SCENARIO 1: Islamic Finance

Islamic Law (known as Shariah) forbids charging interest. Instead, lenders under Islamic Law may charge "fees" or "rent" to borrowers. Shariah scholars say there is no prohibition against using an interest rate as a benchmark to calculate appropriate fees or rents. Several U.S. lenders are now offering "Islamic home mortgages."  The price of Islamic mortgages tends to be very comparable to the price of traditional mortgages.

 

QUESTION: Explain and comment on the statement above using your understanding of this course and experience.

The minimum word for the assignment is 500 words, which include tables and captions but exclude footnote, endnote, and references. The total number of words must be specified at the end of the discussion.

Select one of the four design thinking tools presented in the course (listed below) that you are interested in applying to a challenge of your choice.

Tools:

1. Visualization (Module 1)
2. Storytelling (Module 2)
3. Mind Mapping (Module 3)
4. Learning Launch (Module 4)

Use the Assignment Rubric including the following elements to guide the development of your reflection. Any images you create/take can also be included, but are not required.

Elements:

1. Challenge: Describe your challenge, including all relevant information.
2. Selection: In your own words, briefly describe the tool you selected (e.g., what it is and why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references).
3. Application: Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge (e.g., what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively).
4. Insight: Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge (e.g., how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design thinking more broadly).
5. Approach: Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s) why.

Notes:

The rubric also includes a score for organization. You should strive to write in a clear and compelling way, and ensure that your descriptions flow logically.

Your completed reflection should be written in English and be between five and ten paragraphs in length. When complete, you will upload your reflection (PDF file only) for peer review, which will determine your grade for this assignment. After uploading your reflection, you will be prompted to review three of your peers' submissions.

To pass this assignment, your peers must score your reflection an average of two or above, based on the rubric criteria. To successfully complete the course, you must complete your peer reviews and pass this assignment.

QUESTION 1

1. What is the method to establish pay grade widths in which the point spreads are equal for all pay grades?

   a. pay grade bandwidth approach
   b. equal interval approach
   c. equal increase approach
   d. equal percentage approach

1 points   

QUESTION 2

1. Which variable may be considered an advantage associated with the "a priori" method in determining factor weights?

   a. It simple and easily understood.
   b. It assumes pay structures used for benchmarking are correct.
   c. It emphasizes current pay scales.
   d. It forces committee members to work together.

1 points   

QUESTION 3

1. The point method of job evaluation has many benefits, but it does have some drawbacks. From the list below, what would be considered a drawback of the point method?

   a. creates too large of a hierarchy of jobs
   b. creates a large number of appeals
   c. regression line is very rarely applied to the pay system
   d. appears scientifically objective but in reality it is very subjective

1 points   

QUESTION 4

1. You have been provided with the following information about a certain pay range: minimum $50,000; mid-point $55,000; and maximum $60,000. What is the range spread and the range spread percentage?

   a. $10,000 and 20%
   b. $5,000 and 83.33%
   c. $5,000 and 20%
   d. $10,000 and 8.33%

1 points   

QUESTION 5

1. Which step in developing a job evaluation system using the point method allows you to quantify the extent to which each factor is present in a job?

   a. defining the factors
   b. weighting the factors
   c. scaling the factors
   d. testing the system

1 points   

QUESTION 6

1. A company decides to include "customer contact" as a compensable factor in their job evaluation system. What conclusion can you draw from this?

   a. The organization does not value "customer contact" above all other compensable factors.
   b. The organization wants to avoid customer complaints.
   c. "Customer contact" would be explicitly linked to performance bonuses.
   d. "Customer contact" is central to the execution of the company's strategy.

1 points   

QUESTION 7

1. Which of the following should be avoided when using the point method of job evaluation?

   a. benchmarking
   b. factor overlap
   c. equal interval approach
   d. enlargement of pay grid

1 points   

QUESTION 8

1. A "match the market" pay strategy means all jobs in the organization will actually match the market.

    True

    False

1 points   

QUESTION 9

1. Considering the factor of "supervisory responsibility," which degree statement is an example of inconsistent construct formation?

   a. Degree 1: no supervisory responsibilities
   b. Degree 2: responsible for supervision of one to three subordinates
   c. Degree 3: responsible for supervision of four to nine subordinates
   d. Degree 4: responsible for development of annual operating budget

1 points   

QUESTION 10

1. In a point method of job evaluation, large pay range overlaps are preferred.

    True

    False

1 points   

QUESTION 11

1. Which term refers to the differences between the range midpoints of adjacent pay grades in a pay structure expressed by dollars?

   a. range spread
   b. broadbands
   c. split pay range
   d. intergrade differentials

1 points   

QUESTION 12

1. Which of the following best defines a benchmark job?

   a. It is a job in the firm's job evaluation system for which there is a good match in the labour market data.
   b. It is a job in the market data that matches a pay overlap.
   c. It is the job in the organization that has a regression line equal to (1) on the pay policy line.
   d. It is the job that is adjusted to the market line for the intended pay level.

1 points   

QUESTION 13

1. Mille, a human resource compensation specialist, determines that the correlation coefficient is nearly –1 (negative one) after calculating a straight regression line. What conclusion can Mille make based on this nearly perfect correlation coefficient?

   a. The lower the job evaluation points, the lower the pay
   b. The higher job evaluation points, the higher the pay.
   c. The higher the job evaluation points, the lower the pay.
   d. The nearly –1 (negative one) correlation coefficient implies that no change in the pay system is required.

1 points   

QUESTION 14

1. Your task is to persuade an executive to design a job evaluation system using the point method. What would be the focal point of your argument?

   a. The point method has a high degree of accuracy in measuring jobs.
   b. The point method includes performance management.
   c. The point method is simple to use.
   d. The point method is the only system recognized by employment equity legislation.

1 points   

QUESTION 15

1. The terms job evaluation and job analysis are interchangeable.

    True

    False

1 points   

QUESTION 16

1. One of the greatest benefits of using a point method of job evaluation is that it is statistically scientific.

    True

    False

1 points   

QUESTION 17

1. Which statement best defines range spread?

   a. It is the difference between the first and last pay broadband
   b. It is the difference between the range midpoints of adjacent pay grades in a pay structure, expressed in dollars.
   c. It is calculated by dividing the intergrade differential (expressed in dollars) of each pay grade by the midpoint (in dollars) of the previous pay grade
   d. It is the difference between the maximum and the minimum pay level, in dollars, for a given pay range.

1 points   

QUESTION 18

1. In order to establish a midpoint of the pay range you must first convert the market line into a pay line policy.

    True

    False

1 points   

QUESTION 19

1. Which of the following takes place once the job evaluation system has been finalized?

   a. compensable factors are weighed
   b. all jobs are scored
   c. factor degrees are analyzed
   d. factor weightings are measured

1 points   

QUESTION 20

1. What is a disadvantage of having very narrow pay grades?

   a. The only way for an employee to significantly increase their wages is through a promotion.
   b. It makes seniority systems redundant.
   c. The reliability of the pay grade is low.
   d. The internal stability of the pay grade is low.

1. What is a global pricing strategy that relies on a fixed price for all export markets? 

a. Rigid cost-plus pricing 

b. Push marketing 

c. Dumping

2. Brunner Inc. is a cell phone company. They have multiple distribution channels worldwide already set, as they directly sell to the main carriers in the major economies. Normally, their cell phones are smartphones for the high-end users, but they now have released a new brand for the mid-range clients. They did not want to release the mid-range cell phones under the Brunner trademark, because it is a different market segment. The top mobile carriers in the top economies all will sell their new mid-range brand. Which of the following BEST explains what Brunner is doing in this scenario? 

a. Brunner is using push marketing, in which the traditional distributing partners will help them reach the consumer. Brunner should use advertisement with the new brand name, but they should include "made by Brunner." This way, the plan will report the most revenue. 

b. Brunner is using viral marketing, in which the traditional distribution partners will help them reach the consumer. Brunner should not put their trademark name in any of the new brand ads, as it will damage their luxury brand reputation. This way the company will get the most revenue. 

c. Brunner is using guerilla marketing, in which the traditional distribution partners will help them reach the consumer. Brunner should use advertisement with the new brand name, but they should include "made by Brunner." This way, the plan will report the most revenue.

3. Walter Co. manufactures veterinary feed. Since cats and dogs eat similar food all over the world, they standardized global branding. The product is exactly the same, and they export it to supermarket chains all over the world. They do not even have to worry about translating the packaging, because people see the pictures of dogs and cats. However, Walter Co. noticed that in the Middle East markets, sales went down suddenly when an NGO said the feed included pork. West Africa and North Africa's sales also started to decrease. What motive would there be to change their current business model?

a. They should change the glocalization they have been doing recently. The branding is too responsive to the culture and structure. This has offended many people trying to buy their product, but they find that it is importing foreigner values. 

b. They should keep the same operations: a standardization strategy. They should refocus their attention to other markets, which can help get more revenues by increasing economies of scale. 

c. The company should localize, to determine national preferences. They should keep the global branding promotion the same to save costs, but they should open a processing plant in the Middle East to make a pork-less feed for the affected markets.

4. _________ agents act as am importer's representative with local customs agencies.   

a. Export   

b. Forwarding   

c. Clearing 

d. Purchasing

5. What do distribution agents do? 

a. They help companies distribute talent across an organization. 

b. They forecast new business models. 

c. They help companies sell their products in individual markets by doing product demonstrations. 

d. They help companies import and export goods.

6. When considering the ways companies can gain advantages by being globally integrated, having a digital platform 

a. may mean creating a network of specialized, focused operations around the world that are tightly controlled by a central hub.

b. may mean maintaining a small number of large facilities to make products for export to markets around the world. 

c. allows people all over the company and even outside it to easily contribute to knowledge and products. 

d. means making tight links between value-chain activities.

7. What is the first step in getting local branches to act like local innovators?   

a. Launching local branding campaigns 

b. Building new offices 

c. Conducting local market research

8. Companies typically move abroad in order to _____________.

a. acquire new resources 

b. learn new cultures 

c. reduce risk

9. Which of the following is not a primary emerging market that the US is looking to expand into? 

a. India 

b. Mexico 

c. China 

d. Brazil

10. In the context of globalization, identify a difference between the research and development (R&D) trend in the United States when compared with other nations of the world. 

a. Unlike Japan, the United States represents less than 26 percent of global spending on R&D. 

b. Unlike in other countries, in the United States, private nonprofit donors are not allowed to invest in R&D. 

c. In the United States, nearly 70 percent of R&D is funded by the government. 

d. Unlike in Asian countries, R&D spending in the United States is proportional to the increase in the countries' gross domestic product (GDP).