grand canyon mgt240
Week 1 Discussion november 2014
dq 1
Discuss the differences between the traditional management pyramid
and the upside down pyramid. What managerial skills and competencies do you
expect to be emphasized in the upside down pyramid? Explain your answer.
dq 2
Based on what you have learned about the four functions of
management and how they are interrelated, share a real world example of where
you have seen these functions in action either successfully or unsuccessfully.
dq 3
How well do you think your organization performs its key goals of
providing the goods or services that your customers want or need the most?
grand canyon mgt240
Week 2 Discussion november 2014
dq1
Using examples, show how the “deficit” and “progression”
principles operate in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory within an
organizational setting.
dq 2
Why is the external environment important in the open systems view
of organizations?
dq 3
Select any three management theories (from different approaches).
What is the significance of those theories to modern day management practice?
grand canyon mgt240
Week 3 Discussion DQ 1,dq 2 & dq 3
november 2014
dq 1
Using examples from your experience, discuss the importance of
planning to the practice of management.
dq 2
What is the importance of an organization’s mission, values, and
objectives to planning as a function of management?
dq 3
Explain the concept of management by objectives and explain how it
is used in organizations.
grand canyon mgt240
Week 4 Discussion DQ 1,dq 2 & dq 3
november 2014
dq 1
What role does organizing play as a function of management?
Explain how the flat organizational structure differs from other types of
formal organizational structures.
dq 2
How is the choice of an organization’s structure related to the
environment in which it operates?
dq 3
Think of your organization and its resources. Do the managers
utilize organizational resources effectively? Which resources contribute most
to the organization’s performance?
grand canyon mgt240
Week 5 Discussion DQ 1,dq 2 & dq 3
november 2014
dq 1
It has long been a dictum of management theory that leaders must
adapt their behavior to fit the specifics of a situation. Evaluate whether
transformational leadership is appropriate for all occasions. In what
situations might it not be effective?
dq 2
Using an organization with which you are familiar, identify ways
through which feedforward and feedback controls can be used to assure a high
quality final outcome.
dq3
Describe the key sources of power and explain how each power base
can be turned into influence.
grand canyon mgt240
Week 6 Discussion DQ 1,dq 2 & dq 3
november 2014
dq 1
What is the importance of communication to the four functions of
management? What are the different barriers to communication and how can they
be overcome? (Hint: Use both your textbook and the GCU lecture).
dq 2
Compare and contrast one content and one process theory of
motivation. In your opinion, why would two people with similar abilities have
very different levels of performance? If you were the manager, what would you
do and why?
dq 3
Identify and explain the alternative work arrangements that are
available for improving work-life balance.
grand canyon mgt240
Week 7 Discussion DQ 1,dq 2 & dq 3
november 2014
dq 1
Based upon the assigned readings (Drucker’s “The Coming of
the New Organization” and Zahra’s “The Changing Rules of Global
Competitiveness in the 21st Century”), identify at least four changes (two
from each article) that you think have been the most significant cause of
change to the way that your organization operates. In what ways do you think
managers’ jobs have changed in your organization?
dq 2
For your organization, or one with which you are familiar,
identify the factors that operate in its general and specific environments. Why
is it important for managers to understand the factors that affect their
organization?
dq 3
Using an organization with which you are familiar, identify its
core culture and the elements of its observable culture. What do you think
needs to be changed to align your culture to the elements in the environment?
