This individual assignment requires you to consider the challenges in applying the theory and principles covered in Semester One to organizations. You are required to selectthreetopics from those provided below (one topic from each of the three blocks covered in Semester One - you are then asked to write for each topic a separate ‘explanation and application' summary of around 600wordsin which you should:
Describe key principles/theories that you identify from this topic area
Identify criticisms of this theories/principles
Discuss the theory's implications for and application to specific organizational examples and consider the ethical issues raised.
Your assignment should also contain an introduction that briefly outlines the three topic areas covered and a more extensive conclusion which shouldlook across the three topics you have considered and identify themes and issues in common.The coursework will be marked out of 100 and is worth 40% of the overall mark for this module.
The overall maximum length for this assignment is 2000 words. All the elements identified above (introduction, three ‘explanation and application' summaries and your conclusion) must not exceed this limit.
In discussing your organizational examples it is important that you offer more than just simple descriptions of opinions or unsubstantiated opinion on how the principles/theory you have addressed seems to apply. Instead we are looking for considered and detailed analysis of the implications of the theory in light of your named organizational examples.
Coursework to be handed in BOTH hard copy and electronically before3pm on Fridady 10th January 2014.
TOPIC AREAS - SELECT ONE FROM EACH PAIR:
Either:Motivation and Job SatisfactionorGroups and & Teamworking
Either:PersonalityorPerception
Either:Recruitment and SelectionorPerformance Management and Appraisal
The objective of this assignment is to explore some areas of the module that interest you and consider these in the context of real organizations. The purpose of the assignment is to consider the application of theory to practice. An assignment that makes little or no reference to any organizational situation or appropriate theoretical and conceptual issues will not fulfil the above brief and is likely to receive a fail.
A simpledescriptionof the situation in an organization and relevant theory might get a bare pass, however to get a better mark you need to use theory to explain what is happening in organization - not just what happened, but why things happened in a particular way and why they led to particular outcomes. A really good assignment will evaluate the utility of theory - how good is it at explaining practice, how far is it of assistance in understanding organizational issues and problems and suggesting recommendations for future practice?
Please word-process the assignment using 1.5-line spacing and include a cover sheet including the University's required statement of authenticity and your assignment's word length. Type on one side of the page only and fasten the assignment by stapling at top left hand corner. Further binding/folders is neither necessary nor welcome. Full details for the requirements for submission can be found in the programme handbook.
Further general guidance on the expectations of assignments are provided in the Module Handbook (Section 7: Developing Good Academic Practice) and you are strongly encouraged to familiarize yourself with these.
You will get formal written feedback on your assignment after submission. There will also be an opportunity to get some formative feedback (comments on work in progress) on a draft of ONE of your 1000 word ‘explanation and application' summaries in the seminars during week commencing 18thNovember 2013.