1. What problems was France experiencing that led to the French Revolution?

2. To what extent did Napoleon both promote and oppose the ideas generated during the French Revolution?

Requirements: 250 words minimum for each question

Assignment 4 – Crisis Communication at Nuance: Analysis and Recommendations to Restore Image of Nuance Essay

Page Requirement:

Times New Roman,12 points, 3 pages, single-spaced

WHY: This assignment gives you the opportunity to apply course concepts to the analysis of a crisis situation at The Nuance Group, a global consulting firm. Assume Nuance does NOT have a crisis communication plan in place. By analyzing the situation Nuance faces and making recommendations for an effective response to restore its image, you will demonstrate an understanding of the major themes and concepts in organizational communication by synthesizing what you have learned during the course.

WHAT: Based on case 10.1 in the Zaremba textbook, analyze the crisis at Nuance and recommend the image restoration approaches you believe will be most effective in this scenario.

Your analysis and recommendations should consider the following questions:

Analysis:

• Why is this such a severe crisis for Nuance?
• What does the crisis tell us about Nuance’s organizational culture and their standards of ethical communication?

Recommendations for communication action steps to restore the image of Nuance:

• In order (first, second, third), who are the target audiences and what messages will you deliver to each of them?
• Why will you deliver them in that order?
• How you will deliver them?

You must apply what you’ve learned about culture, ethical communication, crisis communication, networks, media selection and meetings as you construct your analysis of the events that occurred at Nuance and develop recommendations for responding to the crisis.

You must use the APA style of citation. You must include a minimum of three direct references from course readings (i.e. Zaremba textbook, assigned articles) used in your analysis, although you will likely use more. You must also include a sample communication in your final section and a references page at the end of the essay.

You must use a thesis statement to guide your essay. You must also use the provided rhetorical form to structure the essay. Guidelines on both are found below.

HOW: Gather your evidence in order to support your thesis.

• Read the case three times.

• First reading: Identify key facts, issues, themes, and characters.
• Second reading: Highlight text that discusses: Why is this such a severe crisis for Nuance?
• Third reading: Highlight text that discusses: What does the crisis tell us about Nuance’s organizational culture and standards of ethical communication?

• Write a thesis statement.

SUGGESTED THESIS MODEL

Nuance’s problem ________________________________________________________ caused by ______________________________________, ___________________________________, and _____________________________________ can be solved if ____________________________ does ____________________________________, _______________________________, and _________________________________________. (Feel free to list more causes and recommendations).

• Write a rough draft and support your thesis with references to the case and course readings.
• Make sure your rough draft and final draft uses the rhetorical arrangement written below.
• Be realistic about what can be communicated within the first 48 hours. Assume Nuance does not have a crisis communication plan in place.

Required Sections	Guidelines
I. Executive Summary	One to two paragraphs in length Summarize the critical events from the case that will be covered in the analysis Briefly identify the major problems facing the main player Summarize the recommended plan of action and include a brief justification of the recommended plan
II. Identification of Key Stakeholders	Identify the key players in the case Include stakeholders who are impacted because of the critical events For each key player, identify events in the case that the stakeholder finds troublesome and would consider a problem; in doing so, quote the case
III. Statement of the Problem	State the problems facing the main player Identify and link the symptoms and root causes of the problems Differentiate short term from long term problems Conclude with the decision facing the main player
IV. Causes of the Problem	Provide a detailed analysis of the problems identified in the Statement of the Problem In the analysis, apply theories and models from the text and/or readings Support conclusions and /or assumptions with specific references to the case and/or the readings
V. Brainstorm 2 or 3 Suggestions for Solutions:	Identify criteria to evaluate these solutions (i.e. time for implementation, communication strategies, acceptability to management) Explain each criteria in 1-2 sentences Brainstorm two or three possible suggestions for solutions Evaluate the pros and cons of each suggestion against the criteria listed Suggest additional pros/cons if appropriate Using models and theories, identify why you chose these suggestions, how they would work, and why
VI. Recommended Solution, Implementation and Justification: Choose one of your Brainstorm Solutions from Section V and DEVELOP and FINALIZE it here.	Identify who, what, when, and how in your recommended plan of action Solution and implementation should address the problems and causes identified in the earlier sections Evaluate the recommended plan via the criteria in the previous section Include a contingency plan(s) to back up the ‘ideal’ course of action Describe the difficulties you expect to encounter in actually implementing the course of action under consideration, including any new problems
VII. Appendix	Include a sample communication in this final section based on the recommendation being proposed, i.e. a Press Release, website notice, letter to target audience, etc.

• Read Case Study 2 – You Can’t Fire Me! Check Your Policy and answer the 4 questions that follow (pages 595 – 596)
• Read Case Study 1 – The New Union Battles: Public Union vs. Real World Governments and answer the 3 questions that follow (pages 642 – 644)

• 3–5 pages in length (excluding the cover page, abstract, and reference list)
• APA format,

Poli 1 Term Project: Solving the US Democracy in Crisis

Overview: Democracy allows/requires broad participation of a citizenry in order to

work properly.

One of the main themes of the course is to view the US political

system critically. Despite the ideals espoused by the Founders in the Constitution, the current reality is that US democracy is being challenged by a whole host of factors. Some would say US democracy is in decline and some would go further and say the US is no longer an effective democracy.

Your goal will be to take a problem-solving approach to the challenges facing US democracy today. You will explain how it challenges democracy. Then you will provide a solution and explain how it can restore/re-invigorate democracy in the US. You will give a step-by-step plan for achieving the goal, using what you have learned in class.

First step: Identify a problem facing US democracy

Examples of this include:

Structural: gerrymandering, money in politics, Senate filibuster

Two party system

Plurality, winner takes all

Closed Primaries

Too Many voters in a district

Media bias

Capitalism

and inequality

/wages/work conditions

Rise of White Nationalism

Electoral College

Voting

issues: fraud, suppression, too difficult to register to vote

Foreign Interference in Elections

Apathy/Cynicism

Lack of educated voters

Bicameral structure of congress/lack of term limits

Tax structure/spending priorities e.g. too much Defense spending

Climate change/environment

Racial/class differences in the US

Hyper-polarization

Some of the Trump administration policies. For example: violation of the

emoluments clause, assassination of Iran general without Congressional approval

(checks and balances), the Ukraine scandal, etc.

Other ways in which the Constitution is being tested today

Second step: Research potential solutions

You will conduct online research to find solutions and how we can effectuate the solution you’ve chosen to make the US more democratic.

Third Step: Midterm

1)Midterm –Prospectus, Outline, Bibliography (~2 pages, at least 1.5 pages):

•Recommended Format:

1. Intro paragraph/Thesis statement –what is the problem facing democracy you have selected and what is the solution?

2. Body paragraph #1: State problem facing democracy and why it is problematic to a working democracy

3. Body #2: Specific solution for the problem you’ve identified –why that solution/how does this solution improve the situation? Is it a policy? Constitutional change? Dependent on election result? Something requiring mass mobilization of people.

4. Body #3: Step by step plan for putting solution into action -the more detailed the better (and better grade)

•What are some potential obstacles that stand in way of plan coming together?

5. Conclusion

6. Bibliography –at least 6 sources properly cited in MLA/APA/APSA format

•Best outlines incorporate research into body of outline e.g.

quotes/citations –this shows me you are already thinking of where your research goes into your paper

•The more effort you put into the midterm the higher likelihood you have a stronger final version and grade on the final.

Chapter 8:

Problem 9.

Considering the following balance sheet for MMC Bancorp (in millions of dollar):

1. Calculate the value of MMC’s rate-sensitive assets, rate-sensitive liabilities, and repricing gap over the next year.
2. Calculate the expected change in the net interest income for the bank if interest rates rise by 1 percent on both RSAs and RSLs and if interest rates fall by 1 percent on both RSAs and RSLs.
3. Calculate the expected change in the net interest income for the bank if interest rates rise by 1.2 percent on RSAs and by 1 percent on RSLs and if interest rates fall by 1.2 percent on RSAs and by 1 percent on RSLs.

Problem 15.

Consider the following balance sheet for WatchoverU Savings, Inc. (in millions):

Assets		Liabilities and Equity
Floating-rate mortgages		1-year time deposits
(currently 10% annually)	$50	(currently 6% annually)	$70
30-year fixed-rate loans		3-year time deposits
(currently 7% annually) $50	$50	(currently 7% annually)	$20
		Equity	$10
Total assets	$100	Total liabilities & equity	$100

1. What is WatchoverU’s expected net interest income (for year 2) at year-end?
2. What will expected net interest income (for year 2) be at year-end if interest rates rise by 2 percent?
3. Using the cumulative repricing gap model, what is the expected net interest income (for year 2) for a 2 percent increase in interest rates?
4. What will net interest income (for year 2) be at year-end if interest rates on RSAs increase by 2 percent but interest rates on RSLs increase by 1 percent? Is it reasonable for changes in interest rates on RSAs and RSLs to differ? Why?

Problem 18.

A bank has the following balance sheet:

Assets		Avg. Rate	Liabilities/Equity		Avg. Rate
Rate sensitive	$550,000	7.75%	Rate sensitive	$575,000	6.25%
Fixed rate	755,000	8.75	Fixed rate	605,000	7.50
Nonearning	265,000		Nonpaying	390,000
Total	$1,570,000		Total	$1,570,000

Suppose interest rates fall such that the average yield on rate-sensitive assets decreases by 15 basis points and the average yield on rate-sensitive liabilities decreases by 5 basis points.

1. Calculate the bank’s CGAP and gap ratio.
2. Assuming the bank does not change the composition of its balance sheet, calculate the resulting change in the bank’s interest income, interest expense, and net interest income.
3. The bank’s CGAP is negative and interest rates decreased, yet net interest income decreased. Explain how the CGAP and spread effects influenced this decrease in net interest income.

Chapter 9:

Problem 17.

The duration of an 11-year, $1,000 Treasury bond paying a 10 percent semiannual coupon and selling at par has been estimated at 6.763 years.

1. What is the modified duration of the bond? What is the dollar duration of the bond?
2. What will be the estimated price change on the bond if interest rates increase 0.10 percent (10 basis points)? If rates decrease 0.20 percent (20 basis points)?
3. What would the actual price of the bond be under each rate change situation in part (b) using the traditional present value bond pricing techniques? What is the amount of error in each case?

Problem 21.

Two banks are being examined by regulators to determine the interest rate sensitivity of their balance sheets. Bank A has assets composed solely of a 10-year $1 million loan with a coupon rate and yield of 12 percent. The loan is financed with a 10-year $1 million CD with a coupon rate and yield of 10 percent. Bank B has assets composed solely of a 7-year, 12 percent zero-coupon bond with a current (market) value of $894,006.20 and a maturity (principal) value of $1,976,362.88. The bond is financed with a 10-year, 8.275 percent coupon $1,000,000 face value CD with a yield to maturity of 10 percent. The loan and the CDs pay interest annually, with principal due at maturity.

1. If market interest rates increase 1 percent (100 basis points), how do the market values of the assets and liabilities of each bank change? That is, what will be the net affect on the market value of the equity for each bank?
2. What accounts for the differences in the changes in the market value of equity between the two banks?
3. Verify your results above by calculating the duration for the assets and liabilities of each bank, and estimate the changes in value for the expected change in interest rates. Summarize your results.

Problem 24.

The balance sheet for Gotbucks Bank, Inc. (GBI), is presented below ($ millions):

Assets		Liabilities and Equity
Cash	$30	Core deposits	$20
Federal funds	20	Federal funds	50
50 Loans (floating)	105	Euro CDs	130
Loans (fixed)	65	Equity	20
Total assets	$220	Total liabilities & equity	$220

Notes to the balance sheet: The fed funds rate is 8.5 percent, the floating loan rate is LIBOR + 4 percent, and currently LIBOR is 11 percent. Fixed rate loans have five-year maturities, are priced at par, and pay 12 percent annual interest. The principal is repaid at maturity. Core deposits are fixed rate for two years at 8 percent paid annually. The principal is repaid at maturity. Euros currently yield 9 percent.