BMGT 365
Assignment
1: The Role of the Leader
Purpose:
In the past weeks,
students have learned about leaders and their role in the organization. They
have been exposed to the idea that a leader is the social architect of the
organization. Definitively, leaders are those members of the
organization who create the flow of decision making and environment from which
organizational goals and values are set forth. Social architects create
vision, strategic direction, shape culture and values, and lead change.
Leaders align the people’s behavior with the goals and direction of the
organization.
This assessment is
designed for students to demonstrate knowledge of the material covered in weeks
1 – 4. Students are asked to not only show an understanding of the role of the
leader within an organization but to apply leadership concepts and ideas to a
real-world situation. Students will delve into the details of the case
study and the course readings but must also look at the situation from a
strategic point of view since Dunn wants a sustainable business.
Outcomes
Met:
·
use
leadership theories, assessment tools, and an understanding of the role of
ethics, values, and attitudes to evaluate and enhance personal leadership
skills
·
evaluate
the culture and policies of an organization to recommend and implement
improvements that support its vision, success, and sustainability
Perspective:
In this assessment, students will act as Joseph Dunn, the
leader of Dunn’s Ski Emporium. Dunn want to purchase The Deli, so there
is a lot of work to do before entering into the possible addition of a business
that little is known about. Write from a leader’s perspective. So,
you ask, “What it means to write from a leader’s perspective?”
Writing from the leader’s perspective means approach Dunn’s
vision through a people centric viewpoint. Focus on how the two businesses will
meet the vision through the decision making flow and grouping of people within
the organizations. How does a leader best use the people to meet the
vision? Even though it is tempting to write in the first person, a plan
is written in the third person for which a story will unfold. Dunn is
essentially telling a story of how he is going to purchase the Deli and bring
George and the business in as part of the Dunn Ski Emporium. Dunn will
need to figure out how he is going to combine these two businesses and use his
leadership skills to do so. Remember, write from the leader’s perspective
but do not attempt to solve problems but create and develop an environment in
which problems will be resolved by those who make the business run.
Dunn plans on designing an organizational structure that
fulfills his vision, one that he believes George has for The Deli, and one that
will fulfill its mission. The organization must be open to change and
possess a culture that empowers its employees to follow the vision
created. Like all good social architects, the building must start with a
design that suites the purpose of the business and seeks to make it the best building
for the job. Students are expected to be creative but realistic in
completing the assignment. For example, feel free to assign names and
roles to the people in the business. In being creative, students may not
change the facts in the plan. Dunn will present his ideas to George
Atkins once Dunn sits down with him to begin negotiations, so be sure that the
final product is polished. Also to make sure questions can easily be addressed,
write in the active voice and support the reasoning behind the ideas using the
material from the course. Dunn wants to demonstrate a thorough knowledge
of the leadership material, so a wide range of the readings will be used.
Instructions:
This assignment is the first of three assignments. In
completing this assignment, students will analyze a case study scenario and
apply the concepts learned in weeks 1-4 using the format described below.
In completing the assignment, students will answer the questions in narrative
form and will follow the steps provided below:
Step 1: Review “How to Analyze a Case Study” under Week 4 Content.
Step 2:
Create a Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document that is double-spaced,
12-point font. The final product will be between 3-5 pages in length
excluding the title page and reference page.
Step 3: Review the assignment grading rubric.
Step 4:
Follow this format:
·
Title page
with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;
·
Introduction
paragraph
·
Body, in
paragraph form using section headings
·
Summary
paragraph
Step 5:
In writing a case study, the writing is in the third person. What this
means is that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person
writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If
uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person
Step 6:
In writing this assignment, students are asked to support the reasoning using
in-text citations and a reference list. A reference within a reference
list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa.
View the sample APA paper under Week 1 content
Step 7:
In writing this assignment, students are expected to paraphrase and not use
direct quotes. Learn to paraphrase by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html
Step 8:
Read critically and analyze the scenario provided under Week 4 Content.
Step 9:
Jot down or highlight key facts from the scenario. Consider making an
outline to capture key points in the paper.
Step 10:
In your paper, respond to the following elements of leadership and plan design:
·
Evaluate
the business status, purpose and goals as well as its requirements to be
successful in the new venture. For example, what do the businesses do to
make money? What is required in terms of the type of people who need to run the
day-to-day operations? Discuss the critical elements that must be in place for
Dunn to be successful in this new venture
·
Joseph Dunn
as a social architect. Discuss the elements Dunn must evaluate to successfully
accomplish the alignment of people and business.
·
Dunn
selects and designs a business structure that will align people with business
purpose, vision, and mission. Explain the reasons behind the choices made.
Chart the structure and address the role of George Aitkin.
·
Dunn
selects and designs a culture for the new venture. Discuss reasons for
selection and how it can aligned with structure after applying the OCAI.
·
Joseph Dunn
is change agent for the business environment. What steps should Dunn take
for short-term change? For long-term change? How does the culture and
structure provide for change?
Step 11:
Create the introductory paragraph. The introductory paragraph is the
first paragraph of the paper but is typically written after writing the body of
the paper (Questions students responded to above). View this website to
learn how to write an introductory paragraph: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
Step 12:
Write a summary paragraph. A summary paragraph restates the main idea(s)
of the paper. Make sure to leave a reader with a sense that the paper is
complete. The summary paragraph is the last paragraph of a paper.
Step 13: Using
the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all
required elements are presented.
Step 14: Proofread
the paper for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing.
·
Use the spell and grammar check in Word as a first measure;
·
Have someone who has excellent English skills to proof the paper;
·
Consider submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC). The
EWC will provide 4-6 areas that may need improvement.
Step 15:
Submit the paper in the Assignment Folder.
Assignment 2
Purpose:
Leaders,
as discussed in weeks 4, 5, and 6 have a need to develop as individuals in
order to be successful relationship builders. The material in these weeks focus
on the ways a leader may enhance his or her personality, emotional
intelligence, and relationship building skills to engage and motivate
employees.
In this assessment, students will read the case study
provided. The goal of this assignment is for the students to write a paper
which designs a personal leadership plan for Taira Brandt who is about to take
over the family business. The plan should address how Taira can facilitate her
role as daughter, leader, and change agent to make a successful transition from
the boss’s daughter to CEO. In essence how will Taira best use her individual
skills to transition to her new role as CEO?
Outcomes
Met:
·
use
leadership theories, assessment tools, and an understanding of the role of
ethics, values, and attitudes to evaluate and enhance personal leadership
skills
·
develop and
implement methods for establishing a constructive organizational structure and
culture that fosters positive employee and employer relationships
·
evaluate
the culture and policies of an organization to recommend and implement
improvements that support its vision, success, and sustainability
·
assess the
interactions between the external environment and the organization to foster
responsible and effective leadership and organizational practices
Instructions:
Step 1: Review “How to Analyze a Case Study” under Week 4 Content.
Step 2:
Create a Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document that is single-spaced,
double-spaced between paragraphs, 12-point font. The final product will
be between 4-5 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page.
Step 3: Review the assignment grading rubric.
Step 4:
Follow this format:
·
Title page
with title, your name, the course, the instructor’s name;
·
Introduction
paragraph in which purpose of the plan is explained.
·
Body
Paragraphs:
·
Evaluate
Taira’s current role in the business;
·
Discussion
Taira’s plans for business future;
·
What
individual Leadership skills does Taira need to accomplish business goals?
·
Identify
leadership relationship building challenges that are facing Taira;
·
Assess the
environment for change in her plan.
·
Summary
paragraph
Step 5:
In writing a case study, the writing is in the third person. What this
means is that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person
writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If
uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person
Step 6:
In writing this assignment, students are asked to support the reasoning using
in-text citations and a reference list. A reference within a reference
list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa.
View the sample APA paper under Week 4 content
Step 7:
In writing this assignment, students are expected to paraphrase and not use
direct quotes. Learn to paraphrase by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html
Step 8:
Read critically and analyze the scenario provided under Week 6 Content.
Step 9:
Jot down or highlight key facts from the scenario. Consider making an
outline to capture key points in the paper.
Step 10:
In your paper, respond to the following elements of leadership and plan design:
·
Evaluate
Taira’s current role in the business and how that affects her leadership
potential
·
Describe
specifically Taira’s business plans now and in the future (e.g. vision and
mission, green plans etc.);
·
Leader as
individual- assessments; style, and ways that Taira can best establish her
personal self with the employees;
·
Identify
the relationship building challenges facing Taira including current management
staff and father and ways she can build the relationships to meet her goals;
·
Assess the
environment for change and how Taira will implement the ideas she has to build
her future at the business.
Step 11:
Create the introductory paragraph. The introductory paragraph is the
first paragraph of the paper but is typically written after writing the body of
the paper (Questions students responded to above). View this website to
learn how to write an introductory paragraph: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
Step 12:
Write a summary paragraph. A summary paragraph restates the main idea(s)
of the essay. Make sure to leave a reader with a sense that the essay is
complete. The summary paragraph is the last paragraph of a paper.
Step 13: Using
the grading rubric as a comparison, read through the paper to ensure all
required elements are presented.
Step 14: Proofread
the paper for spelling and grammatical issues, and third person writing.
·
Use the spell and grammar check in Word as a first measure;
·
Have someone who has excellent English skills to proof the paper;
·
Consider submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC). The
EWC will provide 4-6 areas that may need improvement.
Step 15:
Submit the paper in the Assignment Folder.
