Information systems serve as an inevitable part of any business or organization today. A good information system can help regulate and automate internal processes in any organization, ensuring efficiency and better quality. It can further help collate feedback and carry out complex analysis of the market as well as customer feedback, which in turn can be used to plan or modify business strategies for the benefit of the organization.

Research a medium-size company that has about 1,000–10,000 employees and revenue generation of above $20 million, and write a 2- to 3-page report on how an MIS helps to give the company a competitive edge in their market. Discuss how the Internet allows better communication and exposure for business in this company. In addition, include in the report answers to the following questions:

• Why was the particular company chosen?
• How is the company different from its competitors?
• What are the strengths of the company? Its weaknesses? Its opportunities?

Companies may be chosen from the textbook, found on the Internet, or may be a local company you work for or are familiar with. Good company choices might include a college, an electronic chain store, a law firm, etc.

Submit the paper in a Microsoft Word document to the W2: Assignment 2 Dropboxby Tuesday, July 22, 2014.

Demographic Perspectives

Research has illustrated that the increased size and proportion of our older population has an impact on the family in later life. In the United States, the number of elderly people is projected to exceed 70 million by the year 2030, at which time all of the baby boomers will have reached age 65; older individuals will represent about 20 percent of our population by then—one in every five people you see on the sidewalks and in the grocery store will be 65 or older! Of equal magnitude are the challenges for the global community to plan for their aging societies and to propose and implement culturally relevant solutions to the challenges of health care and economic security. The demographic frame of reference will continually direct our attention to the distinct yet diverse characteristics, situations, and needs of the family in later life; to the aging of our society; and to global aging.

As a human service and public service leader, you have increased your awareness of the abundance and utility of demographic information about the family in later life and aging in the United States and elsewhere. For this discussion, consider the demographic information that might be useful concerning the family in later life for one or more of the following audiences: your chosen profession, your local community, politicians or policy makers, or marketers or product developers. Using one of the sources cited in the assigned chapter readings for this unit and integrating your thoughts from the Intergenerational Timeline, the Riverbend City simulation, and course readings, complete the following:

1. Find three or four facts about the family in later life that would be useful for the audience(s) you have identified.
2. Identify the audience(s) and discuss the information and how you would share it.
3. Discuss the implications of the information for your chosen audience.
4. Support your position with scholarly and professional research from the current literature.

Discussion 1

Prepare: Prior to completing this discussion question, watch the TED video titled “Martin Seligman: The New Era of Positive Psychology (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.” and read this excerpt (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. from Dr. Seligman’s book titled Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being from his website, Authentic Happiness (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. In addition, read the National Organization for Human Services’ Ethical Standards for Human Service Professionals. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Reflect: Building upon a client’s unique strengths and resources is a common approach in the fields of social work and human services. In this first discussion forum for the week, you will reflect upon a particular concept-positive psychology-and consider its application to a particular problem area with a client. Consider the essential aims of the Positive Psychology movement and Dr. Seligman’s evolving perspectives on happiness and well-being.

Write: Imagine that you are a human services professional working with a client facing a challenge or situation.. Choose the challenge or situation that this client might face and summarize the presenting challenge(s) and needs. Conidering the challenge or situation faced by your client, explain how you would utilize the Positive Psychology approach. Analyze cultural competence elements, as identified in the National Organization for Human Services’ Ethical Standards for Human Services Professionals, that direct practice professionals should integrate in the successful delivery of this technique (e.g., awareness of one’s own cultural background, recognition of multiculturalism, respecting cultural diversity, etc.).

Discussion 2

Prepare: Prior to beginning this discussion, read Chapter 6 of Making Strategy Count in the Health and Human Services Sector. Chapter 5 is a recommended reading, as it provides some additional context to organizational change.

Reflect: As you recall from Chapter 6 of the textbook, the Sanctuary Model reflects one method that integrates theory into the scope of effective change within organizational cultures. In this second discussion forum for the course, you will expand your understanding of one of the theories identified in the chapter (Constructivist Self-Development Theory, Burnout Theory, Systems Theory, or Valuation Theory of Organizational Change) though analysis and application. Review the main features, characateristics, assumptions, etc. that pertain to the theory of your choice.

Write: Imagine that you are an administrator leading a human services organization that is experiencing a number of challenges, such as high turnover among staff, poor lines of communication between employees, and overall low level of employee satisfaction with the current organizational culture. Describe this fictional organization (e.g., what it aims to do, and the clients you work with, etc.) and evaluate the impact that these issues may have on the delivery of services that are rendered. Select one of the four theories noted in Chapter 6 (Constructivist Self-Development Theory, Burnout Theory, Systems Theory, or Valuation Theory of Organizational Change) and discuss how you might apply it to these issues. How would you utilize it to make positive change? What obstacles or barriers might you encounter when making changes to your organization?

Here is the book:

Hansen-Turton, T. & Mortell, M . (2014). Making strategy count in health and human services sector. New York, NY: Spring Publishing Company

For this assignment you will post your answers to the questions in each thread prior to 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday at 11:59 pm. Additionally, you must respond to at least two of your classmates posts by 11:59 pm ET on Sunday. Your follow-up posts can add additional insight to a classmate’s opinions or can challenge their opinions. Use examples from the readings, or from your own research, to support your views, as appropriate. For your follow-up posts this week, you may wish to visit a couple of the web sites contributed by your classmates and share your opinion of these sites with the class. Be sure to read the follow-up posts to your own posts and reply to any questions or requests for clarification. You are encouraged to conduct research and use other sources to support your answers. Be sure to list your references at the end of your post. References must be in APA citation format. All posts must be a minimum of 250-300 words. All follow-up posts to your classmates must be a minimum of 150 words for each required post.

Read the case study on pp. 43-45 of the textbook and answer the following questions:

1. Who do you think should be known as the one who came up with the original idea for social networking? Which is more important: the idea or the execution of the idea? Please explain.

2. Given that the judge ordered a $65 million cash-stock award to the ConnectU founder, and ConnectU’s legal bill is reportedly $13 million, the ConnectU founders are in arbitration with the law firm now over the bill. Recommend an alternatived verdict and award in this case. Be sure to justify your decision.

Read the case study on pp. 82-84

3. The Supreme Court’s standard makes it harder for plaintiffs to survive motions to dismiss their claims. How can plaintiffs plead a more compelling theory?

4. How should defendants adjust their business practices based on this decision?

respond to the question using the lessons and vocabulary found in the reading. Justify your answers using examples and reasoning. Support your answers with examples and research and cite your research using APA format. Use articles and research guideline no later than 5 years old.

Discussion Question 1

SJ is a sixteen-month-old boy who is brought to the clinic with a one-day history of tugging at his right ear and crying and a two-day history of decreased appetite, decreased playfulness, and difficulty sleeping. His mother has documented a fever, so she has been giving him 5 mL of ibuprofen every twelve hours. He was diagnosed with acute otitis media (AOM) at the age of four months; he has had the same diagnosis three times since. On physical exam, his vital signs are normal with the exception of a temperature of 102°F. His weight is 10 kg. Both tympanic membranes (TMs) are erythematous, with the right one more than the left one. The right TM is bulging with limited mobility, copious cerumen, and purulent fluid behind the TM. The left TM appears normal. The right TM landmarks are difficult to visualize. Answer the following questions:

• Of the information provided, what data support the diagnosis of AOM and what would be inconclusive?
• How would you distinguish AOM and otitis media with effusion (OME)?
• What treatment would you suggest?
• What types of cautions or instructions would you provide to his mother?