Pick option 1 or 2

Critical Thinking

CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENT (75 Points)

Important! Read First

Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not do both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission.

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Option #1: Women Executives and the C-Suite

In recent years, women have broken through the “glass ceiling” by achieving senior executive (i.e., CEO, CFO, and COO) status in Fortune 500 companies—including General Motors, IBM, Oracle, Yahoo, and Facebook—to name a few. Yet, in 2012, only 17% of Fortune 500 companies’ board directors were women. In addition, a number of high-profile lawsuits were settled in 2013, including Calibuso v. Bank of America Corp. (BAC), in which the bank agreed to pay $39 million to settle claims that it discriminated against women in its investment advice division. The suit alleged that the most lucrative clients were pushed to men, undermining women’s compensation and professional opportunities.

Instructions:

For this assignment, read the following article about women in executive leadership positions and incorporate the piece as an in-text citation in your paper:

• Kranc, J. (2014). Diversity’s bottom line (Links to an external site.). Financial Executive, 30(1), 34-39.

Select two organizations based in the same country that have made the news for their policies regarding women in executive positions, one for the better and one for the worse. Compare and contrast the organizations based on the following:

1. For each organization, describe the situation that led to the news coverage. What led to the situation? Was there a satisfactory conclusion, or is the case ongoing? Describe the outcome or the current situation, and the players involved.
2. Describe any laws that were violated or may have been violated.
3. Assess the impact of the gender diversity, or lack thereof, in each organization. Consider profitability, reputation, growth, and competitiveness, for example, but don’t be limited by this list.
   • Provide two scholarly references in addition to the Kranc piece in support of your assessment. The CSU Global Library is a good place to find these resources.
4. Formulate three actions that a company with an already established gender diversity program can take to sustain or increase the number of qualified women at the executive and board levels.
5. Formulate three actions that the company performing poorly in gender diversity can take to increase the number of qualified women at the executive and board levels.

Paper Requirements:

• Your well-written paper should include an introduction and conclusion, and be 3-4 pages in length, not counting the required title and references pages.
• Note that you must include at least two scholarly references for this paper. Use in-text citations and include a references page. Incorporate, cite, and reference the Kranc piece above.
• Follow the CSU Global Writing Center (Links to an external site.).

Review the grading rubric for this assignment, to understand exactly how you will be graded. Contact your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.

Option #2: Ageism in the Global Workplace

For this assignment, you will research an age discrimination case brought against a corporation or public institution anywhere in the world, which was settled within the past few years. As an owner, executive, or leader of an organization of any size, you will be involved in decisions and policies that promote sound leadership and healthy employee relationships at all levels of the corporation.

Instructions:

In a well-written paper, address the following:

1. Describe the corporation or public institution you have chosen to study. Include its main business or mission, location(s), size, total number of employees, sales, and SP or Fortune 500 rating (if applicable).
2. Describe the situation leading to the lawsuit. Be sure to cite and reference all sources used.
3. What was the court verdict and penalty? Do you feel that it was appropriate? Why or why not? Support your opinion with research from at least two scholarly sources.
4. In your view, describe the negative impact of the court decision or media coverage on the company’s stakeholders.
5. Going forward, what actions should the company’s executives and leadership take to prevent age discrimination? Provide specific guidelines and support your recommendations with research, using at least two scholarly sources in addition to those used in #3 above. You may also use research from trade organizations, your textbook, and government or non-profit agencies to support your case, but these do not count towards the scholarly source requirement.
6. If the company is a multinational, what adjustments should be made to be in compliance with international anti-discrimination regulations related to ageism?

Paper Requirements:

• Your well-written paper should include an introduction and conclusion, and be 3-4 pages in length, not counting the required title and references pages.
• Note that you must incorporate at least four scholarly sources, using in-text citations and a references page.
• Follow the CSU Global Writing Center (Links to an external site.).

Review the grading rubric for this assignment, to understand exactly how you will be graded. Contact your instructor if you have questions about the assignment.

Rubric

ORG555 Mod 4 CT

ORG555 Mod 4 CT

Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeRequirements	15 to >12.0 pts Meets Expectation The paper includes all of the required components, as specified in the assignment, including length, questions addressed, and proper sources. 12 to >9.0 pts Approaches Expectation The paper includes most of the required components, as specified in the assignment. 9 to >6.0 pts Below Expectation The paper includes some of the required components, as specified in the assignment. 6 to >0 pts Limited Evidence The paper includes few of the required components, as specified in the assignment.	15 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent	20 to >16.0 pts Meets Expectation Demonstrates strong or adequate knowledge of gender and age issues in organizations; correctly represents knowledge from the readings and sources. 16 to >12.0 pts Approaches Expectation Some significant, but not major, errors or omissions in demonstration of knowledge. 12 to >8.0 pts Below Expectation Major errors or omissions in demonstration of knowledge. 8 to >0 pts Limited Evidence Fails to demonstrate knowledge of the materials.	20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis and Critical Thinking	20 to >16.0 pts Meets Expectation Provides strong or adequate critical thinking, insight, and analysis related to concepts and applications of organizational leadership, with regard to gender and age issues. 16 to >12.0 pts Approaches Expectation Some significant, but not major, errors or omissions in critical thinking, insight, and analysis. 12 to >8.0 pts Below Expectation Major errors or omissions in critical thinking, insight, and analysis. 8 to >0 pts Limited Evidence Fails to demonstrate critical thinking, insight, and analysis.	20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDemonstrates College-level Proficiency in Organization, Grammar, and style	10 to >8.0 pts Meets Expectation Project is clearly organized, well written, and in proper format, as outlined in the assignment. Strong sentence and paragraph structure; few errors in grammar, spelling, or APA style. 8 to >6.0 pts Approaches Expectation Project is fairly well organized and written, and is in proper format, as outlined in the assignment. Reasonably good sentence and paragraph structure; significant number of errors in grammar, spelling, and/or APA style. 6 to >4.0 pts Below Expectation Project is poorly organized; does not follow proper format. Inconsistent to inadequate sentence and paragraph development; numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and/or APA style. 4 to >0 pts Limited Evidence Project is not well organized or written, and is not in proper format. Poor quality work; unacceptable in terms of grammar, spelling, and/or APA style.	10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDemonstrates Proper Use of APA Style	10 to >8.0 pts Meets Expectation Contains proper APA formatting, according to the CSU Global Writing Center, with no more than one significant error. 8 to >6.0 pts Approaches Expectation Contains no more than two to three significant errors in APA formatting, according to the CSU Global Writing Center. 6 to >4.0 pts Below Expectation Contains four to five significant errors in APA formatting, according to the CSU Global Writing Center. 4 to >0 pts Limited Evidence Contains more than five significant errors in APA formatting, according to the CSU Global Writing Center.	10 pts
Total Points: 75