Group project

Project Overview Your company operates in a business environment where hybrid and flexible work arrangements are standard, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly used to support productivity, communication, and decision-making. While these developments offer significant benefits, the company lacks a cohesive strategy for managing flexible work and the responsible use of AI across departments. As a result: Flexible work policies are applied inconsistently Employees are unclear about expectations and accountability Productivity and collaboration vary widely Managers are unsure how to integrate AI tools ethically and effectively Concerns have emerged regarding fairness, transparency, and employee trust You have been assigned to a cross-functional team tasked with evaluating current flexible work practices and proposing a sustainable hybrid work strategy that thoughtfully incorporates AI tools and evidence-based research. Your proposal will be presented to the President and senior leadership team. Project Objectives Working as a team, you will: Analyze hybrid and flexible work challenges using academic research Evaluate how AI tools can support productivity, collaboration, and management Develop a clear, equitable flexible work framework Apply peer-reviewed research to justify strategic recommendations Present a professional, research-informed proposal to leadership Required Research Component Each team must incorporate academic, peer-reviewed research into their analysis and recommendations. Research Requirements Minimum of 3 peer-reviewed academic sources Examples: journals such as Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Business Research, Personnel Psychology Sources should address at least two of the following: Hybrid or remote work effectiveness Employee productivity and engagement Management practices in flexible work environments Organizational culture and trust AI in the workplace Expectations Research must be integrated, not summarized in isolation Findings should directly support recommendations Proper citations required in APA 7 format Key Areas to Address 1. Current State Assessment Existing flexible work arrangements Common challenges faced by employees and managers Use (or lack) of AI tools across departments Research-backed insights on current issues 2. Hybrid & Flexible Work Framework Clear definitions (remote, hybrid, in-office expectations) Eligibility and role-based flexibility considerations Scheduling norms and communication expectations Research evidence supporting proposed structure 3. AI in the Flexible Workplace (Required Component) Your team must evaluate how AI tools can be used responsibly and effectively. Consider: Examples of AI tools (e.g., scheduling assistants, project management AI, data analysis, writing support, customer service tools) Benefits of AI for: Productivity Collaboration Decision-making Risks and challenges: Bias and fairness Data privacy and security Over-reliance on AI Employee trust and transparency Your recommendations should include guidelines for ethical and appropriate AI use, supported by academic or professional research. 4. Productivity & Performance Management Measuring performance in hybrid environments Outcome-based vs. time-based evaluation How AI may support performance tracking (without micromanagement) Research-backed best practices 5. Equity, Inclusion, and Employee Well-Being Ensuring fairness across flexible and non-flexible roles Accessibility considerations Preventing burnout and isolation Research findings related to well-being and engagement 6. Manager & Employee Responsibilities Manager training for hybrid leadership and AI oversight Clear expectations for employees Ongoing evaluation and feedback processes Evidence-based leadership practices Project Deliverables 1. Final Written Report A professional business report (58 pages double spaced recommended) including: Executive summary Literature-informed analysis of challenges Hybrid work and AI strategy recommendations Ethical considerations Implementation and evaluation plan Excluding the Title and References page with peer-reviewed sources 2. PowerPoint Presentation A 1015 slide executive presentation summarizing: Key problems and research insights Proposed hybrid and AI strategy Benefits, risks, and mitigation strategies Strategic value to the organization 3. Individual Team Member Assessment Each student will submit: Description of individual contributions Reflection on teamwork and leadership Summary of how research or AI was used in their work AI Use Disclosure Requirement Students must include a short statement in the final report explaining: Whether AI tools were used in research, writing, or analysis How AI supported (but did not replace) critical thinking Steps taken to verify accuracy and originality Assignment Details The report will be a minimum of 6 pages (not including the cover page), in 12pt font, double-spaced. Business language should be used and proper grammar and punctuation are required. The final report should address the following; Project overview and problem statement Expected Workplace Norms Standards of Professionalism Supporting the corporate culture Legal issues Technology Use the materials provided in the content modules of this course as a guide to identifying the issues that need to be addressed in each of these areas. The recommendations provided need to be supported by facts and/or data available. The work products will be the result of the unique work of the team. Any external sources used to support the team’s recommendations must be properly cited. Broward College Logo