Write a 5-7 page internal report that assesses specific change factors you have observed within a selected organization to determine a specific change recommendation and the potential benefits that would come with its implementation.

Introduction

It is important to be able to accurately diagnose the higher priority needs for change in organizations and to develop a high-level process for initiating that change. In this assessment, you will analyze the factors driving change and how these change factors impact an organization of your choice. The emphasis here is not on how to change but on what to change and why.

Preparation

Do the following:

• Choose an organization. This can be where you currently work or an organization with which you are familiar.
• Select a change model that best applies to a change needed in your selected organization. If you are unfamiliar with organizational change models, you may choose to use those in the Organizational Change: An Action-Oriented Toolkit text.
• Research your selected change model and John Kotter’s 8-step model. Use the Capella University Library to find three to five resources to support your assessment.

Scenario

After your recent success heading up a staff development initiative, your supervisor’s boss has asked that you devote part of your time each week to supporting a task force that explores opportunities for positive change within the organization. After an initial orientation meeting with the rest of the change task force, you have been asked to create an internal report in which you assess specific change factors that you have observed within the organization to determine a specific change recommendation and the potential benefits that would come with its implementation.

Your Role

Imagine that you work in any organization you choose in any position you like. For the sake of simplicity, you may choose to imagine your present position at a company where you already work. Whatever your other responsibilities, you are now also tasked with providing change leadership within the organization.

Requirements

Using Kotter’s 8-step model and one other change model of your choice, write a report in which you analyze aspects of the change needed for your chosen organization. Include the following in your analysis:

• Describe a change challenge facing the selected organization to sustain success.
• List the factors that are driving change for this selected organization.
• Identify the type of change that is needed for the selected organization.
  • You may find Figure 3.1 in the Mastering the Challenges of Leading Change text useful for this identification.
• Assess the organization’s readiness for change and ways to heighten awareness. Use the force field analysis model for this assessment. You may use the Force Field Analysis Template [DOC] to guide your work.
• Articulate recommendations for change for the selected organization. These are recommendations you would eventually deliver to the organization’s executive leadership team. Make sure you support your recommendations with research. Remember, the emphasis here is not on how to change but on what to change, and why.

Your analysis should be written coherently to support a central idea, in appropriate APA format, with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a business professional.

Deliverable Format

In your last meeting with the rest of the change task force, it was collectively agreed that your recommendation would take the form of an internal report that could be shared with other stakeholders within the company. This report should be 5–7 pages, so that you have enough space to develop your ideas and provide some academic support. Since you plan to share your report with the rest of the change task force, your supervisor’s boss, and other internal stakeholders, you want this document to be well organized and readable.

Internal Report requirements:

• References: Support the analysis in your report with 3–5 academic resources from the Capella University Library. You must use proper APA style to list your references.
• Length: 5–7 pages, in addition to the references list.
• Written communication: Demonstrate graduate-level writing skills through accurate communication of thoughts that convey the overall goals of the analysis and do not detract from the message.
• Formatting: Use APA formatting, including correct in-text citations, proper punctuation, double spacing throughout, proper headings and subheadings, no extra line spaces before headings and subheadings, proper paragraph and block indentation, no bolding, one-inch margins all around, and no bullets.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

Evaluation

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies through corresponding scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Assess the complex and dynamic nature of organizational change.
  • Describe a change challenge facing the selected organization to sustain success.
  • List the factors that are driving this selected organization’s change.
• Competency 2: Analyze ways in which leaders and managers can effectively initiate, shape, and support organizational change.
  • Assess the organization’s readiness for change and ways to heighten awareness.
• Competency 3: Analyze the processes of change in people, groups, and organizations.
  • Describes the type of change that is needed for the selected organization.
  • Articulate recommendations for change for the selected organization.
• Competency 5: Communicate effectively in a professional manner.
  • Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for business professionals.

Faculty will use the scoring guide to review your deliverable as if he or she were your immediate supervisor. Review the scoring guide prior to developing and submitting your assessment.

Find a news article from a reliable source no more than two weeks old detailing an IT security incident (e.g., hack, ransomware, malware, etc.).  Provide a link to the article and summarize it in 3-4 paragraphs.  Then, provide another 2-3 paragraphs detailing what the organization could have done (if anything) to prevent the incident.

Comment on at least one other student’s post.

classmate reply 1: Question: Find a news article from a reliable source no more than two weeks old detailing an IT security incident (e.g., hack, ransomware, malware, etc.).  Provide a link to the article and summarize it in 3-4 paragraphs.  Then, provide another 2-3 paragraphs detailing what the organization could have done (if anything) to prevent the incident.

Answer: 
                         In a cyberattack in December 2021, Chinese hackers targeted India’s power grid system, according to a report from India’s National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC). According to the report, the hackers broke into the systems of three power distribution companies in northern India by utilizing a brand-new type of malware known as “Shadow Pad.” The report, on the other hand, says that the attack was contained successfully and did little damage. The attack has not yet been attributed to a specific Chinese group by the Indian government.

                       This occurrence features the significance of getting foundation frameworks, like power matrices, against cyberattacks. According to the NCIIPC report, the Indian power grid companies could have stopped the attack by using stronger cybersecurity measures like network segmentation, multi-factor authentication, and regular security assessments. In addition, the businesses could have enhanced their incident response strategies to guarantee quick attack detection and containment.

                 In conclusion, this incident highlights the significance of proactive cybersecurity measures taken by businesses to safeguard critical infrastructure systems from cyber threats. To reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks, it is essential to make investments in regular security assessments, employee training, and incident response planning.

                 Numerous media outlets reported on March 18, 2023, that the federal government of the United States was the target of a significant cyberattack that compromised the private information of millions of Americans. Although the identity of the attackers has not yet been established, it is believed that a group of hackers carried out the breach with the support of a foreign government.

              The reports claim that the hackers were able to access a database that contained personal information about people who had applied to the federal government for security clearances. The data set contained touchy data, for example, names, addresses, government-managed retirement numbers, business history, and different subtleties that could be utilized for fraud or other pernicious purposes.

                The break is said to have impacted many people, including current and previous government workers, project workers, and military staff. The precise number of people affected by the breach has not yet been confirmed by the government.

                  The incident brings to light the ongoing threat posed by cyberattacks to organizations and government agencies, particularly those that handle sensitive information. Additionally, it raises concerns regarding the security measures in place to safeguard such data and the requirement for more robust cybersecurity measures to stop future attacks of a similar nature.
 

                    As far as avoidance, there are a few stages that associations can take to further develop their network safety pose. To find and fix flaws in their systems, these include regular security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing. Data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and other security measures should also be implemented by businesses to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.

                In addition, it is essential for businesses to provide employees with cybersecurity best practices training and to strictly enforce security policies, such as restricting access to sensitive information and changing passwords on a regular basis. At long last, associations ought to have an exhaustive episode reaction plan set up to rapidly answer and contain any security episodes that might happen.

From 1300 to 1800 and from North Africa to India, Islamic civilization thrived under three dynastic houses: the Ottomans, the Safavids, and the Mughals. All three empires had a period of expansion when territory was enlarged, followed by a high point politically and culturally and later a period of contraction, when territories broke away. At the cultural level, the borders of these three states were porous, and people, ideas, art motifs, languages, and trade flowed back and forth.

Write something exploring the cultural advances that occurred under the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires. You might include artistic, intellectual, linguistic, and/or religious innovations that impacted societies at the time and had a lasting effect today.

Your p must be between 700 and 1,000 words in length. Your p will be assessed based on the strength of your thesis statement, command of supporting data, and overall quality of writing. 

By the due date assigned, submit your answers to this Discussion Area. Post the assignment directly in the discussion thread and label the answers with the appropriate scenario number. Do not copy the scenarios into the thread with the answers. Start reviewing and responding to your classmates as early in the week as possible. You should review and critique the work of other students, as outlined in the rubric, by the end of the week.

Select two of the scenarios given below and explain the best solution to each. Include comments related to any ethical issues that arise. Support your responses with appropriate cases, laws and other relevant examples by using at least one scholarly source from the SUO Library in addition to your textbook for each scenario.

Scenario I—Torts and Product Liability

On his way home from work, Andy Earl stopped at Mad Beach Pub. After leaving the pub, Earl drove his car into a house at a speed of approximately 30 miles per hour. When the car struck the house, the passenger compartment collapsed and Earl was seriously injured. His blood alcohol content was 0.08%. The investigation also discovered that he had been texting at the time of the accident. Earl brought a strict product liability action against the car manufacturer on the grounds that the car was not crashworthy. He also filed suit against the pub for selling him the alcohol.

• Summarize the statutes from your state related to driving under the influence (DUI) and texting while driving.
• Provide the arguments that each party (Earl, the car manufacturer, and the pub) will make at trial.
• Explain how the court should rule. Provide support for your decision.

Scenario II—Torts

After the extraction of two teeth, Yolanda’s dentist, Dr. Harris, wrote a prescription for pain medication and cautioned her not to drive or operate heavy machinery while taking the medication. Yolanda took the prescription to the drive-in window at the local Walgreens pharmacy. The pharmacy was busy and understaffed at the time, and the technician failed to include information about adverse reactions associated with taking the medication. Yolanda took a pill upon leaving the pharmacy and made another stop at the grocery store. After leaving the store, Yolanda failed to stop at a stop sign, and hit another car, injuring the driver of the other car and a passenger.

Using the textbook, the laws of your state, and other scholarly sources, explain the potential lawsuits and the probable outcomes for the lawsuits filed by the injured driver against Yolanda, Dr. Harris, and Walgreens.

Scenario III—Employment

Little Rock Catering, located in western Arkansas, provides food for special events and wedding consulting services. The business is privately owned and has seven employees. Sam, a 45-year-old lesbian, applied for the position of event services coordinator and was denied the position. Sam was highly qualified, with 10 years of experience in event planning. Mary Beth, a 21-year-old recent college graduate and member of the owner’s church, was hired.

Research the state laws on nondiscrimination in Arkansas and your state.

• On the basis of Arkansas state law and federal law, what is the probable outcome of a lawsuit based on sexual orientation discrimination?
• On the basis of Arkansas state law and federal law, what is the probable outcome of a lawsuit based on age discrimination?
• Would the outcome of a lawsuit based on sexual orientation discrimination be different if the catering company was located in your state?

Scenario IV: Product Liability

Shenzhen Limited manufactures electric hair dryers.  Julie purchases a Shenzhen Limited dryer from her local Sally’s Beauty Supply.  Frances, a friend and guest in Julie’s home, has taken a shower and wants to dry her hair.  Julie tells Frances to use the new Shenzhen Limited hair dryer that she has just purchased.  As Frances plugs in the dryer, sparks fly out from the motor, and sparks continue to fly as she operates it.  Despite this, Frances begins drying her hair.  Suddenly, the entire dryer ignites into flames, severely burning Frances’ scalp.  Frances sues Shenzhen Limited on the basis of negligence and strict liability in tort.  Shenzhen Limited admits that the dryer was defective but denies liability, particularly because Frances was not the person who purchased the dryer.  In other words, Frances had no contractual relationship with Shenzhen Limited.

• Discuss the validity of Shenzhen Limited’s defense. 
• Are there any other defenses that Shenzhen Limited might assert to avoid liability?  Discuss fully.