mgt521 - syllabus

SyllabusMGT/521 Version 7

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SyllabusSchool of BusinessMGT/521 Version 7

ManagementCopyright © 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description

This course applies the tools available to University of Phoenix graduate students and the competencies of successful managers to understand the functions of business. Students develop an increased awareness of their own perceptions and values in order to manage and communicate with others more effectively. Other topics include MBA program goals, argument construction, decision making, collaboration, and academic research.

Policies

Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents:

University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.

Course Materials

Hoch, S. J., Kunreuther, H. C., & Gunther, R. E. (Eds.). (2001). Wharton on making decisions. New York, NY: Wiley.

Nickels, W. G., McHugh, J. M., & McHugh, S. M. (2010). Understanding business (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Robbins, S. P. & Judge, T. A. (2011). Organizational behavior (14th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Spatt, B. (2011). Writing from Sources (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/ St. Martin‘s.

Yukl, G. (2010). Leadership in organizations (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Constructing and Supporting an Argument

https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/policies/


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Details Due Points

Objectives 1.1 Identify channels for business communications.1.2 Evaluate credibility and validity of sources of information.1.3 Develop effective arguments.

Readings Read Ch. 11 of Organizational Behavior.

Readings Read the following sections of Writing From Sources:

“Using Evidence and Reasoning” to “Exercise 6: Analyzing an Author’s Logic” in Ch. 1

“Evaluating Print Sources” to “Exercise 28: Evaluating Internet Sources” in Ch. 8

“Accommodating Argument in Your Paragraphs” to “Integrating Your Sources: Recruiting in College Athletics” in Ch. 9

Participation Participate in class discussion. 30

Nongraded Activities and Preparation

Listen to the Course Overview podcast.Listen to the Week One podcast.Complete the final examination study guide located on the student website.

Nongraded Activities and PreparationLearning Activities

Valid and Credible Article Search:

o Locate an article from the University Library that is related to a topic or objective for this week.

o Prepare to discuss this article in class: What are the attributes of a good source—found in your readings—and describe how and why the selected article meets the criteria for selecting a credible and valid source.

Self Assessment: How Good Are My Listening Skills?

Listening is a part of communication. When making important business decisions, you will work with and listen to others. Take this self assessment located on the student website to see how good your listening skills are. To access this self-assessment:

o Select the Assessment tab, then scroll to the Working with Others section and over to Communication Skills.

o Select How Good Are My Listening Skills?o Summarize your assessment results. What kind of listener

are you? How can you use your results to help you work better with others?

National Public Radio Debates

Argumentation is foundational for your writing in an MBA program and for good persuasive writing in general.


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Listen to one of the following "Intelligence Squared Debates" provided on the National Public Radio website:

o A debate on the whether ethics are worse in the art market or the stock market:(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100557165)o A debate on Google and if it violates its motto of "Don't Be Evil": (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97216369)o A debate on who is to blame for the financial crisis:(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102312504)

Determine what argumentation practices you see illustrated in the debates. What made these arguments more effective or less effective?

Individual AssignmentCommunication Channel Scenarios

Resources: Communication Channel Scenarios located on the student website.Read the scenarios located on the student website.Answer the questions after each scenario. Be sure to select the communication channel appropriate for each scenario.Defend your responses.Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

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Week Two: Values and Managing Others

Details Due Points

Objectives 1.4 Evaluate alignment of personal values and organizational values.

1.5 Determine strategies to promote collaboration.1.6 Explain ethical decision making in a complex environment.

Readings Read Ch. 13 of Leadership in Organizations.

Readings Read “Values” to “Questions for Review” in Ch. 5 of Organizational Behavior.

Readings Read Ch. 7 of Wharton on Making Decisions.

Readings Read Ch. 14 of Wharton on Making Decisions.

Readings Read Ch. 4 of Understanding Business.

Readings Read “Leading: Providing Continuous Vision and Values” in Ch. 7 of Understanding Business.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102312504







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Readings Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.



Listen to the Week Two podcast.


Personality and Values Self-Assessment

Your personality traits and values influence your daily choices and decisions. Your traits and values will even influence the decisions you make as a business manager. Take the Personality and Values Self-Assessment located on the student website. To access the personality self-assessment:

Select the Assessment tab, then scroll to the What About Me section, and then to Personality Insights.

Select what’s My Jungian 16-Type Personality? To access your values self-assessment select the Assessment tab, then scroll to the What About Me section, and then to Values and Attitudes.

Select What Do I Value? Complete both self-assessments. Be prepared to discuss your findings in class

Learning Team Learning Team Weekly Reflection

Discuss last week’s objectives with your team. Include both the topics you feel comfortable with, topics you struggled with, and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field.

Prepare a 500+ word paper detailing the findings of your discussion.

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Learning Team Credible Information Debate

Begin a debate with your learning team.Divide your learning team evenly with one side for and one side against.Debate with your learning team whether Wikipedia is a credible and valid source of information.Refer to the debate to complete your individual assignment due this week.

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IndividualWriting an Argument

Resource: Learning team debate and Ch. 9 Writing from Sources

Write a paper of no more than 1,000 words where you are raising and countering objections regarding the decision to get an MBA.

Support your point of view as part of countering objections with research. Examples include department of labor statistics, fairly current articles on the impact of education, especially graduate education on earnings. You can also cite a source to support your use of objections as well; for example, show the objection is documented as a valid concern.

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Identify the criteria you used to evaluate the credibility of sources of information you selected.

Discuss how raising and countering objections has helped inform your own decision to get an MBA and the reason(s) you have decided to go back to school. Your paper should cite and reference at least two sources.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Week Three: Introduction to Business Analysis

Details Due Points

Objectives 1.7 Explain entrepreneurship versus working for others.1.8 Identify wants and needs of various stakeholders.1.9 Conduct SWOT analyses.



Readings Read “Planning and Decision Making” to “Decision Making: Finding the Best Alternative” in Ch. 7 of Understanding Business.

Readings Read the following sections of Leadership in Organization:

“Applications: Procedures for Developing a Vision” to “Implementing Change” in Ch. 10.

“Multiple Stakeholders and Competing Values” to “Determinants and Consequences of Ethical Leadership” in Ch. 13



Listen to the Week Three podcast.


Self Assessment: Becoming an Entrepreneur

Does entrepreneurship interest you? Have you ever thought about starting your own business? Take this entrepreneur assessment to help you determine the skills you possess and the skills to develop for you to become an entrepreneur. The self assessment is located on the student website. o Select the Assessment tab, then scroll to the What About

Me section, and then to Other. o Select Am I Likely to Become an Entrepreneur? o Describe what it takes to become an entrepreneur. Do you


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have what it takes to become an entrepreneur? o Explain your answer.

Kudler Fine Food SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis provides companies with important information about its internal and external environment. Management can use a SWOT analysis to make informed business decisions. o Visit the Virtual Business Portal located on the student

website to read about Kudler Fine Foods. Specifically, look at the company’s strategic plan to review Kudler’s SWOT analysis.

o Describe the information the analysis provides. o Explain how management could use the information to

make business decisions.

Identifying Stakeholders: Riordan Manufacturing

As a manager, it is important for you to recognize and respond to the needs of your stakeholders. o Visit the Virtual Business Portal located on the student

website. o Visit Kudler Fine Foods and review the company’s

stakeholders identified in the strategic plan. o Visit Riordan Manufacturing. Identify the company’s

stakeholders. Describe what the company does to meet their needs.

Learning TeamLearning Team Weekly Reflection

Resources: Conflict Scenario located on the student website.

Read the scenario and discuss with your team strategies to resolve the conflict in the scenario to achieve the desired goal or objective.Look at it from the perspective of the manager.Prepare a 500+ word paper detailing the findings of your discussion.Format your summary consistent with APA guidelines.

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Learning TeamValues and Ethical Decision Making

Resources: Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory

Perform the Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory Assessment.

Select an organization to research or use your own organization.

Write a paper no more than 1,500 words evaluating personal values, organizational values, and ethical decision making.

Discuss one team member’s results from the inventory and how the results align and do not align with the organization you selected.

Think of a scenario in which the selected team member would make a different ethical decision from the organization and answer the

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following questions.

Based on the outcome of the Ethics Awareness Inventory, what is the most likely decision-making process your selected team member would go through to make the ethical decision based on their values?

What is the most likely decision-making process the organization would go through to make the ethical decision based on its values?


Week Four: The Business Environment

Details Due Points

Objectives 1.10 Conduct benchmarking analyses.1.11 Explain the basic tenets of managerial accounting and

financial accounting.1.12 Identify the effects of technology utilization on business. 1.13 Identify the effects of globalization on business.




Readings Read Bonus Ch. B of Understanding Business.

Readings Read “Benchmarking and Core Competencies” to “Restructuring for Empowerment” in Ch. 8 of Understanding Business.




Listen to the Week Four podcast.


Finance Tutorial: Evaluating A Firm

Financial statements can be used as tools for evaluating a firm’s financial performance. Complete the Finance tutorial located on the student website to gather some tips about how to evaluate a firms’ performance.

o Select Chapter 3: Evaluating a Firm’s Financial


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Performance. o Select the tab on the left titled Lecture Notes. Read

through the lecture notes. o Complete the “Try It Now” exercises along the way. After

completing the tutorial, brainstorm a list of strategies you can use for evaluating a firm’s financial performance.

Business Line of Credit:

Businesses must seek options to obtain short-term or long-term financing.

o Visit a local bank or research a bank’s website to identify the types of financing available to businesses.

o Describe the types of financing available for small and large businesses.

Video Case: "Walt Disney Imagineering"

Companies can benefit from entering the global market. Before entering the global market companies must make some critical decisions, such as where, when, and how they will enter the global market.

o Watch the video case: "Walt Disney Imagineering" located on the student website to see the decisions one company had to make when it entered into the global market.

o Describe the challenges the company faced entering the global market.

o Explain the decisions the company made.

Learning TeamLearning Team Weekly Reflection

Resources: Video Case: “iContact: Blazing the trail for email marketing” located on the student website.Watch the Video Case “iContact: Blazing the trail for email marketing”Discuss the case with your team and the Thinking it Over Questions with your team. Prepare a 500+ word paper detailing the findings of your discussion and answers to the questions at the end of the video case.

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IndividualBusiness Analysis Part I

Write a paper no more than 2,200 words in which you assume the role of a mutual fund manager deciding whether to invest in a specific company. You will conduct a business analysis in the remaining weeks based on the company you select.

Select a Fortune 500 company.

Conduct a SWOT analysis for the organization you selected. Based on the information you have gained from this analysis which parts of the SWOT analysis are most relevant to your decision of whether or not to invest in this company?

Identify the company’s internal and external stakeholders.

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Describe their wants and needs.

Explain how the company is fulfilling those needs. If the company is not fulfilling those explain why the stakeholders’ needs are not being met and what the company needs to do to ensure they are.


Week Five: Business Overview

Details Due Points

Objectives 1.14 Identify methodologies for adapting different types of businesses to changing markets.

1.15 Determine the impact of economics on business.1.16 Describe the role of human resource management in

achieving business goals.






Listen to the Week Five podcast.


Economic Tutorial: “The Relationship of Basic Decision Making Units in the Market”

Firms and households play a large role in the economy. Complete the Economic tutorial located on the student website to learn more about the role both play. o Select Chapter 1: Demand, Supply, and Market

Equilibrium. o Select the tab on the left called Lecture Notes. Read

through the lecture notes. After completing the tutorial describe the role firms and households play in the economy.

o Provide an example to illustrate the relationship between these basic units in the economy.

Selecting the Right Employees

One task of the human resource manager is to hire employees. Different companies seek different types of employees. A


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human resource manager must find for employees who will help the company achieve its goals.

o Watch the Video Case: “Patagonia: Making a difference” located on the student website.

o Explain how a human resource manager selects potential candidates at Patagonia to achieve company goals. What tactics does Patagonia use to satisfy its employees?


Discuss last week’s objectives with your team. Include the topics you feel comfortable with, you struggle with, and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field.


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IndividualBusiness Analysis Part II

Continue your business analysis using the company you selected in Week Four.

Write a paper no more than 2,400 words in which you research the company’s business environment.

Review the company’s income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow to determine the financial health of the company. Be sure to compare your company to at least two other companies in the industry. Be sure to answer the following:

What have you learned about the company by reviewing each statement?

Is there information in any of these statements that concerns you? If so describe what it is and what it concerns.

How can management use this information moving forward?

Summarize the company’s financial health. How does it compare to other companies in the industry?

Include a summary of the company’s technological advantages, or lack thereof, in comparison to at least two other companies in the same industry.

Describe how globalization has affected the company’s business strategies.

Conduct a benchmarking analysis. Be sure your analysis includes the following in comparison with other companies in the same industry:

Best practices Operational processes and procedures Products or services


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Week Six: Business Analysis

Details Due Points

Objectives 1.17 Perform business analyses.1.18 Differentiate between strategy and tactics.




Listen to the Week Six podcast.


Strategy and tactics: Kudler Fine Food

Strategies and tactics are important for achieving business goals. A strategy is an idea and tactics are the actions taken for executing a strategy.

o Visit the Virtual Business Portal located on the student website to read about Kudler Fine Foods.

o Identify one strategy and the tactics Kudler Fine Foods used to execute the strategy.

Video: “Evan Williams on Twitter”

Providing a service or a product to the entire world is not an easy task.

o Watch this interview located in this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings with Twitter’s co-founder to discover his plan for serving the entire world.

o Describe the strategies and tactics the company plans on using to expand and serve the entire world.


Discuss last week’s objectives with your team. Your discussion should include the topics you feel comfortable with, you struggle with, and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field.


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IndividualBusiness Analysis Part III

Finish your business analysis using the company you selected in Week Four.

Write a paper of no more than 3,500 words reviewing the strategic initiatives taken by the company relative to organizational and operational adaptation to changing markets.

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Explain the following in your paper:

How recent economic trends are influencing the business Strategies the company has used or could use for adapting

to changing markets, such as an economic downturn or recession

Tactics the company has implemented or could implement to achieve their strategic goals

The role human resource management plays in helping the company achieve its business goals

If you would be willing to invest in this company as a mutual fund manager

Write a conclusion for your overall business analysis. Be sure to support your conclusion with information you have gathered from parts one and two of your business analysis.


IndividualFinal Exam

Final Examination

Resources: Understanding Business, Organizational Behavior, and Leadership in Organizations

Click the link to the Final Examination on the student website available from the end of Week Five through the end of Week Six.

Complete the Final Examination. You are allowed one attempt to complete the exam, which is timed and must be completed in 3 hours. Results are auto graded and sent to your instructor.

Note. Final Examination questions are adapted from the Understanding Business, Organizational Behavior, and Leadership in Organizations textbooks.

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Optional Discussion Questions

Week One Discussion Questions

Select a channel used for business communication. What are the advantages and challenges of that form of communication? Provide an example when you have used that form of communication or when someone else has used that form of communication with you. Did it work well for that situation? Why or why not?

How would you use credentials, impartiality, style and tone, and currency criteria in evaluating the credibility and validity of your sources of information? Be sure to provide specific examples.

What mistakes should be avoided when presenting an argument and why are these important in developing effective arguments? Be sure to provide specific examples.

How might presenting effective arguments differ in the classroom, daily life, and your job? Would you use different types of supporting evidence to make your argument? Explain.


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Week Two Discussion Questions

What strategies have been used to promote collaboration at your place of employment or a company you are familiar with? Have these strategies been successful or unsuccessful? Explain. Would you recommend implementing other strategies to promote collaboration? If so, what would those be?

What are some real world examples of ethical and unethical practices you have read about, seen in the news, or encountered at your place of employment? What were the outcomes of those practices?

How can values and communication styles impact intercultural collaboration in a diversified organization?

How would protected values, preferences, and laws affect consistency in making ethical decisions? What strategies would you develop and implement to attain consistent ethical decision making?

Week Three Discussion Questions

From the results of your Ethics Awareness Inventory, do your personal values align with your organizational values? Explain. If there is a misalignment between your personal values and your organizational values, what would be an appropriate response to this misalignment?

What attributes do successful entrepreneurs possess? Which attribute do you feel is the most important and why?

Who are the stakeholders in your place of employment or in a company with which you are familiar? What are their wants and needs? How does management meet their needs? What difficulties arise in balancing the needs of the various stakeholders?

What are some potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that a business should consider in a SWOT analysis? How can a business benefit from gathering this information?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of entrepreneurship? What steps can government take to encourage entrepreneurship?

Week Four Discussion Questions

How could benchmarking be effectively used to achieve competitive advantage? Provide an example.

What information is gained through managerial accounting? How can a business use this information? As an investor in a small business, what sorts of things may concern you regarding a firm’s financial statements?

What are some of the benefits of using technology in managing information and human resources in business? What technology is used at your place of employment to manage information and human resources?

How has outsourcing to other countries affected U.S. businesses? Have the results been mostly positive, or mostly negative? If you had the authority to stop U.S. businesses from outsourcing, would you do that? Why or why not?

Week Five Discussion Questions

How can organizational restructuring enable specific types of business attain competitive advantage in a changing market? Provide specific examples.


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What are some of the negative impacts of the U.S. recession on for-profit and non-profit business?

How does the local, state, or national economy affect your business or place of employment? Provide examples.

How does training and development improve employee motivation, increase productivity, and increase retention for the benefit of the business?

Week Six Discussion Questions

In performing a business analysis, what significant accounting and financial information must be considered? Why is this information important? How can management use this information?

What factors would you consider in determining your business strategy and how would you decide on what tactics to use in order to execute your strategy?

What specific tactics can be used in implementing Porter’s generic strategies of differentiation and cost leadership?

Now that you have gone through the process of conducting a business analysis, what are the most important factors you will consider as you make your own investment decisions?

Copyright

University of Phoenix® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Microsoft®, Windows®, and Windows NT® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation.

Final Examinations contain third-party copyrighted materials. Portions are:Copyright © 2011 University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2011 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2011 McGraw-Hill/Irwin. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2011 Wiley. All rights reserved.

mgt521 - syllabus

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