Assignment
Provide at least a minimum of 100 words for each of the assignments on A and B.
UNIT 1
A. The Plucknette article suggests that there are considerable differences between being a leader and being a manager. Is it possible or desirable to be both? Chapter 2 of the Management textbook suggests that the four functions of management are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Provide one challenge posed by serving as a leader and one challenge posed by serving as a manager in each of these functions?
B. What roles do leadership and innovation play within each of the four management functions? Provide an example of how to integrate leadership into at least two management functions.
RESOURCES
Textbook
1. Management
Read Chapters 1-2 and 15 in Management.
e-Library Resource
1. 4 Differences Between Managers and Leaders
Read "4 Differences Between Managers and Leaders," from Plucknette, from Plant Engineering (2014).
UNIT 2
A. Provide an example of a challenge you have experienced in the workplace leading a cross-functional team or as part of a cross-functional team. How was this challenge solved? Would you have approached the challenge differently? If so, how?
B. Organizations are increasingly transcending country boarders and physical space limitations. What are some effective strategies to motivate dispersed team members in a virtual setting? What are some emerging trends that deal with this challenge in your field? Provide an example.
RESOURCES
Textbook
1. Management
Read Chapters 14, 16, and 18.
e-Library 1. AlphabResource
Read "Alphabet Soup," by Kotler, from Marketing Management (2006).
2. Big Data: Prospects and Challenges
Read "Big Data: Prospects and Challenges," by Moorthy, from Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers (2015).
3. Change Management Dashboard: An Adaptive Approach to Lead a Change Program
Read "Change Management Dashboard: An Adaptive Approach to Lead a Change Program," by Vaccarezza and Razzi, from People and Strategy(2014).
4. How to Lead an Effective Virtual Team
Read "How to Lead an Effective Virtual Team," by Lepsinger and DeRosa, from Ivey Business Journal (2015).
5. Managing Virtual Team Work in IT Projects: Survey
Read "Managing Virtual Team Work in IT Projects: Survey," by El-Sofany and Alwandani, from International Journal of Advanced Corporate Learning (2014).
6. The Digital Market-Sphere (DMS): Modeling Virtual Transactons and Transvectons
Read "The Digital Market-Sphere (DMS): Modeling Virtual Transactons and Transvectons," by Carter and Parameswaran, from Marketing Management Journal (2012).
7. The Ins and Outs of Marketing in the Digital Age
Read "The Ins and Outs of Marketing in the Digital Age," by Cody from Chain Drug Review (2014).
8. Three Digital Marketing Megatrends for 2015
Read "Three Digital Marketing Megatrends for 2015," by Friedein, from Marketing Week (2015).
UNIT 3
A. An individual manager's ability to make ethical decisions is influenced by many factors, such as individual traits and corporate culture. Applying conscious capitalism principles typically starts with a plan from the CEO and requires the plan to be implemented through various management levels and all employees. What role does ethics play in conscious capitalism and how do the ethics of conscious capitalism impact management tactics within an organization?
B. Post a draft of your Strategic Management and Socially Conscious Organization Presentation assignment to the Main Forum. Read two classmates' presentations and provide feedback to your peers about their presentations. Are there areas that need adjustments?
RESOURCES
Textbook
1. Management
Read Chapters 3-5, 8, and 13 in Management. Review Chapter 15 in Management.
e-Library Resource
1. Chapter 2: Conscious Capitalism and the Heroic Spirit of Business
Read "Chapter 2: Conscious Capitalism and the Heroic Spirit of Business," by Mackey and Sisodia, from MMR (2013).
2. Conscious Capitalism: Leaders and Organizations With a World View
Read "Conscious Capitalism: Leaders and Organizations With a World View," by Legault, from Integral Leadership Review (2012).
3. On the Ethics of Management Research: An Exploratory Investigation
Read "On the Ethics of Management Research: An Exploratory Investigation," by Frechtling, from Journal of Business Ethics (2012).
4. Questions of Ethics in Public Sector Management: The Case Study of Hong Kong
Read "Questions of Ethics in Public Sector Management: The Case Study of Hong Kong," by Luk, from Public Personnel Management (2012).
5. Taking Responsibility for Corporate Social Responsibility: The Role of Leaders in Creating, Implementing, Sustaining, or Avoiding Socially Responsible Firm Behaviors
Read "Taking Responsibility for Corporate Social Responsibility: The Role of Leaders in Creating, Implementing, Sustaining, or Avoiding Socially Responsible Firm Behaviors," by Jones, Mackey, Whetten, from Academy of Management Perspectives (2014).
6. Turning Corporate Social Responsibility-Driven Opportunities in Competitive Advantages: A Two-Dimensional Model
Read "Turning Corporate Social Responsibility-Driven Opportunities in Competitive Advantages: A Two-Dimensional Model," by Calabrese, Costa, Menichini, Rasati, and Sanfelice, from Knowledge and Process Management (2013).
UNIT 4
A. What are the major elements of strategic planning? Refer to HBS case reprint, Southwest Airlines: In a Different World. What elements of strategic planning are present in the case study? Based on the case study, what are the major challenges of strategic planning, especially for large, complex organizations like Southwest airlines? What challenges does strategic planning on such a large scale pose for leaders?
B. What have you experienced or what do you anticipate as the most challenging aspect of strategic planning in your field of interest? What do you think can be done to improve strategic planning processes in your own organization or field?
RESOURCES
Textbook
1. Management
Read Chapters 7 and 8 in Management.
2. Southwest Airlines: In a Different World
Read Harvard Business School (HBS) case reprint, Southwest Airlines: In a Different World (2013).
Electronic Resource
1. Overview of the Strategic Planning Process
Watch "Overview of the Strategic Planning Process," by Virtual Strategist (2012), located on the YouTube website.
2. Strategic and Operational Planning
Read "Strategic and Operational Planning," located on the Taugher Change Catalyst Consulting website.
e-Library Resource
1. Management Use of Strategic Tools for Innovating During Turbulent Times
Read "Management Use of Strategic Tools for Innovating During Turbulent Times," by Tassabehji, from Strategic Change (2014).
2. Strategic Intent
Read "Strategic Intent," by Hamel and Prahalad, from Harvard Business Review (2005).
3. Strategy Execution A Four Step Process
Read "Strategy Execution: A Four Step Process," by Morgan, from MWorld (2010).
Other
1. SWOT Analysis
Review the "SWOT Analysis" template in preparation for the Strategic Planning: SWOT Analysis assignment.
MODULE 5
A. In "Business Model Innovation in Practice," Euchner and Ganguly (2014) discuss the challenge of implementing innovations within organizations that are naturally resistant to change. They present a systematic approach for integrating innovations to increase the likelihood of acceptance and success. Review their five-step approach and discuss how the four functions of management (planning, organizing, leading and controlling) can be leveraged within in their suggested approach to assist organizations in implementing successful innovations.
B. What do you anticipate will be the greatest challenge of operationalizing strategy across various business functions? Do you think the challenges change depending on the circumstances? Provide an example within your field.
RESOURCES
Textbook
1. Management
Read Chapter 11 in Management. Review Chapters 7 and 8.
Electronic Resource
1. Business Model Innovation in Practice
Read "Business Model Innovation in Practice," by Euchner and Ganguly, from Research Technology Management (2014).
2. Stakeholder Analysis
Read "Stakeholder Analysis," located on the Mind Tools website. In addition, view the video "Stakeholder Analysis Video: Stakeholder Management and Power Interest Grid Example" that accompanies the article.
3. Strategy Mapping Overview
Watch "Strategy Mapping Overview," by Knowles (2013), located on the YouTube website.
e-Library Resource
1. Business Ethics and the Development of Intellectual Capital
Read "Business Ethics and the Development of Intellectual Capital," by Su, from Journal of Business Ethics (2014).
2. Corporate Social Responsibility: A Real Options Approach to the Challenge of Financial Sustainability
Read "Corporate Social Responsibility: A Real Options Approach to the Challenge of Financial Sustainability," by Bosch-Badia, Montilor-Serrats, and Tarrazon-Rodon, from PLoS One (2015).
3. Innovation Agendas: The Ambiguity of Value Creation
Read "Innovation Agendas: The Ambiguity of Value Creation," by Daniel and Klein, from Prometheus (2014)
4. Intellectual Capital Approach to Modern Management Through the Perspective of a Company's Value Added
Read "Intellectual Capital Approach to Modern Management Through the Perspective of a Company's Value Added," by Survilate, Tamosiuniene, and Shatrevich, from Business: Theory and Practice (2015).
5. Stakeholder Analysis
Read "Stakeholder Analysis," by Gilstein, from Salem Press Encyclopedia (2013).
MODULE 6
A. Return to HBS case reprint, "Southwest Airlines: In a Different World." The case study makes it clear that a significant shift in organizational strategy requires collaboration across multiple departments, or functions, within a business. Review the case and discuss how you think Southwest's plan to serve La Guardia would impact two primary business functions (e.g., marketing, operations, human resources, finance, accounting, and IT). Consider how coordinating efforts of the two functions to successfully serve La Guardia might affect management and decision making. How integral is collaboration among business functions to the success of Southwest's plan? Cite specifics from the case in your response.
B. Provide an example in which managerial decision making has positively or negatively affected you? How did the personal decision-making styles used by managers apply to the situation? What is your take away from the example you provided after your reading about managerial decision making in this topic?
RESOURCES
Topic: Tactical Planning (Continued)
Textbook
1. Management
Read Chapters 9 and 12 in Management. Review Chapters 7 and 8.
2. Southwest Airlines: In a Different World
Review Harvard Business School (HBS) case reprint, "Southwest Airlines: In a Different World"(2013).
e-Library Resource
1. (How) Does the HR Strategy Support an Innovation Oriented Business Strategy? An Investigation of Institutional Context and Organizational Practices in Indian Firms
Read "(How) Does the HR Strategy Support an Innovation Oriented Business Strategy? An Investigation of Institutional Context and Organizational Practices in Indian Firms," by Fang and Saini, from Human Resource Management (2010).
2. Big Data: An Innovative Way to Gain Competitive Advantage Through Converting Data into Knowledge
Read "Big Data: An Innovative Way to Gain Competitive Advantage Through Converting Data into Knowledge," by Bhadani, from International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science (2015).
3. Outsourcing: A Strategic Risk?
Read "Outsourcing: A Strategic Risk?" by Relph and Parker, from Management Services (2014).
4. Practicing Human Resource Strategy: Understanding the Relational Dynamics in Strategic HR Work by Means of a Narrative Approach
Read "Practicing Human Resource Strategy: Understanding the Relational Dynamics in Strategic HR Work by Means of a Narrative Approach," by Kaudela-Baum and Endrissat, from German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management (2009).
5. Responsible Leadership and Stakeholder Management: Influence Pathways and Organizational Outcomes
Read "Responsible Leadership and Stakeholder Management: Influence Pathways and Organizational Outcomes," by Doh and Quigley from the Academy of Management Perspectives (2014).
6. The Relationship Between Intellectual Capital With Economic Value Added and Financial Performance
Read "The Relationship Between Intellectual Capital With Economic Value Added and Financial Performance," by Salehi, Enayati, and Javadi, from Iranian Journal of Management Science: A Quarterly (2014).
MODULE 7
A. An organization's landscape can be expansive and complex. Most organizations rely heavily upon information technology as a way to achieve outcomes. Conduct a needs assessment on your current organization or a familiar organization. Evaluate the cross-functionality of departments to identify gaps or opportunities for more effectively utilizing information technology to improve collaboration, efficiency, and communication. Recommend improvements based on your assessment. Include an explanation of the benefits in your proposal.
B. Respond to the "Apply Your Skills: Case for Critical Analysis: Email Adventure," located at the end of Chapter 17 in the Management textbook.
RESOURCES
Textbook
1. Management
Read Chapters 10 and 17 and the Appendix in Management.
Electronic Resource
1. Communications Planning: Getting the Right Messages Across in the Right Way
Read "Communications Planning: Getting the Right Messages Across in the Right Way," located on the Mind Tools website.
2. Creating Adaptive Organizations
Read "Creating Adaptive Organizations," by Kenney (2010), located on the American Management Association (AMA) website.
3. The Adaptive Organization: Fostering Change in Five Areas
Read "The Adaptive Organization: Fostering Change in Five Areas," by Kenney (2010), located on the American Management Association (AMA) website.
e-Library Resource
1. Complexity Leadership Generates Innovation, Learning, and Adaptation of the Organization
Read "Complexity Leadership Generates Innovation, Learning, and Adaptation of the Organization," by Geer-Frazier, from Emergence: Complexity and Organization (2014).
2. The Adaptability of Management Models Across Cultures
Read "The Adaptability of Management Models Across Cultures," by Yuksel and Durna, from International Journal of Economic and Administrative Studies (2015).
UNIT 8
A. From the perspective of a general manager in your field, which of the organizational control methods outlined in Chapter 19 of the Managementtextbook do you think would be the most universal? What does organizational control look like in your sphere of influence?
B. Consider your Strategic Plan: Presentation video assignment. Write a brief description on how you plan to organize and present your Strategic Plan or share a draft of your video. Provide feedback to your peers about their initial plans for their videos. Are there areas that need adjustments?
RESOURCES
Topic: Evaluation
Textbook
1. Management
Read Chapter 19 in Management.
Electronic Resource
1. How to Share a Private YouTube Video
Watch "How to Share a Private YouTube Video," located on YouTube.
e-Library Resource
1. Change the Incentives, Engage the Whole Organization
Read "Change the Incentives, Engage the Whole Organization,"by Winston, from Supply Chain Management Review, (2014).