Graded Homework

Week 5 Learning Activities

Learning Activity

Organization serves as the conduit in which management or a manager uses to control the organization by systematically aligning people and resources in such a way to accomplish a specific objective.

NOTE: For this activity you will be forced to argue for one perspective or the other. (Again, even if you do not actually agree, you must argue for the position you have been assigned!)

If your last name begins with a letter from A-H, you will present arguments for why a hierarchical structure is superior to a flat structure in the modern business environment.

If your last names beings with a letter from K-Z, you will present arguments for why flat structures are to be preferred to more hierarchical structures in the modern business environment.

Again:

last name A-H: hierarchy is best

last name K-Z: flat is best

Create an initial post by:

Addressing Theme 1 by:

1. Comparing and contrasting organizational structure and culture.

Addressing Theme 2 by:

1. Defining and describing organizational structure in general.
2. Identifying and describing four organizational structures.

Addressing Theme 3 by:

1. Defining and describing organizational culture in general.
2. Identifying and describing four organizational cultures.
3. Presenting your respective case (last name A-H: hierarchy is best; last K-Z: flat is best), describing at least three reasons why hierarchy or flat structures are to be preferred.

You must include at least five in-text citations and three references in your initial post.

Your initial post is due by Thursday 11:59 p.m. EST.

NOTE:For this response part of the activity you will respond to two classmates who took the other position. Therefore, if you argued that hierarchies are superior, , you will respond to two classmates who argued for flat structures. (Thus, if your last name begins with a letter A-H, you will respond to someone whose last name begins with a letter K-Z, and vice versa).

Provide follow-up responses to at least two of your classmates by:

1. Evaluating the most convincing point made for the counter-perspective.
2. Evaluating the least convincing point made for the counter-perspective.
3. Offering specific suggestions about how your classmate could have made a more convincing argument.

You must include at least two in-text citations and one reference in each response.

Your two responses are due by Sunday 11:59 p.m. EST.