Week 1
discussion
In both the academic (student) and professional (career)
domains, critical thinking is a valued skill. Your professors assess the depth
of critical thinking and might urge you to consider concepts more deeply.
Similarly, hiring managers might ask about your critical thinking skill and ask
you to provide examples of how you have demonstrated such skill.
Select any one of the following starter bullet point
sections. Review the important themes within the sub questions of each bullet
point. The sub questions are designed to get you thinking about some of the
important issues. Your response should provide a succinct synthesis of the key
themes in a way that articulates a clear point, position, or conclusion
supported by research. Select a different bullet point section than what your
classmates have already posted so that we can engage several discussions on
relevant topics. If all of the bullet points have been addressed, then you may
begin to re-use the bullet points with the expectation that varied responses
continue.
What does it mean to think critically? What are the various
dimensions of critical thinking? That is, what do critical thinkers do or how
do we assess the quality of critical thinking? Analyze one of the critical
thinking dimensions. How does critical thinking apply to leaders? Managers?
Organizations?
Review the material you’ve read in course lectures and the
assigned textbook selections. What is a unique and challenging critical
question you would like to raise about this material? (Your question may be
about something controversial, about which you have your doubts. It may suggest
that a theory or a model has weaknesses, challenge the truth of proposed
relationships between variables, or assess the value of a suggested practice.)
Defend your perspective.
South University has four specific objectives called Student
Learning Outcomes (SLOs). SLOs include: Specialization expertise (content and
competency), critical thinking, information literacy, and communication.
Briefly define each of those objectives and assess how they might interact with
or influence one other. Summarize a development plan you might use for yourself
to enhance your skill for each objective. How might mastery of the objectives
enhance your career path?
The final paragraph (three or four sentences) of your
initial post should summarize the one or two key points that you are making in
your initial response.
Your posting should be the equivalent of 1- to 2-
single-spaced pages (500–1000 words) in length.
Week 2
discussion
In the digital age, new channels of communication have
developed that simply did not exist a few decades ago. Cell phones, e-mail,
text messaging, Facebook, Twitter… who knows what might develop next? However,
not every channel of communication is right for different types of messages or
communication needs.
Select any one of the following starter bullet point
sections. Review the important themes within the sub questions of each bullet
point. The sub questions are designed to get you thinking about some of the
important issues. Your response should provide a succinct synthesis of the key
themes in a way that articulates a clear point, position, or conclusion
supported by research. Select a different bullet point section than what your
classmates have already posted so that we can engage several discussions on
relevant topics. If all of the bullet points have been addressed, then you may
begin to re-use the bullet points with the expectation that varied responses
continue.
Given that employees are essentially accessible 24/7,
organizations should create some best practices for using the variety of
digital communications available for business. Research tips and advice on how
to best use channels of electronic communication. Justify your own list of
three best practice recommendations.
You have carefully drafted a message to inform employees of
a change to the attendance tracking system in your organization that will
launch next week. The change only pertains to some technical matters, but may
be misunderstood by the workforce. A virus threat shuts down internal e-mail
just before your message is ready. You now have a choice of communicating with
employees through Facebook or postponing the communication. Justify your
choice.
Two employees of your organization took their work-related
disagreements to Twitter, and disciplinary action has been taken against both
according to company policy. However, their public quarrel was seen by
employees and customers. Should the company respond? If yes, through which
channel of digital communication should it respond? Defend your choice.
Create an annotated reference list of three sources that
provide tips and advice on how to best use channels of electronic
communication. An annotated reference page means that each reference is
followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative
paragraph to inform the reader of key points, relevance, accuracy, and quality
of the cited source.
The final paragraph (three or four sentences) of your
initial post should summarize the one or two key points that you are making in
your initial response.
Your posting should be the equivalent of 1- to 2-
single-spaced pages (500–1000 words) in length.
Week 3
discussion
Although studying theory might seem to be an effort separate
from practice (e.g., professional activities), good theories emerge from
assessing practice. Accordingly, theories can possess some usefulness in
prescribing positive actions for leaders and organizations.
Assume you are the manager of a department in an
organization. Select two of the theories you learned about this week that you
believe will be most useful in managing your staff. (Be sure to review the
supplemental readings as well). Select different theories or different
combinations of theories than your classmates select. Address the following:
Assess why you find the two theories you selected most
practical or helpful.
Evaluate how the two theories might interact with each
other.
Analyze whether you anticipate needing different motivational
methods applying your selected theories according to the ages, races, national
origins, cultures, genders, and educational backgrounds of your subordinates.
Provide appropriate citations to support your conclusions.
Justify three best practices that emerge from your selected
theories (three best practices total. You do not need three best practices for
each theory).
The final paragraph (three or four sentences) of your
initial post should summarize the one or two key points that you are making in
your initial response.
Your posting should be the equivalent of 1- to 2-
single-spaced pages (500–1000 words) in length.
Week 4
discussion
You have been asked to lead a ten-person team within your
department. You know that several of these team members have not worked well
together on previous group projects, so you have decided to put the team
through a series of team-building activities.
Select any one of the following starter bullet point
sections. Review the important themes within the sub questions of each bullet
point. The sub questions are designed to get you thinking about some of the
important issues. Your response should provide a succinct synthesis of the key
themes in a way that articulates a clear point, position, or conclusion
supported by research. Select a different bullet point section than what your
classmates have already posted so that we can engage several discussions on
relevant topics. If all of the bullet points have been addressed, then you may
begin to re-use the bullet points with the expectation that varied responses
continue.
Define your top three goals or objectives for the
team-building activities for the scenario. Defend why those goals are
appropriate. Also assess at least two other possible goals and justify why they
did not make your top-three list.
Select two articles that discuss whether team-building
activities really help. Briefly note what you learned from the articles. Did
they guide you to select the best activities, or did they warn you away from
certain activities? Justify three best practices for team building activities
that emerge from the articles.
Team dynamics include both productivity (task) and
cohesiveness (relationship) components. Identify three team building activities
and assess the extent each influences on productivity and cohesion. Evaluate
how cohesion and productivity are linked.
The final paragraph (three or four sentences) of your
initial post should summarize the one or two key points that you are making in
your initial response.
Your posting should be the equivalent of 1 to 2
single-spaced pages (500–1000 words) in length.
Week 5
discussion
Assume you are the manager of the department where you
currently work. If you are not currently working, use a past situation or a
hypothetical situation; be sure to describe it. Select two leadership theories
that you believe will be most useful in managing your staff. Select different
theories or different combinations of theories than your classmates select.
Respond to the following
Assess why you think these theories will be most practical
or helpful.
Evaluate how the two theories might interact with one
another.
Analyze whether you anticipate needing different leadership
methods (based on your two selected theories) according to the ages, races,
national origins, cultures, genders, educational backgrounds, or job types of
your subordinates. Provide necessary illustrations and citations to justify
your conclusions.
Justify three best practices that emerge from your selected
leadership theories (three best practices total. You do not need three best
practices for each theory).
The final paragraph (three or four sentences) of your
initial post should summarize the one or two key points that you are making in
your initial response.
Your posting should be the equivalent of 1- to
2-single-spaced pages (500–1000 words) in length.
