Devry MGMT591 Week 1 Discussion DQ 1
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OB |
This week, our text discusses the definition of organizational
behavior, and in particular, its applied focus. Our lesson focuses on
high-performance organizations (HPOs). However, in order to become a HPO, an
organization needs to navigate the complexities of the workforce as well as
mitigate the challenges that exist. What are some of the biggest challenges and
opportunities that exist for managers in using OB concepts? Give specific
examples. How can the study of OB help organizations work through these
challenges successfully?
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Performance |
Please consult the course Web Links section under Course
Resources, listen to the WBUR radio article Introspection After Allegation of
Discrimination, and read the summary. The discussion is rich in references to
many of our current topics and touches on some that we will cover in more depth
later. These include diversity, cultural influences on behavior, managing
across cultures, and specifically, performance management and motivation.
- How
do the new practices at Sodexho align with the essentials of performance
management? - How
is Sodexho using social networking to its advantage?
Devry MGMT591 Week 2 Discussion DQ 1
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Satisfied Workers |
Our graded discussion question this week comes primarily from
Chapter 3 in the textbook. Assume you are new to your job and on the first day,
you have a conversation with your boss, who says, “Satisfied workers are
productive workers.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Please
support your opinion with evidence from our readings. Please also remember to
respond to your classmates’ posts to stimulate further discussion.
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Decision Making (graded) |
What is the link between perception and decision making? How does
one affect the other?
Devry MGMT591 Week 3 Discussion DQ 1
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Application |
Dr. Peter Drucker has stated: “You cannot motivate employees,
employees must motivate themselves.”
What does Dr. Drucker mean by this statement in regard to
motivational theory?
What are some methods you could use to promote self-motivation in
the workplace?
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Motivation |
What is the relationship between motivation and job performance?
Give an example of when you were motivated to do a good job. Discuss what the
specific motivation was and describe whether this motivation was enough to
accomplish the job you wanted to do.
Devry MGMT591 Week 4 Discussion DQ 1
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What |
Focusing on the material related to team building, compare and
contrast this MGMT591 session with a team that you are familiar with. In what
aspects does the class resemble a team? Are there parallels between the stages
of team development and the progression of our class? What type of team
formation is going on in this classroom? Does the notion of social loafing
apply to our class in any respect?
Please be specific in your examples and support your opinion with
evidence from the text.
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A |
“Help! I have just been assigned to head a new product design team
at my company. The division manager has high expectations for the team and for
myself, but I have been a technical design engineer for four years since
graduating from college. I have never managed anyone, let alone led a team. The
manager keeps talking about her confidence that I will be very good at creating
lots of teamwork. Does anyone out there have any tips to help me master this
challenge? Help!”
You immediately start to formulate your recommendations. What are
the three key things you will advise her to do, and why those three first?
Devry MGMT591 Week 5 Discussion DQ 1
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Power and Influence (graded) |
Read this article fromThe Cairo Review regarding Nelson
Mandela’s use of power for the greater good. Using the text’s discussion of
power and influence as a backdrop, analyze Mandela’s power from multiple
perspectives and assess how his use of power changed the perspective of a
nation. Articles can be obtained from the University’s Library located in
Course Home/Student Resources.
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Leadership |
Use the Blog link, located below, to read the following Harvard
Business Review interview of Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, regarding his
leadership principles and vision for the turnaround strategy of Starbucks. What
leadership principles did Schultz display in applying his personal beliefs and
values in transforming the organizational culture at Starbucks? What are
Schultz’s views regarding the championing of innovative practices within an
organization? Do you share in his leadership philosophy? Why or why not?Read This Blog
Devry MGMT591 Week 6 Discussion DQ 1
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Organizational |
Using the OCI instrument online and the cultural change background
information on Conglomerate, Inc. provided in Doc Sharing, we will be
identifying and prioritizing cultural attributes and also identifying areas for
change. (Note: The Cultural Change Situation can be downloaded from Doc
Sharing.) Review Profiles 1a (workforce results) and 1b (senior leadership
team’s ideal state) closely. Identify and describe the cultural aspects that
management cites as important and contrast them with the cultural attributes
that employees report as being expected. How do employees believe they are
expected to act to “fit in”? What are the most significant gaps between
management and staff? What observations can you make on the differences between
Conglomerate Inc.’s preferred culture and “ideal” culture presented by HSI?
Once we’ve identified and discussed the gaps, I’ll cue everyone to move onto
the review of the suggested change initiatives and onto observations around
your own OCI results.
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Organizational |
Our text provides a thorough review of various organizational
design structures; let’s investigate our own organizational design preferences.
Describe your current or most recent employer’s organizational design
(mechanistic, organic, hybrid). Is the structure consistent with the company
goals? If you had the opportunity to redesign your current organization where
you are employed, would you maintain its current structure, or change it to
another model? What would that model be and why?
Devry MGMT591 Week 7 Discussion DQ 1
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Resistance to Change (graded) |
When Jorge Maldonado became general manager of the local civic
recreation center, he realized that many changes would be necessary to make the
facility a true community resource. Having the benefit of a new bond issue, the
center had the funds for new equipment and expanded programming. All he needed
to do now was get the staff committed to the new initiatives. Unfortunately,
his efforts have been met with considerable resistance to change. A typical
staff comment is, “Why do we need all these extras? Everything is fine as it
is.” How can Jorge deal with the employees’ resistance to change to enable him
to move the change process along?
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Empowering Teams: Fact Versus Fiction (graded) |
Over the last three weeks, we have focused very much on
leadership, power, organizational culture, and organizational change. Our case
study for the week is a great synthesis piece that addresses all of these
topics through a detailed study of a firm’s attempted move to team-based
management. The article is Diagnosing Whether an Organization Is Truly Ready to
Empower Work Teams: A Case Study, by Bergmann, Thomas J., De Meuse, Kenneth P.,
Human Resource Planning, 1996, Vol. 19 Issue 1, pages 38–47. Articles can be
obtained from the University’s Library located in Course Home/Student
Resources.
As you read through the report, pay close attention to the
discussion about Harley-Davidson and Shelby Die Casting and their eventual
conclusions about how to manage resistance to change. Also, keep in mind our
OCI material from Week 6 and think about the process from a cultural change
perspective. And of course, pay close attention to the lessons for top
management presented at the end.
A few opening topics for this week’s discussion:
- Assess the
process from the model for planned change. What did the company do right?
What more might have been done to prepare for the change? - What are your
thoughts on Harley-Davidson’s resolution for resistance to change? Do you
support the conclusions of the management team? Why or why not? - Share with the
class what you found most interesting about the article and why. Compare
and contrast the case study’s findings with our discussions and the
information from our text. As always, but particularly given the synthesis
nature of our discussion this week, be certain to read, consider, respond,
and probe your classmates’ thoughts and ideas. This is a great opportunity
for us all to weave together many of the topics we’ve covered this
session.
