Final Paper

Final Term Paper

There are two options to choose from for the final term paper assignment.

Option 1: Build an ideal government agency or non-profit organization using perspectives learned throughout the semester. Include clear connections between all course learning objectives and module perspectives while engaging in analysis in your paper.

Option 2: Take an already existing government agency or non-profit organization using perspectives learned throughout the semester and provide suggestions on how the organization could fix perceived or real problems that it is having. Include clear connections between all course learning objectives and module perspectives while engaging in analysis in your paper.

Paper Requirements:

This paper should be double spaced, size 12 point, Times New Roman font, include a title page, and follow APA guidelines.  This paper should also be 15 – 20 pages in length.

Note 1: You should consider creating a thesis statement in introduction of term paper, regardless of aforementioned option selected. In essence, the thesis introduces the main 

perspective of your term paper. Additionally, students should consider explaining the purpose and reasoning for research and analysis pertaining to aforementioned option selected.

Note 2:  You are encouraged to use secondary resources in the term paper. You must also properly cite sources when using secondary data. For information on APA guidelines

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL 1

RESEARCH PROPOSAL 2

Research Proposal

Holland Stooksbury

Dalton State College

Research Proposal (Option 2)

Introduction 

Today, the United States Postal Services (USPS) organization is slowly failing. This is happening at a time when its competitors such as the UPS are making billions of profit every year despite the increase in the use of e-mails. Although the organization is not a profit-making business but an agency to deliver quality services to the public, its management has led to its decline. In the USPS, the labor cost is about 80 percent of its revenue as compared to 53 percent of its competitor such as the UPS. Also, the organization has failed to deliver the value and quality of services the customers’ demands as compared to its competitors in the private sector. Although the prices of USPS are relatively low, its ability to satisfy customers has diminished over the years. This research paper will aim to address the two most significant issues facing USPS which are financial success and customer satisfaction. The paper will apply the knowledge gained from class and provide suggestions on how to fix these problems. 

Annotated Bibliography

Leonard, D. (2016). Neither Snow Nor Rain: A History of the United States Postal Service. Open Road+ Grove/Atlantic.

The USPS was created in 1775 during the Second Continental Congress. Its first postmaster was Benjamin Franklin. However, the Post Office Department was established in 1792 after the enactment of the Postal Service Act. USPS was then established as a cabinet-level department in 1872 and reorganized as the USPS in 1970, which was an independent agency. The USPS was created to provide service to all Americans regardless of their location at the same price and quality. This book discusses the various development that the USPS has undergone since it was established up to date and the different issues and challenges that it has and still facing today.

Lawson, A. D. (2020). Deploying the right technology: a framework for digital strategy and selection at the United States Postal Service to shape the future of work (Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Today, the evolution of advanced technology has increased the ease of information. This has impacted some certain government institutions such as the USPS which deals with mails delivery. To stay competitive, such institutions must deploy transformational technology that will lead to the improvement of services delivered and reduce financial losses. The issue of effective public management in this institution has always come up as a concern. Today, government institutions have resulted in the use of business principles to effectively manage the organization and ensure the appropriate use of the limited resources allocated. The USPS should not be left behind in this race to deliver quality postal services to Americans. To achieve this, they need to make changes in the way they manage the organization.

Valera, G. E. (2017). Quantitative methods for testing pricing strategies at the United States Postal Service (Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Due to the increased competition in the United States shipping business, the USPS has found itself disadvantaged in terms of profitability. Generally, the USPS is a government organization that is focused on service delivery and less on profit-making. However, to stay competitive the USPS needs to make a profit. The best way to do that is through its pricing which is always lower than other shipping companies in the private sector such as the UPS. This means the incorporation of business principles in its operations like the private organization. A Collection of optimization methods and techniques that the USPS can utilize should be developed to improve its effectiveness in service delivery to the public. 

Edwards, C. (2016). Privatizing the US Postal Service. Cato Tax and Budget Bulletin, (75).

The privatization of the USPS can be deemed as an alternative solution to prevent the agency from failing in its mandate to deliver services to the American people. This means that the USPS will be at the same level of competition as other private mails companies such as the UPS. This article argues that privatization of the USPS will save it from poor management and financial losses that it has been experiencing over the past years. This is crucial especially during this period of technological advancement in information sharing methods via the internet. The move will improve the effectiveness of the corporation and its ability to deliver quality services to the public. 

Statement of the problem

Today, the exchange of information has changed significantly causing the USPS management problems that have not correctly met the demands of its customers. When compared to its competitors in the private sector, USPS is lagging in terms of technology and expertise to deliver quality services to Americans. I chose this topic as I feel additional research is required to better understand the contemporary challenges that are facing the USPS and in what ways can they be fixed to allow for improvement in the agency. 

Purpose of the study 

The study proposes to examine the various financial and managerial challenges that the USPS organization is facing and what can be done to fix those problems. Over the years, the USPS as being registering some amount of financial losses due to poor performance, and this has been largely due to stiff competition from corporations in the private sectors. Customer satisfaction has also contributed t the woes of USPS regardless of its relatively lower rates. Poor management in the organization especially by individuals who are out to serve their self-interests and not of the public has led to the agency lagging in terms of modernization and technological advancement. Thus, studying effective public administration methods can help in improving the management of the agency which will in turn improve customer satisfaction and increase its profit and competitiveness. 

Significance of the study

This study is important to discern the various financial and management problems that face the USPS. The study is further aimed at coming up with ways in which the raised issues can be addressed to increase its effectiveness in service delivery to all Americans. The objective is to contribute additional knowledge about the various ways in which the USPS can be organized to secure its future in the service and delivery of mails to Americans. The aim is to also devise ways in which the USPS can improve its financial situations and increase customer satisfaction when using its services. Internet information sharing has become widespread today and the advance in technology has affected how mails business is carried out. This is relevant to the USPS in that it is a public organization that needs to improve its services in serving the American people, as it is its responsibility. Understanding how to improve its management to reach a high competitive level is key for its current and future operations. 

Methodology

This research will take the form of a qualitative study approach. To gain more insight into the topic of study, a quantitative data collection method will be used. The study will collect data from previous and existing works done by other scholars on the same subject and build on it to impact additional knowledge on the subject. the use of existing or previous work in data collection is used as it provides a wide variety of publications and information covering a wider perspective of the study topic.  

References

Edwards, C. (2016). Privatizing the US Postal Service. Cato Tax and Budget Bulletin, (75).
Lawson, A. D. (2020). Deploying the right technology: a framework for digital strategy and selection at the United States Postal Service to shape the future of work (Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
Leonard, D. (2016). Neither Snow Nor Rain: A History of the United States Postal Service. Open Road+ Grove/Atlantic.
Valera, G. E. (2017). Quantitative methods for testing pricing strategies at the United States Postal Service (Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology).