BMGT
464 Assignment 1: Individual Level of Analysis
BMGT 464 Assignment 1:
Individual Level of Analysis
Assignment 1: Individual
Level of Analysis – Case Study Analysis
Due: January 31, by 11:59 pm
Purpose:
- To recognize and better understand the effect of individual characteristics and behavior (individual level of analysis) on organizational performance and effectiveness.
Related to the following course
objective:
- Maximize individual contributions to the organization based on an understanding of individual behavior
Deliverable:
Three to four-page paper, in
addition to a cover page containing your name, the course name, the date, and
the professor’s name, and bibliography.
Introduction to Assignment
For this assignment, you will read
and analyze Case Study 1: Reach for the Stars—Developing Salespeople, Achieving
Organizational Success. The case describes information and key observations
concerning manager and worker behavior. You will identify and—to evidence
critical thinking skills—analyze the critical incidents (problems, situations,
issues, and consequences) in the case influencing individual and organizational
performance and effectiveness, and make appropriate recommendations to improve
problems, meet challenges, and take advantage of
opportunities. Overall, your analysis should include:
- Identification and explanation of all relevant OB concepts and theories, using examples where appropriate
- Explanation of the specific case characteristics, incidents and/or situations that addresses the concepts or theories
- Analysis of the relevance of identifying and better understanding individual characteristics
- Analysis of pros and cons of key incidents or situations (i.e., what are the drawbacks and/or positives associated with the situation as it related to individual performance and/or organizational productivity and effectiveness?)
- Specific recommendations to address problems, challenges, and opportunities, and a proposed follow-up or evaluation
Read and follow all the Instructions
carefully. The paper must clearly demonstrate your ability to
understand how and why individual characteristics and behavior influence
organizational performance and effectiveness. Demonstrate critical
thinking, as described under higher thinking levels in Bloom’s Taxonomy (find
through Google). Strive to be original along with applying data, information,
and ideas from the required reading and outside research. Use
examples and research information to support claims. Use American
Psychological Association (APA) format for in-text citations and the reference
list. Use the comprehensive outline format described in Instruction
9 to present your research findings, analysis, recommendations, and significant
personal learning.
Instructions
1) Review
the assignment purpose, course objective, and introduction above and the
Assignment Grading rubric.
2) Read
the case below, Reach for the Stars—Developing
Salespeople, Achieving Organizational Success. This case was created
for BMGT 464-6380. Your analysis must evidence understanding of the
case’s specific characters, context, and circumstances. Avoid generalizations
that might apply to similar cases available on the Internet or in previous
courses.
3) Compose
a brief abstract (no longer than a paragraph) synthesizing
case highlights, putting the characters and incidents in context, and generally
setting the scene for the detailed analysis to follow.
4) Identify
and analyze at least three critical incidents (problems,
situations, issues, and consequences) in the case that influenced individual
and organizational performance and effectiveness. Explain how and
why you think the incidents influenced individual and organizational
performance and effectiveness. Discuss the pros and cons of
key incidents or situations (i.e., what are the drawbacks and/or
positives associated with the situation as it related to individual performance
and/or organizational productivity and effectiveness?)
5) Make
appropriate recommendations to
address problems, meet challenges, and take advantage of opportunities,
and propose follow-up or evaluation.
6) Draw
data, information, and ideas from at least six required resources (at least two
from each of Weeks 1, 2, and 3) listed in the weekly Schedules, plus at least
two credible, authoritative, relevant outside sources for a total of at least
eight references.Your outside references should show
a mix of scholarly and applied/practical sources, largely drawn from UMUC’s
Information Library System (ILS), and including classic writings. Review APA
citation materials and Tips on Research Sources in Course Content. Cite
research sources within the paper’s body using APA in-text
formatting. Include a Reference list with complete source
information at the end of the paper. See specific formatting and
heading template instructions below in Instruction 9. Alphabetize
references under each subheading. Please note my preference for including
publication date within in-text citations. You are expected to paraphrase,
using quotes only when the source’s verbatim statements uniquely enhance
meaning and understanding. Deductions will be taken when quotes are overused
and found to be unnecessary. See examples below:
In-text citation:
(Casey, 2002, p. 50). [Include
publication date]
Reference citation:
Casey, C. (2002). Critical
Analysis of Organizations: Theory, practice, revitalization. London: Sage.
7) Identify
and present in bold font at least six different OB concepts,
theories, methods, strategies, or practices in your analysis. Demonstrate through context and/or endnotes your understanding
of the terms’ definition and meaningfulness to the meet the assignment’s
purpose and course objectives.
8) Determine
what significant learning and understanding you gained from your research and
analysis. Identify and evaluate at least
three valuable take-aways you learned from your organization change
analysis, and how you envision specifically applying them to your job or
career.
9) Use
the outline below for headings and subheadings. Your deliverable will use a comprehensive
outline format with expository content under each heading to present your
analysis, evaluation and recommendations in standard composition style. Feel
free to add other headings, subheadings or make modifications as your findings,
ideas, and assertions dictate. Use examples and cite support sources as
presented above.
- Title page (your name, the course name, assignment, the name of the organization, the date, and instructor’s name)
- Case abstract
- Critical incidents (occurrence, fact, change, e.g., product diversification and market growth as reflected by “expanded its product line from aging-related to sports injury-related medical supplies and equipment” in the case study)
Critical incident 1
Critical incident 2
Critical incident 3
[and so forth]
- Recommendations (e.g., offer workshops or individual coaching with personality tests to more effectively identify, validate, share, and utilize personality traits, preference strengths, job-fit methods, and interactionist perspectives—see Saylor/OBsection 3.1)
- Follow up (or evaluation—this is an area in which outside research and resources would be a plus; e.g., how will management determine if the intervention recommended above actually worked? Perhaps assessing personality trait-based problem behavior during performance refers could work, or including manager reports from the personality tests referred to, say, three and six months after the intervention would provide useful results…?)
- Significant learning (see Instruction 8 for details about take-aways)
Learning or Take-away 1
Learning or Take-away 2
Learning or Take-away 3:
and so forth
- References (required course materials and outside research sources)
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