The Effectiveness of Rain Gardens as a Low-Impact Development Strategy for Storm Water Pollution Reduction in Western Washington

Stormwater runoff is a major cause of surface water pollution in western Washington and cost-effective control measures are needed to reduce contamination of receiving waters. This project evaluated the performance efficiency and costs of installing a residential rain garden by inspecting two gardens and testing water quality samples in one. Infiltration through the garden was effective in reducing metals and nutrients as indicated by reductions in copper and nitrate concentrations of 75% and 97%, respectively. The costs were affordable for most homeowners and cost-effective compared to other options. After doing on-site investigations, the storm water manual for the State of Washington was reviewed and eight recommendations were made for improving it.

Manager Training and Development Strategy: A Methodology to Link Strategic Initiatives at Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University has developed and implemented a strategic plan and performance development initiative for 2007-2017. In concert with the strategic plan and performance development initiative, supportive manager core competencies have been identified. The deliverable for this capstone project is a documented methodology that supports the strategy for the design and implementation of a manager training and development program that ensures needed competencies are available. The author uses survey data to determine training needs and priorities and, through a review of literature, investigates effective strategies to arrive at a successful implementation methodology. The author presents findings and conclusions regarding design implementation methodology for manager training and development.

Human Resource's Role in Leveraging Knowledge Management as a Competitive Advantage

The ultra-competitiveness in the twenty-first century's business environment suggests that, to survive, human resource (HR) must prove its value. The knowledge economy presents HR the opportunity to demonstrate its added value through leveraging knowledge management (KM) as a competitive advantage. This capstone reviews the literature on business strategy, knowledge, KM, KM success, and HR to reveal links between these subjects and illustrate three roles HR can undertake to leverage KM as a competitive advantage. The capstone also assesses HR's current contributions to KM through a survey of 42 HR professionals. Survey results suggest that, although HR contributes to the three KM roles, HR is not currently fully capitalizing on the opportunity to become a strategic business partner through KM.