BUSI 645 is Liberty's MBA course in compensation management. Its written work is four forums (a 500-word thread with two citations and two 250-word replies with two sources each), three 3 to 4-page case studies with five scholarly sources, and a group project of at least 1,000 words examining three course topics through a Christian worldview, with an outline and individual replies.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as BUSI 645 Compensation Management, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as BUSI645.
What BUSI 645 covers
The catalog description: The course will focus on the critical issues related to the strategic management of the organization's compensation and benefit system. Topics discussed will include the components and strategic analysis of compensation systems, bases for pay, designing compensation systems, legally required and discretionary employee benefits, and contemporary strategic compensation challenges. Students will learn to apply tools for decision-making complex, compensation related environments, as well as design, develop, and implement compensation strategies that achieve value-added results, thereby enabling organizations to more effectively and efficiently achieve their goals.
The course addresses the strategic management of an organization's compensation and benefits: the components and strategic analysis of compensation systems, bases for pay, designing compensation systems, legally required and discretionary benefits, and contemporary compensation challenges. Students learn decision tools for complex compensation environments and how to design and implement strategies that add value. The text is Martocchio, Strategic Compensation: A Human Resource Management Approach.
The open-book midterm and final exams (40 multiple-choice questions each, 100 points apiece) have no guide here. Week 1 runs Monday to Friday and Weeks 2 to 8 run Saturday to Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Martocchio, Strategic Compensation (2017). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
BUSI 645 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 100 | Thread at least 500 words; replies at least 250 words |
| 2 | Case Study 1 | 100 | 3 to 4 full pages |
| 3 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 100 | Thread at least 500 words; replies at least 250 words |
| 4 | Case Study 2 | 100 | 3 to 4 full pages |
| 5 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 100 | Thread at least 500 words; replies at least 250 words |
| 5 | Group Project Outline | 10 | 1-page outline plus a reference page |
| 6 | Case Study 3 | 100 | 3 to 4 full pages |
| 7 | Group Project Final | 90 | At least 1,000 words; replies at least 250 words each |
| 8 | Discussion Board Forum 4 | 100 | Thread at least 500 words; replies at least 250 words |
Week 1: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 500-word thread supported by 2 APA citations, then two 250-word replies citing 2 sources each. How to write BUSI 645 Week 1 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: Case Study 1
Answer the case questions in 3 to 4 full pages with at least 5 scholarly sources. How to write BUSI 645 Week 2 Case Study 1.
Week 3: Discussion Board Forum 2
A 500-word thread with 2 citations and two 250-word replies with 2 sources each. How to write BUSI 645 Week 3 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 4: Case Study 2
Answer the case questions in 3 to 4 full pages with at least 5 scholarly sources. How to write BUSI 645 Week 4 Case Study 2.
Week 5: Discussion Board Forum 3
A 500-word thread with 2 citations and two 250-word replies with 2 sources each. How to write BUSI 645 Week 5 Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 5: Group Project Outline
A 1-page outline of the group project on an approved topic, with a tentative reference page of at least 5 scholarly sources. How to write BUSI 645 Week 5 Group Project Outline.
Week 6: Case Study 3
Answer the case questions in 3 to 4 full pages with at least 5 scholarly sources. How to write BUSI 645 Week 6 Case Study 3.
Week 7: Group Project Final
A group paper of at least 1,000 words with 5 scholarly sources discussing at least 3 course topics through a Christian worldview, then individual 250-word replies to 2 other groups. How to write BUSI 645 Week 7 Group Project Final.
Week 8: Discussion Board Forum 4
A 500-word thread with 2 citations and two 250-word replies with 2 sources each. How to write BUSI 645 Week 8 Discussion Board Forum 4.
How BUSI 645 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The four forums are 100 each (400), the three case studies 100 each (300), the group project outline 10 and final 90, the midterm and final exams 100 each and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Forums (4) | 400 |
| Case Studies (3) | 300 |
| Group Project Outline | 10 |
| Group Project Final | 90 |
| Midterm Exam | 100 |
| Final Exam | 100 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Module/Week one begins on Monday and ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday. Modules/Weeks 2-8 begin on Saturday and end at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach BUSI 645
Each case study needs five scholarly sources in 3 to 4 pages, so build a library of compensation research early.
Groups are assigned at random; the outline is due in Week 5 and the final in Week 7, followed by individual replies to two other groups.
Questions students ask
What is the BUSI 645 group project?
A group paper of at least 1,000 words with at least 5 scholarly sources discussing at least 3 key course topics through the lens of a Christian worldview, preceded by a 1-page outline with a tentative reference page of 5 scholarly sources; each student then replies to 2 other groups with at least 250 words.
How long are BUSI 645 case studies?
3 to 4 full pages with at least 5 scholarly sources in current APA, answering the case questions or the questions in the assignment prompt.
Working through BUSI 645 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.