You will need to write a 4-5 page paper, including at least 4 references (including the text; other references can be interviews, articles on the company, the company website, or articles on the management topic you’re focusing on), double spaced, 12 point font. Armed with the theory and principles that we discuss in this class, your job is to identify, analyze, and solve an organizational problem of a real organization here in the Pacific Northwest. You will conduct research to identify best practices and feasible, actionable solutions. Please use APA format for your references (no title or abstract necessary) to properly cite your research in your paper (abstracts and a title page are not required). All information that you use from outside sources must be documented. When in doubt, cite your work! Please don’t hesitate to ask me if you are in doubt about whether or not to cite something, and how to cite. I take plagiarism very seriously, and I urge you to make use of our fabulous writing centers if you have questions on how to properly cite articles. ANY PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN, AT MINIMUM, A FAILING GRADE ON THE ASSIGNMENT, AND MAXIMUM, A FAILING GRADE IN THE COURSE.
Suggested Steps for Success:
Step 1: Identify a target organization
Step 2: Target an organizational problem.
The problem you choose to address may be one that you have identified or one that is identified by talking to a manager or coworker in the employing organization. The problem that you choose must also be one that can be helped by applying the concepts that we discuss in class. Remember that the more specific the problem is that you identify, the more useful your recommendations will be. I prefer in-depth exploration of a single targeted problem to general statements.
Step 3: Gather relevant information.
The next step in this project is to analyze the problem that you have chosen to address. This step can involve, but is not limited to, any combination of: interviewing individuals involved with the organization, observing the organization to get a firsthand view of the situation, administering surveys and questionnaires, and reviewing any relevant information that is available through organizational publications and communications (i.e., annual reports), or through articles or stories found in mainstream media outlets (i.e., TV, newspapers, magazines, Internet). The more information you gather, the more of a complete picture you are likely to have and the better understanding you will have of the situation.
Step 4: Analyze information to diagnose problems and suggest solutions.
Your analysis should focus on what organizational, individual and interpersonal/group level dynamics may have caused the problem, and as a consequence, how the problem can be solved. After identifying the problem and analyzing the situation, it is up to you to develop viable solutions for solving the problem. These solutions MUST be based on topics covered in class. While topics are limited to those that are covered in this class, material about these topics may come from the book, lectures, cases, class discussions, management journals, or any other credible source. When developing solutions, think about the strengths of your solution (i.e., why and how it will help resolve the problem) as well as weaknesses of your solution (i.e. things that might keep that solution from being completely successful). You will also develop an action plan that details how your solution will be implemented in order to solve or alleviate the organizational problem.
Class is princables of Behavior