September 24, 2025

Soft Power in Policing

Soft Power in Policing

Abstract

The increasing complexity of transnational crime necessitates strong international policing cooperation. While hard power mechanisms such as treaties and direct enforcement are often emphasized, soft power strategies—including officer exchange programs, training initiatives, and informal diplomatic agreements—play a crucial role in fostering long-term trust and collaboration. This thesis examines how non-coercive mechanisms such as international policing summits, best practice sharing, and intelligence cooperation enhance operational coordination among law enforcement agencies. By analyzing case studies from organizations such as INTERPOL, Europol, and regional policing bodies, the research assesses the effectiveness of these soft power approaches in improving cross-border policing. It also explores the challenges associated with implementing such strategies, including political, legal, and cultural barriers. The study aims to provide policy recommendations for strengthening global policing partnerships through diplomacy, training, and voluntary cooperation.

Keywords: Soft power, international policing, cross-border cooperation, training, officer exchanges, security collaboration.

Soft Power in Policing

Introduction

Soft power refers to a state’s ability to influence other actors through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion or force. While traditionally associated with foreign policy and cultural diplomacy, soft power has gained relevance in the domain of international policing. Given the rise of transnational crime networks, terrorism, and cyber threats, there is a growing need for non-coercive approaches to enhance security cooperation across borders. Many law enforcement agencies engage in training programs, officer exchanges, and best practice-sharing initiatives to improve interoperability and trust between countries. These soft power methods complement existing legal and enforcement-based frameworks by fostering long-term collaboration and information sharing.

This research explores how soft power mechanisms are used in cross-border policing, examining their effectiveness and potential limitations. The study investigates international policing bodies’ roles in facilitating voluntary cooperation and informal agreements, which help build sustainable security partnerships.

Research Statement

Policing cooperation at the international level often relies on legally binding agreements and enforcement mechanisms. However, these approaches face challenges such as jurisdictional constraints, diplomatic tensions, and resource limitations. Soft power strategies, including knowledge exchange, training initiatives, and informal partnerships, offer alternative means to enhance cross-border policing collaboration. Existing research primarily focuses on formal treaties and legal frameworks but lacks a comprehensive analysis of soft power’s role in shaping global security partnerships. This study seeks to fill that gap by exploring how non-coercive measures contribute to effective international policing.

Research Objectives

1. To analyze the role of soft power in enhancing international policing cooperation.

2. To evaluate the effectiveness of training programs, officer exchanges, and best practice-sharing initiatives.

3. To examine the role of informal agreements and policing summits in fostering long-term trust and collaboration.

4. To identify challenges and barriers to implementing soft power strategies in cross-border policing.

5. To provide policy recommendations for improving global policing cooperation through soft power initiatives.

Research Questions

1. How do soft power strategies contribute to cross-border policing cooperation?

2. What role do officer exchanges, training programs, and international policing summits play in fostering collaboration?

3. What challenges hinder the effectiveness of soft power approaches in law enforcement?

4. How do organizations such as INTERPOL and Europol leverage soft power in their security partnerships?

5. What policy measures can enhance the role of soft power in global policing cooperation?

Literature Review

The concept of soft power, introduced by Joseph Nye, emphasizes the ability of states and institutions to influence others through attraction rather than coercion. In policing, soft power manifests through training programs, cultural exchanges, and informal networks that facilitate trust-building among international law enforcement agencies. Studies on policing cooperation highlight the effectiveness of legally binding agreements, but recent research suggests that non-coercive mechanisms play a crucial role in sustaining long-term collaborations. This section will review existing literature on soft power in international security, cross-border policing mechanisms, and case studies of organizations employing soft power strategies.

Theoretical Framework

This study is grounded in Joseph Nye’s soft power theory, which underscores the importance of persuasion over coercion. Additionally, theories of transnational policing cooperation and international relations frameworks on voluntary agreements and trust-building will be explored. By applying these theories, the research will assess how non-coercive strategies contribute to effective cross-border policing.

Methodology / Data Collection

This thesis will adopt a qualitative case study approach, analyzing data from primary and secondary sources. Primary data will include interviews with law enforcement officials, policy reports from organizations such as INTERPOL and Europol, and summit records. Secondary data will consist of academic journal articles, books, and official documents on international policing cooperation.

Limitations of the Research

1. Access to Primary Data: Some law enforcement reports may be classified or restricted.

2. Dynamic Nature of Policing Strategies: International security cooperation constantly evolves, which may limit the study’s applicability over time.

3. Comparative Analysis Challenges: Differences in policing structures across regions may complicate comparisons.

Soft Power in Policing

Initial Research Plan

· Phase 1 (Months 1-2): Literature review and theoretical framework development.

· Phase 2 (Months 2-4): Data collection from primary and secondary sources.

· Phase 3 (Months 4-6): Data analysis and comparative evaluation.

· Phase 4 (Months 6-7): Writing the thesis and integrating findings.

· Phase 5 (Month 8): Revising and finalizing the thesis.

Expected Outcomes

This research will provide insights into the role of soft power in cross-border policing and highlight best practices for enhancing international security cooperation. It aims to contribute to policy discussions on improving voluntary policing collaborations through training, officer exchanges, and informal agreements. The findings will offer recommendations for strengthening soft power strategies in global policing partnerships

References

1. Nye, J. S. (2004). Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. Public Affairs.

2. Wilson III, E. J. (2008). Hard power, soft power, smart power. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 616(1), 110-124.

3. RAND Corporation. (2022). Security Cooperation in a Strategic Competition. RAND Research Report.

4. Nye, J. S. (2021). Soft power: the evolution of a concept. Journal of Political Power, 14(1), 196-208.

5. Lai, H., & Lu, Y. (Eds.). (2012). China’s Soft Power and International Relations. Routledge.

6. Hunter, A. (2009). Soft Power: China on the Global Stage. Chinese Journal of International Politics, 2(3), 373-398.

7. Frontiers in Human Dynamics. (2023). Informal Agreements and Quasi-Legal Mechanisms in EU-Africa Cooperation on Migration.

8. American Progress. (2023). The Expanding International Reach of China’s Police.

9. Jstor.org. (2006). Does Soft Power Matter? A Comparative Analysis of Student Exchange Programs 1980–2006.

10. Cultural Diplomacy. (2021). The New Public Diplomacy: Soft Power in International Relations.

11. Zaiotti, R. (2023). Border Crossings as Soft Power: International Relations, Digital Diplomacy and the ‘Border Control Museum Complex’. International Journal of Migration and Border Studies.

12. Mutz, D. C., & Simmons, B. A. (2022). The Psychology of Separation: Border Walls, Soft Power, and International Neighborliness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

13. Gallagher, N. A. (2022). Esteem and Influence: Soft Power in International Politics. Global Affairs.

14. Tsourapas, G. (2020). Soft Power and Cross-Border Mobility in the Middle East. International Journal of Middle East Studies.

15. Lacy, M. J., & Mabon, S. (2023). Unlocking the Whole of Soft Power: A Quantum International Relations Approach. Global Affairs.

How do soft power strategies contribute to cross-border policing cooperation?,
What role do officer exchanges, training programs, and international policing summits play in fostering collaboration?,
What challenges hinder the effectiveness of soft power approaches in law enforcement?,
How do organizations such as INTERPOL and Europol leverage soft power in their security partnerships?,
What policy measures can enhance the role of soft power in global policing cooperation?

September 23, 2025

Student Records Design

By Academic Wizard Blog

Student Records Design

A prestigious university has recently implemented a consolidation strategy that will require it to centralize their student records. In order to move forward, the local university will need to develop a data model that will retain student records and perform various data extract transform and load (ETL) processes. Imagine that you have been hired as a database consultant to assist in the development of a data design strategy for the student records.

You met with various university subject matter experts and have determined the following after performing various business analysis processes:

Faculty groups are divided by core competencies that the university offers. For example, there are groups such as the art faculty, computer technology faculty, language faculty, and science faculty. Each faculty member has an assigned dean and is designated to teach at one particular campus and school. They are able to teach as many courses as required.
Courses are categorized by course code and title. Certain courses have prerequisites and the university has asked for this to be cataloged as well.
There are various schools within each campus. For example, the Los Angeles campus holds the following schools: School of Science, School of Law, and School of Computer Technology. Additionally, each school offers different professional study programs, such as Forensic Computer Science, Marine Biology, Business Management, and Civil Engineering, to name a few.
The study path for students requires that they be enrolled in a specific professional study program. The professional study program requires the students to complete a specific set of core courses. The university also requires that an online grade book be available. The online grade book should show grades awarded to students for specific courses and the term they completed the course.
The university identifies each student by their name, date of birth, social, and professional study program.

Instructions

Using these findings, write a 3–4 page paper in which you: Student Records Design

Analyze the university’s requirements and provide a proposal to organize all the required data elements. The proposal should include the following:
- Provide an entity relationship model (ERM) that will describe the data structure that will store all data elements. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length.
- Describe any assumptions or limitations for each relationship. For example, professors are able to teach more than one course, or students can only be enrolled in one program.
Create the primary key and foreign keys using a UML class diagram for each table.
Suggest at least four types of business intelligence reports that could help the university in course management, student enrollment, or historical tracking. Support your answer by providing specific business functions that these reports could be used for to assist executives of the university.
Consider outsourcing the functions above as an alternative for development of the database. Research the Internet and other media sources for vendors who develop registrar and school management database systems.
- Suggest three vendors that developed and are employing efficient registrar and school management database systems and support your reasons to choose from one of these three vendors.
- Compare and contrast the key aspects that each system offers. Examples of system aspects include but are not limited to cloud based, pricing model, open source, et cetera.
Go to the Strayer Library to locate at least three quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar websites do not qualify as quality resources.
The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. Include charts or diagrams created in any chart or drawing tool with which you are familiar. The completed diagrams or charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The library is your home for SWS assistance, including citations and formatting. Please refer to the Library site for all supports. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:

Propose a database design.

Analyze the university’s requirements and provide a proposal to organize all the required data elements,
Provide an entity relationship model (ERM) that will describe the data structure that will store all data elements,
Create the primary key and foreign keys using a UML class diagram for each table,
Suggest at least four types of business intelligence reports that could help the university in course management, student enrollment, or historical tracking,
Suggest three vendors that developed and are employing efficient registrar and school management database systems and support your reasons to choose from one of these three vendors,

September 23, 2025

NIMS and Disaster Response

By Academic Wizard Blog

NIMS and Disaster Response

Response to natural and man-made disasters have changed quite significantly since the implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Provide an example of a recent natural disaster or terrorist attack that has occurred in your region in the last 10 years. In what ways do you think the implementation of NIMS shaped the responding organization’s response? What component of NIMS do you believe was the most helpful in the response to the incident you identified? Explain your rationale.

If you do not currently live in the United States, you may choose an incident in an area you have a connection to or one on which you are most informed.

NIMS and Disaster Response

Provide an example of a recent natural disaster or terrorist attack that has occurred in your region in the last 10 years,
In what ways do you think the implementation of NIMS shaped the responding organization’s response?,
What component of NIMS do you believe was the most helpful in the response to the incident you identified?,
Explain your rationale.

Comprehensive Answer (General)

Example of Disaster

One example of a recent disaster in the United States is Hurricane Harvey (2017), which struck Texas and parts of Louisiana. The storm caused catastrophic flooding, displacing thousands of residents and leading to widespread infrastructure damage. It required a coordinated local, state, and federal response due to the scale of destruction.

Role of NIMS in Shaping Response

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) shaped the response in several important ways:

Unified Command Structure – Local emergency management, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the National Guard worked under a coordinated framework that reduced confusion and duplication of efforts.
Resource Management – NIMS guidelines ensured that resources such as boats, helicopters, and shelters were requested, deployed, and tracked efficiently across jurisdictions.
Communication and Information Sharing – Standardized protocols helped agencies maintain situational awareness and share real-time data, critical in coordinating rescues during flooding.

Most Helpful NIMS Component

The Incident Command System (ICS) was the most helpful component in this case. ICS allowed multiple agencies with different responsibilities—search and rescue, medical response, law enforcement, and relief distribution—to function under a single, integrated organizational structure. This streamlined decision-making, reduced redundancy, and ensured that local governments maintained authority while receiving federal support.

Rationale

Hurricane Harvey demonstrated how disasters of such magnitude cannot be managed by one entity alone. The ICS framework provided a scalable and flexible structure that adapted to the complex needs of the response. Without this system, coordination between hundreds of local agencies, volunteers, and federal responders would likely have been chaotic, leading to slower rescues and increased loss of life. The ICS ensured an effective division of responsibilities while promoting accountability and clear lines of authority, ultimately saving lives and restoring critical services more quickly.

TEXTBOOK

Oliver, W. M., Marion, N. E., & Hill, J. B. (2021). Introduction to homeland security: Policy, organization, and administration (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781284205213

September 23, 2025

Security Incident Response and Risk Assessment

By Academic Wizard Blog

Security Incident Response and Risk Assessment

To be proactive, organizations need to have structures, processes, and plans in place to counter and respond to potential attacks and to deal with the consequences of successful attacks. A suitable security management plan and well-defined security goals that support the overall goals of the organization can ensure a reasonable level of business continuity, even in the case of security incidents.

In any organization, the individuals on the IT staff must work together to support the security goals of the organization. These individuals play significant roles in detecting and preventing security incidents before they occur. In the case of successful attacks, security management professionals are tasked with acting quickly to mitigate the attack’s effects.

In this assessment, you will refer to the attached “Case Study” document, which contains details regarding a security incident at a small non-governmental organization (NGO). In part I of this task, you will analyze the security incident and provide specific examples and details from the case study to support your risk assessment. In part II, you will create a plan to effectively address the aftermath of the incident and manage the NGO’s ongoing security risks.

Requirements

Part I: Incident Analysis and Response

A. Determine why the attack on Azumer Water’s infrastructure was successful, including two specific vulnerabilities that allowed the attack to occur. Provide details from the case study to support your claims.

B. Explain how Azumer Water’s operations and data have been compromised in the following areas:

• confidentiality, integrity, and availability

• PII (personally identifiable information)

For two of the claims, support your analysis using an industry-standard framework such as NIST or ISO 27002.

C. Identify a federal regulation this NGO violated, providing a specific example from the case study as evidence of Azumer Water’s noncompliance.

D. Recommend two immediate steps to mitigate the impact of the incident, using specific examples from the case study to justify how these steps would mitigate the impact.

E. Explain how having an incident response plan in place will benefit Azumer Water, using details from the case study to support your explanation.

Part II: Risk Assessment and Management

F. Discuss two processes to increase information assurance levels within the organization and bring Azumer Water into compliance with the violated federal regulation identified in part C.

G. Recommend two technical solutions to counter the remaining effects of the attack in the case study and to prevent future attacks.

H. Recommend an organizational structure for IT and security management, including a logical delineation of roles and adequate coverage of responsibilities, to support the efficient discovery and mitigation of future incidents.

I. Identify two risks from the Azumer Water case study and address each of the following components for both risks:

Note: Refer to the “Risk Determination Template” for support with identifying and categorizing risks.

• threat event (risk management tier, threat event from the case study)

• threat source (type of threat source, threat source from the case study)

• threat source characteristics (capability rating, intent rating, targeting rating)

• relevance

Security Incident Response and Risk Assessment

• likelihood of attack initiation

• vulnerabilities and predisposing conditions

• severity rating and pervasiveness rating

• likelihood initiated attack succeeds

• overall likelihood

• level of impact (type of impact, potential impact to the organization from the case study, impact rating)

• risk rating

• Discuss your risk management approach based on these risk categorizations

J. Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

K. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.

Reference List

National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2012). Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments (NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1). https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-30r1

Supporting documents also attached

Determine why the attack on Azumer Water’s infrastructure was successful, including two specific vulnerabilities that allowed the attack to occur,
Explain how Azumer Water’s operations and data have been compromised in confidentiality, integrity, availability, and PII (using NIST or ISO 27002 to support two claims),
Identify a federal regulation this NGO violated, providing a specific example from the case study,
Recommend two immediate steps to mitigate the incident’s impact,
Explain how an incident response plan would benefit Azumer Water,
Discuss two processes to increase information assurance and bring the NGO into compliance,
Recommend two technical solutions to counter the remaining effects and prevent future attacks,

September 23, 2025

Career Planning Analysis

By Academic Wizard Blog

Career Planning Analysis

Are you seeking to advance in your current field? Are you changing fields? Where are you right now in your career? Where do you want to be? Will you be seeking a new position in your field or will you need to seek opportunities to get experience in a new field? What are your goals and objectives? What particular positions do you want, and what is your time frame for obtaining them?

Next, consider what the market is like in the industry or field in which you’d like to apply your degree. Is the demand for employees increasing, decreasing, or remaining steady? Does the geographic region play a role? Does specialization within the field make a difference? Use the UMGC library to locate journal articles, books, and other sources that will help you identify information about your industry or field. You can research an industry using Business Research and on a career field using CareerOneStop.

Finally, you need to think about what the competition is like. Who else is seeking positions in this profession? Who are the primary competitors for employment and upward mobility in this field? Can you identify individuals who are your main competition (e.g., if you are competing internally)? How do you compare to these competitors? What do you need to do to become more competitive? Check out CareerQuest for guidance on making your résumé stand out, virtual interviews, and more.

Career Planning Analysis

At present, I am at an early-to-mid stage in my professional career, with foundational experience in my field but still building the credentials and specialized expertise required for advancement. I aim to move beyond entry-level or support roles and transition into positions of greater responsibility, such as project leadership or specialized technical roles. My long-term career goal is to secure a management or subject-matter expert position within five to seven years, depending on the opportunities available and the pace of professional development.

Are you seeking to advance in your current field?,
Are you changing fields?,
Where are you right now in your career?,
Where do you want to be?,
Will you be seeking a new position in your field or will you need to seek opportunities to get experience in a new field?,
What are your goals and objectives?,

September 23, 2025

Database Normalization Factors

By Academic Wizard Blog

Database Normalization Factors

Many legacy systems require normalization.

Identify at least two factors that should be considered in order to produce an optimal normalized set of tables when performing normalization.
Include in your discussion a detailed example on how each factor would eliminate data redundancy.,

Identify at least two factors that should be considered in order to produce an optimal normalized set of tables when performing normalization,
Include in your discussion a detailed example on how each factor would eliminate data redundancy.

Comprehensive Answer (General)

Key Factors in Producing an Optimal Normalized Set of Tables

1. Functional Dependencies
One of the most critical factors to consider during normalization is the identification of functional dependencies between attributes. Functional dependency occurs when the value of one attribute uniquely determines another attribute. Understanding these relationships ensures that each table is structured so that attributes depend only on the primary key.

Example:
Suppose we have a single table that stores student information:

Student Table

StudentID StudentName CourseID CourseName InstructorName

1001 Alice CS101 Database Dr. Smith

1002 Bob CS101 Database Dr. Smith

Here, CourseID → CourseName, InstructorName is a functional dependency. Repeating these values creates redundancy (e.g., “Database” and “Dr. Smith” repeated for every student).
- Solution: By creating a separate Course table, we eliminate redundancy:
Course Table

CourseID CourseName InstructorName

CS101 Database Dr. Smith

Student Table

StudentID StudentName CourseID

1001 Alice CS101

1002 Bob CS101

Database Normalization Factors

Now, if the instructor changes, we only update one record in the Course table instead of multiple rows in the Student table, eliminating redundancy.

StudentID	StudentName	CourseID	CourseName	InstructorName
1001	Alice	CS101	Database	Dr. Smith
1002	Bob	CS101	Database	Dr. Smith

CourseID	CourseName	InstructorName
CS101	Database	Dr. Smith

StudentID	StudentName	CourseID
1001	Alice	CS101
1002	Bob	CS101

2. Avoidance of Transitive Dependencies
Another important factor is removing transitive dependencies, where a non-key attribute depends on another non-key attribute rather than directly on the primary key. This is essential to achieve Third Normal Form (3NF).

Example:
Suppose we have a table storing employee data:

Employee Table

EmpID EmpName DeptID DeptName DeptLocation

2001 Sarah D10 Finance New York

2002 John D10 Finance New York

Here, DeptID → DeptName, DeptLocation. The attributes DeptName and DeptLocation depend on DeptID, not directly on EmpID. This leads to redundancy (Finance and New York repeated).
- Solution: Separate department information into its own table:
Department Table

DeptID DeptName DeptLocation

D10 Finance New York

Database Normalization Factors

Employee Table

EmpID EmpName DeptID

2001 Sarah D10

2002 John D10

This structure ensures that updates (e.g., department moving from New York to Boston) require changes in only one place, eliminating redundancy and preventing update anomalies.

EmpID	EmpName	DeptID	DeptName	DeptLocation
2001	Sarah	D10	Finance	New York
2002	John	D10	Finance	New York

DeptID	DeptName	DeptLocation
D10	Finance	New York

EmpID	EmpName	DeptID
2001	Sarah	D10
2002	John	D10

Conclusion

In database normalization, carefully considering functional dependencies and eliminating transitive dependencies are key to producing optimal normalized tables. These factors reduce data redundancy, prevent anomalies, and ensure data integrity, leading to efficient and scalable database designs.

September 23, 2025

Professional Development Plan

By Academic Wizard Blog

Professional Development Plan

The continuing professional development of IT personnel is a key managerial responsibility. In this light, reflect on a subordinate and prepare a somewhat detailed and actionable professional development plan which would be intended for use in a forthcoming performance review session. In this plan, you should hypothetically assume the individual to be reviewed has indicated interest in a long-term organizational career and steady advancement. From your perspective, your plan would include both near- and long-term objectives and milestones to assist this individual in reaching his or her goals. This plan should include traditional professional development issues such as potential schools and assignments as well as some counsel on how to make use of organizational politics (e.g., getting a senior mentor) and maintain a visible, positive profile. Begin the paper with a brief academic review of the importance of subordinate professional development to personal and organizational performance (with appropriate citations), and then follow this with your detailed plan. The plan title might be: “Achieving Personal Success While Advancing Organizational Performance.”

SLP Assignment Expectations

These SLP papers require that you integrate, discuss, contiguously cite, and later fully reference at least three academically sound sources. Use enough concurrent discussion so that the purpose of each citation is apparent to the reader. This paper is incomplete without at least three academically sound references. Relevant magazine articles such as CIO are OK. Also, you may use military/corporate references, but they do not count as one of the required three.

You will be assessed on the appropriateness and completeness of the detail you provide regarding your topic, your use of citations and references as noted above, and your intellectual insight into topically important issues.

You are expected to use correct grammar, spelling, and English vocabulary. Check your paper for missing or inappropriately used words. If in doubt, check the dictionary and not ‘spell check.’ Consider that this paper, and all others, will be reviewed by the CIO and/or your commanding officer. It is strongly suggested that you ask a trusted colleague to review and edit each of your papers.

Upload your 4- to 5-page paper to the SLP 4 Dropbox once it is completed.

Follow the number of pages required in the assignment excluding cover page and references. Each page should have about 300 words.

Listen Professional Development Plan

Module 4 – Resources

Managing Complex IT Organizational Change and Capstone Paper

Required Reading

Remember, your major sources of information for this course consist of all that you have learned in your other courses, and you should be prepared to reference those courses and their background material during this class, as well as additional resources that you identify.

Use How to find resources in Skillsoft to access material in Skillsoft.

Required Reading

IT Governance Plan

ITIL® 4 Foundation: Introduction. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

Modern Data Management: Data Governance. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

ITIL

TestPrep ITIL 4 Foundation. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

Go to Library Access in Additional Library Resources, select Skillsoft Books. In the search box enter TestPrep ITIL 4 Foundation, select the Courses tab, then select TestPrep ITIL 4 Foundation.

Securing the Enterprise

Securing Against Threats, Securing for Enterprise, and Jailbreaking Devices. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

CISSP 2021: Business Continuity Planning. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

Backup & Recovery: Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

Data Governance Professional Development Plan

Modern Data Management: Data Quality Management. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

Data Access & Governance Policies: Data Classification, Encryption, and Monitoring. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

Cybersecurity

Mitigating Security Risks: Cyber Security Risks. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

An Executive’s Guide to Security: Understanding Security Threats. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

Mitigating Security Risks: Maintaining a Secure Workplace. Available in the Trident Online Library in Skillsoft.

Optional Reading

Mitre. (n.d.). IT governance . https://www.mitre.org/publications/systems-engineering-guide/enterprise-engineering/enterprise-planning-and-management/it-governance

Chapters 1-12, in:

Axelos. (2020). ITIL 4: Digital and IT Strategy. TSO. Available in the Trident Online Library (Skillsoft Books).

Chapters 1-10, in:

Smallwood, R. F. (2020). Information governance: Concepts, strategies and best practices. Wiley & Sons. Available in the Trident Online Library (Skillsoft Books).

Please note that this link will open in a new window and may require activation of a LinkedIn account on the first attempt. Trident students may use their student email address to access this free subscription to LinkedIn Learning as a part of this course.

Getting Started with Network Administration – LinkedIn Learning

An introduction to describe the importance of subordinate professional development,
A detailed professional development plan with near- and long-term objectives,
Inclusion of traditional professional development issues such as potential schools and assignments,
Counsel on organizational politics such as mentoring and visibility,
A comprehensive listing of references consulted.

September 23, 2025

WEKA Classifier Comparison

By Academic Wizard Blog

WEKA Classifier Comparison

In this homework, we explore the WEKA machine learning tool and how WEKA can be very helpful in the small to medium size research project.

To start, please

1. Download and install the WEKA machine learning tool on your machine.

2. Download two datasets (bank, credit-Dataset).

3. Explore the WEKA machine learning tool using the aforementioned datasets and compare at least five different classifiers based on their performance metrics.

4. Submit your homework on D2L.

Deliverable: WEKA Classifier Comparison

· Your report should include screenshots of your implementation using WEKA. Ensure that you capture the entire WEKA environment, not just the results. Please compile the screenshots in a Word document, provide a brief one-sentence explanation for each, and then submit the document.

Download and install the WEKA machine learning tool on your machine,
Download two datasets (bank, credit-Dataset),
Explore the WEKA machine learning tool using the aforementioned datasets and compare at least five different classifiers based on their performance metrics,
Submit your homework on D2L,
Your report should include screenshots of your implementation using WEKA,

Comprehensive Answer (General Guidance)

Step 1: Download and Install WEKA

Go to the official WEKA site: https://www.cs.waikato.ac.nz/ml/weka/.
Download the latest stable version for your operating system.
Install the tool following the on-screen prompts. Once installed, open WEKA and you should see the GUI Chooser window with options like Explorer, Experimenter, KnowledgeFlow, and SimpleCLI.

Step 2: Download Datasets

The bank dataset can be obtained from the UCI Machine Learning Repository (Bank Marketing Dataset).
The credit dataset (such as the German Credit Dataset or Credit Approval Dataset) can also be downloaded from UCI or Kaggle.
Save the files in CSV or ARFF format. If CSV, use WEKA’s CSV Loader to convert them into ARFF for easier processing.

Step 3: Explore WEKA with Datasets

Open WEKA Explorer: WEKA Classifier Comparison

Preprocess Tab
- Load the dataset (bank or credit).
- Observe the attribute list, number of instances, and data distribution.
- Apply filters if necessary (e.g., Normalize, Discretize).
Classify Tab
- Choose classification algorithms (classifiers).
- Select the test option: Use training set, Supplied test set, Cross-validation (10-fold recommended).
- Run the classifiers and review the results (accuracy, confusion matrix, precision, recall, F-measure).

Step 4: Compare Five Classifiers

For both datasets, you can test classifiers such as:

J48 (Decision Tree) – Simple tree-based classifier, interpretable.
Naïve Bayes – Probabilistic model, fast and effective on small data.
Logistic Regression – Well-suited for binary outcomes.
k-Nearest Neighbors (IBk) – Instance-based learner, sensitive to distance metrics.
Random Forest – Ensemble method, usually high accuracy and robust.

Performance Metrics to Compare:

Accuracy: % of correctly classified instances.
Precision: Correctly predicted positives out of all predicted positives.
Recall (Sensitivity): Correctly predicted positives out of all actual positives.
F1-score: Balance between precision and recall.
ROC Area (AUC): Performance across thresholds.

Step 5: Document Your Work

Take screenshots of each step in WEKA:
- Loading dataset,
- Running classifiers,
- Results (confusion matrix, summary output).
Paste screenshots into a Word document.
Add one-sentence explanations under each screenshot (e.g., “This screenshot shows the results of running J48 on the credit dataset, achieving 82% accuracy with a balanced precision-recall tradeoff.”).
Write a short comparison table summarizing classifier performance across both datasets.

General Findings (what you might expect):

Naïve Bayes: Performs well on smaller, clean datasets; sometimes struggles with correlated features.
J48: Easy to interpret but can overfit.
Logistic Regression: Stable and interpretable; good with linear relationships. WEKA Classifier Comparison
k-NN: Effective but computationally expensive for large datasets.
Random Forest: Usually best performance overall with strong generalization.

September 23, 2025

Visual Origin Story

By Academic Wizard Blog

Visual Origin Story

Origin stories exist in every human culture and are used to offer explanations about how something came into existence. Creating a Visual Origin Story combines lateral and visual thinking as your team envisions its collective capabilities and imagines a positive trajectory together. For example, the team’s co-authored origin story might describe teammates’ superpowers and how they work together to “fight the evils of the world.” The activity involves both asynchronous components with low social presence (your independent work) and synchronous moments with high social presence (coming together with your team to discuss and create). Working together synchronously at the end stage of this activity is required.

Visual Origin Story

Phase 1: Personal Avatar, To be Completed Individually Prior to Team Meeting

1. Brainstorm: Create an avatar—an image that will represent your personality—to share with your new teammates. Feeling stuck? This exercise in lateral thinking will help you come up with some imaginative ways to represent yourself.

First, grab a pen and paper to write down your responses to the following:

• A verb for an activity that you like to do, ending in -ING (“flying,” “jumping,” etc.) • Favorite color(s) • Your favorite snack food • An adjective that best describes you • Aspects of your identity that are important to you (cultural, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, etc.) • Your favorite creature, real or imagined • Favorite musical artist • Favorite board or video game • A particular hidden talent of yours • Name of the street or town where you grew up • Name(s) of your pet(s) (if applicable)

2. Imagine: Next, combine any number of selections from the previous list to develop a fun description of yourself. Perhaps you are a superhero who can make tacos appear with the snap of your fingers? Or do you feel you embody a hybrid of your two favorite animals? Come up with two to four options for yourself by combining answers, adding descriptive features, or editing as needed. Examples of how you might describe your new superhero self: “I’m a…” • Flying Kimchi Horse • Laughing Aqua Robot • Yodeling League of Insects • Bouncing Extroverted Cheeto

3. Visualize: Continue to working individually to create a visual representation of yourself based on what you have imagined, making sure to connect to any personality or skills you might bring to the team. Some ideas to get you started include:

· Draw on top of a photograph

· Create an illustration or caricature (a bowl of kimchi wearing sunglasses, a potato chip with a face, etc.)

· Collage together items from magazines or newspapers

· Develop other creative representations, such as a hand puppet constructed from fabric or other material

· Use one of these free programs to create your avatar:

· Adobe Avatar Maker: https://www.adobe.com/express/create/avatarLinks to an external site.

· Links to an external site.Get Avataaars: https://getavataaars.com/Links to an external site.

· Superherotar: https://superherotar.framiq.com/Links to an external site.

*Please note that your avatar can be either a collage-type image that represents you or a character that you create that is symbolic of you. There is no one right way to create your avatar, the important thing is that you create an image that represents you and that you are able to use the image to introduce yourself to your team.

Visual Origin Story

Tips

• Individual avatar: Have fun creating your own individual avatars first, then share them with your team to describe your personality or things you love. The avatar can be as quirky and strange as you want it to be, as long as you can speak about how it connects to your personality. Robots, horses, insects, objects, humans, and more are all welcome to the party!

• Combining avatars: Think of interesting ways to combine the avatars together. Don’t just make a matrix of fragmented parts and call things done. Instead, think about how the parts fit together in interesting new ways. What new creatures could you create? What hybrid object might be constructed to represent the team?

• Brainstorming: Throughout the process of working together, think about the different collaborative storytelling techniques that might help your team brainstorm together. Perhaps one person adds an element to another person’s contribution or you might have an open back-and-forth discussion where multiple stories take place in a shared world. Have fun and share ideas!

• Stay playful: This does not need to be a serious activity and, in fact, keeping the mood light will build positive feelings among your team. If you will be working on a serious topic later in the process, activities such as this one provide a useful emotional counterpoint to relieve some of the stress and tension that can result from working with challenging topics.

Brainstorm: Create an avatar—an image that will represent your personality—to share with your new teammates,
Imagine: Combine selections to develop a fun description of yourself,
Visualize: Create a visual representation of yourself based on what you have imagined,
Tips: Individual avatar and combining avatars for the team,
Stay playful: Build positive feelings and connections through this activity,

September 23, 2025

Project Risks

By Academic Wizard Blog

Project Risks

From your experience working on either a small or large project, list and categorize three risks from the project. Was the response plan for the project adequate to mitigate these risks? Knowing what you know now, how would you respond to these risks differently?

Course Textbook(s) Lewis, T. G. (2020). Critical infrastructure protection in homeland security: Defending a networked nation (3rd ed.). Wiley. https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781119614562

From your experience working on either a small or large project, list and categorize three risks from the project,
Was the response plan for the project adequate to mitigate these risks?,
Knowing what you know now how would you respond to these risks differently?,

Comprehensive Answer

Three Risks — Listed and Categorized Project Risks

From my experience working on a mid-sized technology implementation project, three key risks emerged.

Technical Risk (System Integration Issues): The project relied on integrating multiple platforms (hardware and software) that had different standards and compatibility limitations. This created the possibility of delays and functionality gaps.
Operational Risk (Resource Availability): Several specialized team members had competing responsibilities across other projects. Their limited availability slowed task completion and led to bottlenecks during critical stages.
External Risk (Vendor Delays): The project depended on an outside vendor for specialized equipment. Shipping delays and supply-chain issues pushed timelines beyond what was originally scheduled.

Adequacy of the Response Plan

The response plan addressed these risks but only partially:

For technical risk, contingency testing environments were created, but they were insufficiently detailed and did not cover all integration scenarios. This left some problems unresolved until later in the schedule.
For operational risk, the plan called for shifting workload among team members, but many did not have the necessary training. This reduced productivity and introduced errors.
For external risk, the project included contractual penalty clauses for vendor delays, but those clauses did not resolve the immediate impact of not having equipment on time.

Overall, the plan mitigated some impact but did not prevent major delays or rework.

How I Would Respond Differently Now

Based on lessons learned, the risks could have been managed more effectively through:

For Technical Risk: Implementing early pilot testing and phased integration, with clear checkpoints before committing to full deployment. This would have allowed identification of compatibility issues earlier when they were easier to correct.
For Operational Risk: Cross-training team members at the start of the project and creating a backup staffing pool would have ensured critical tasks could be covered even if specialized staff were unavailable.
For External Risk: Building redundancy into the supply chain (secondary vendors or maintaining buffer stock for critical components) would reduce dependency on a single vendor. Additionally, incorporating more realistic lead times into the schedule would have set achievable expectations.

Conclusion Project Risks

The risks identified were real and impactful. While the original plan helped manage them somewhat, it was not fully adequate. A stronger proactive approach — including phased testing, workforce flexibility, and supply-chain redundancy — would have provided better resilience. These insights highlight the importance of detailed risk assessment and adaptive planning in any project environment.

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