5.    Support local and national efforts to combat alcohol and other drug abuse and its effects.

Employee Responsibility
(Company) believes that each employee has the responsibility to :

1.    Report to work at all times free of alcohol or other drugs and their effects.

2.    Participate in and support company-sponsored drug and alcohol education programs.

3.    Seek and accept assistance for alcohol and other drug-abuse-related problems before job performance is affected.

4.    Support company efforts to eliminate alcohol and other drug abuse among employees where it exists.

Implementation
Each division, subsidiary or affiliate of (company) will be responsible for establishing and implementing detailed policies and procedures, specific to its needs, in support of this policy. Each of these policies is subject to central review for consistency with (company’s) policy.

Responsibility for interpretation of this policy falls to the (company’s) human resource department.

Student life does not generally afford a great deal of free time to pursue your personal interests; however, at one point, you may have considered turning a personal interest or hobby into an official enterprise. Today, you have finally decided to turn that hobby into a business but have realized that you need start-up capital from a lender or investor.

To obtain funding, you need to convince a lender / investor that your business is more than a hobby. You need to demonstrate that you have a firm grasp of your business, the accounting practices that impact your business, the controls needed to safeguard assets, and which accounting system will produce accurate and relevant financial information.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page business plan in which you:

1. Describe the type of business you have created including:
   1. The product or service, and general staffing plan. Provide a rationale for your plan.
   2. The form of your business and the benefits it offers your particular business,
   3. A chart of accounts specific to your business, including a rationale as to the selection of each account. (Note: The chart of accounts is a blueprint of your business for the lender/investor. It should report the expected resources that you will consume in your business (assets), the sources of those resources (liabilities and equity), the sources of revenue, and expenditures that you expect to incur to earn those revenues. You may build a detailed chart that includes business units, divisions, product lines, etc.)
2. Based on the form of your business, analyze whether or not you will be required to use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) accounting methods and how the IFRS / GAAP convergence will impact your business. Suggest how you will incorporate any changes into your books and records. (Note: You need to demonstrate to the lender/investor that you have recognized possible changes to GAAP that may impact the accounting and reporting of your accounting events.)
3. Prepare a pro forma balance sheet and income statement providing the assumptions made and support the valuations assigned.
4. Considering the value of assets (assigned per your balance sheet) used within your business, recommend two (2) specific internal controls that you will implement to protect your company’s assets and resources, justifying how each will provide assurances to management. (NOTE:  Safeguarding assets and protecting personal data are paramount to ensuring the viability of a business.  Demonstrate to the lender/investor that your assets will be safeguarded and customer information (if applicable) will be protected.)
5. Based on the internal control recommendations that you made, suggest how you will implement each within your business environment, indicating how challenges or resistances will be overcome. 
6. Evaluate the impact of the regulatory environment, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulatory requirements, on your business venture, giving considering to how you intend to comply with the requirements and the general impact to decision making within your business.
7. Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources. 

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

Assignment 2: Place (Distribution Strategy) and Promotion

Using the Waters Bottling Company in Module 1, continue to build the Marketing Plan Sections for the product you have selected/ invented/ created. Complete the following in MS Word: Be concise and complete in your analysis of each plan element. Your employer wants to know you have left nothing out in your analysis.

This assignment represents Section 4 of the Marketing Plan. Use the guide to identify the sections of the Marketing Plan and the marketing elements contained therein. This assignment will focus on Section 4– Place & Promotion (Module 4).

Section 4 – Place & Promotion (Module 4)

• Distribution Channels
• Length & Width
• Direct & Indirect
• Vertical & Horizontal Channel Conflict
• Promotion
• Communication Process & Tools
• Product Life Cycle
• Push vs. Pull

You will create a complete Marketing Plan by the end of the course. You will write the Fourth section of the Marketing Plan for this assignment. Use the Marketing Planguide to identify the sections of the Marketing Plan and the marketing elements contained therein. This assignment will focus on Section 4 – The Place & Promotion (Module 4). 

Relate all responses using the WBC scenario and the product you have selected to market in Module 1. 

Create a 4- to 6-page Word document for this Marketing Plan Section. Apply a standard business writing style using the Market Planning Guide sections as your (headers/ sub heads/ bullets) to your work. Be sure to cite your work in the APA format.

Use the following file-naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M4_A2.doc. For example, if your name is John Smith, your document will be named SmithJ_M4_A2.doc.

Submit your assignment to the M4: Assignment 2 Dropbox by Wednesday, February 11, 2015.

Describe the elements of self-concept, and explain how they affect an individual’s behavior and well-being. Share a related personal experience.

Your response should be at least 200 words in length. You are required to use at least your textbook as an in-text cited source to support your response. All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced with a full citation in APA format at the end of your entry. Both paraphrased and quoted material must have accompanying in-text citations.

No wiki, dictionary.com & cite all work

McShane, S. L., & Glinow, M. A. (2013). Organizational behavior: emerging knowledge, global reality (6th ed., pp. 68-73). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.