Sample Prompt:

Choose a definition of organizational culture, and explain whether you agree or disagree with the definition. Use examples from your own professional experience to support your response.

Response:

Whitehurst (2016) explained “organizational culture is defined by how people in an organization interact with each other” (para. 2). While I agree that this is one aspect of organizational culture, the definition does not capture the complex factors that contribute to organizational culture. When I started my first job after finishing my undergraduate degree in business, I worked for an organization whose main headquarters were in Dubai. When I traveled to Dubai for the first time, I realized that the culture of the Dubai office was largely influenced by the society’s culture in Dubai. I found that the organization lacked one cohesive culture and that, depending on regional locations, each office had its own culture. Watkins (2013) noted in his research that international organizations often face many challenges in maintaining a cohesive organizational culture. I found this observation to be true in my experience. For example, the Dubai office seemed to endow their employees with more allowance for self-direction when compared with our domestic offices. Although people’s interactions with one another contributed to the organization’s culture, there were other factors such as location, management style, and societal norms that impacted a business culture as well.

References (Note: These are included at the end of a Written Response Assessment but are included here as an example of an accurate APA citation.)

Watkins, M. D. (2013, May 15). What is organizational culture? And why should we care? Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2013/05/what-is-organizational-culture

Whitehurst, J. (2016, October 13). Leaders can shape company culture through their behaviors. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2016/10/leaders-can-shape-company-culture-through-their-behaviors

0

Missing

1

Needs Improvement

2

Meets Expectations

Sub-Competency 1: Analyze working relationships of organizations in criminal justice

Why did the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department contact the Diagnostic Center? (2–3 paragraphs)

LO1.1: Explain why the police department and the Diagnostic Center are working together.

Explanation of why the police department and the Diagnostic Center are working together is not present.

Response does not include an explanation of why the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department contacted the Diagnostic Center.

Response does not include at least two issues the police department is currently facing.

Response does not include at least two positive outcomes the police department wants to accomplish from contacting the Diagnostic Center.

Response includes a short background of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, including two positive outcomes the department is currently experiencing.

Response includes an explanation of why the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department contacted the Diagnostic Center.

Response includes at least two issues the police department is currently facing.

Response includes at least two positive outcomes the police department wants to accomplish from contacting the Diagnostic Center.

Describe the Diagnostic Center in terms of who they are and what they do? (2–3 paragraphs)

LO1.2: Describe a Diagnostic Center.

Description of the Diagnostic Center is not present.

Description does not adequately describe the Diagnostic Center in your own words.

Response does not include a description of the Diagnostic Team.

Response does not include a description of at least three things the Diagnostic Team performs.

Description adequately describes the Diagnostic Center in your own words.

Response includes a description of the Diagnostic Team.

Response includes a description of at least three things the Diagnostic Team performs.

Sub-Competency 2: Analyze data-driven evidence-based decision models

Identify and explain the three-step process used by the Diagnostic Center (2–3 paragraphs)

LO2.1: Explain the three-step process used by the Diagnostic Center.

Description of the three-step process used by the Diagnostic Center is not present.

Description does not identify the three-step process used by the Diagnostic Center.

Description does not explain the three-step process in detail.

Description does not explain why the three-step process is effective.

Description identifies the three-step process used by the Diagnostic Center.

Description explains the three-step process in detail.

Description explains why the three-step process is effective.

The three-step process is depicted in a chart.

Sub-Competency 3: Analyze jail population management

What were the factors that contributed to the issue of jail population management? (3–4 paragraphs)

LO3.1: Explain factors that contribute to jail population management.

Explanation of six factors that contributed to the issue of jail population management is not present.

Description does not identify six factors that contributed to the issue of jail population management for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Description does not explain the six factors in detail.

Description identifies six factors that contributed to the issue of jail population management for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Description explains the six factors in detail.

LO3.2: Analyze violations and offenses in the jail populations.

Identification of highest and lowest types of violations or offenses in the jail population are not present.

Description does not identify the highest and lowest types of violations or offenses in the jail population.

Description does not explain why it is important to examine the types of violations or offenses for jail population management.

Description identifies the highest and lowest types of violations or offenses in the jail population.

Description explains why it is important to examine the types of violations or offenses for jail population management.

Response includes a comparison of the highest and lowest types of violations or offenses in jail populations of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to another reputable study (or your current or past workplace).

Sub-Competency 4: Analyze evidence-based programs and practices

What evidence-based programs and practices were recommended to address this issue. (3–4 paragraphs)

LO4.1: Analyze evidence-based programs and best practices for jail population management.

Description of evidence-based programs and best practices for jail population management is not present.

Description does not explain two evidence-based programs and practices recommended for addressing jail population management.

Description does not explain the recommended evidence-based programs and practices in detail.

Description does not include at least two positive outcomes of using evidence-based programs and practices for addressing jail population management.

Response is not relevant to the case study.

Description explains two evidence-based programs and practices recommended for addressing jail population management.

Description explains the recommended evidence-based programs and practices in detail.

Description includes at least two positive outcomes of using evidence-based programs and practices for addressing jail population management.

Response includes at least one additional recommendation to address jail population management not discussed in this case study.

Response is relevant to the case study.

Applied and Collaborative Learning: Apply knowledge and skills in collaboration with others to solve authentic problems.

0

Not Present

1

Needs Improvement

2

Meets Expectations

LO1: Recognize how compromise, mutual respect, and shared responsibility help people achieve a common goal.

Evidence of recognition is not present.

Evidence of recognition is unclear or incomplete.

Response includes evidence that demonstrates recognition of how compromise, mutual respect, and shared responsibility help people achieve a common goal.

LO2: Apply collaboration skills to create workable solutions to complex problems.

Application is not present.

Response applies inappropriate collaboration skills or the collaboration results in inappropriate or unrealistic solutions.

Response generally applies relevant and appropriate collaboration skills to create workable solutions to complex problems.

Information Literacy: Apply strategies to evaluate information in order to effectively analyze issues and make decisions.

0

Not Present

1

Needs Improvement

2

Meets Expectations

LO1: Identify and locate credible sources.

No sources or non-credible sources are present.

Sources are inconsistently credible, appropriate, and relevant to the topic and/or assessment.

Sources are mostly credible, appropriate, and relevant to the topic and/or assessment.

LO2: Analyze information sources.

Analysis is not present.

Analysis superficially applies aspects of sources that are most relevant to the topic and/or assessment and/or analysis is unclear.

Analysis thoroughly and clearly applies aspects of sources that are most relevant to the topic and/or assessment.

LO3: Synthesize information from multiple, credible sources.

Synthesis is not present.

Synthesis demonstrates a vague connection between multiple sources and/or the topic.

Synthesis demonstrates a clear and cohesive connection between multiple sources and/or ideas to support a given topic.

Interpreting Data and Quantitative Fluency: Interpret quantitative data in order to analyze issues and make decisions.

0

Not Present

1

Needs Improvement

2

Meets Expectations

LO1: Identify conclusions from numeric information presented in narrative and/or graphic form.

No conclusions are made based on numeric information.

Connections between conclusions and numeric information are vague or inaccurate.

Conclusions identified are appropriately connected to the numeric information.

LO2: Use both narrative and graphic form to explain the same data.

Graphs and/or narrative is not present.

Supportive connection between narrative and graph is not clearly explained.

Narrative explanation of quantitative data explains the graph and the graph illustrates and clarifies the narrative.

LO3: Use quantitative data as evidence for a decision or recommendation.

Quantitative evidence is not used.

Quantitative evidence does not support or is superfluous to the recommendation or decision.

Argument for a decision or recommendation incorporates appropriate quantitative data as evidence.

Mastery Rubric 

No 

Yes 

Exceeds Expectations: Uses data and statistics to support evaluation and improvement of criminal justice services, policies, and practices. 

LO1: Analyze research and data.

The written responses do not demonstrate a strong understanding of how to analyze research and data from evidence-based resources.

The written responses demonstrate a strong understanding of how to analyze research and data from evidence-based resources.