BUS 318 All Discussions (Week 1 to Week 5)
Week 1 Discussions:
Week 1 DQ 1: Attribution Theory
Your boss has recently heard a little about attribution theory and has asked you to explain it to him in more detail, focusing on its possible usefulness in managing your department. How do you address his request? Please make sure you indicate your department. .
Week 1 DQ 2: Career Planning
Describe how career planning is useful throughout ones career and is not just carried out during initial entry.
Week 2 Discussions:
Week 2 DQ 1: ERG Theory:
Give an example of how the ERG theory could be used to explain your motivation to work in a job you have had. Be specific.
Week 2 DQ 2: Compressed Work Week:
What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of a compressed work week? Would you want to work in a compressed work week? Why or why not?
Week 3 Discussions
Week 3 DQ 1: Managing a High-Performance Team
While surfing the Internet, you encounter this note posted in your favorite discussion group: Help! I have just been assigned to head a new product design team at my company. The division manager has high expectations for the team and me, but I have been a technical design engineer for four years since graduating from college. I have never managed anyone, let alone led a team. The manager keeps talking about her confidence that I will create a high-performance team. Does anyone out there have any tips to help me master this challenge? Help! [signed] Galahad. As a good citizen of the Internet, you decide to answer. What message will you send out?
Week 3 DQ 2: Strategy and Influence
Identify and explain at least four strategies of managerial influence. Give examples of how each strategy may or may not work when exercising influence, both downward and upward, in organizations. Give examples of each based on experiences you have had at a job.
Week 4 Discussions
Week 4 DQ 1: Unplanned Change
Describe a situation where you have encountered unplanned change. What did you do? Would you do it differently now? Thinking back, what were the other options at the time and why did you not choose them?
Week 4 DQ 2: Organizational Communication
“People in this organization dont talk to one another anymore. Everything is e-mail, e-mail, e-mail. If you are mad at someone, you can just say it and then hide behind your computer. With these words, Joe expressed his frustrations with Delta Generals operations. Charley echoed his concerns, responding, I agree, but surely the managing director should be able to improve organizational communication without losing the advantages of e-mail. As a consultant overhearing this conversation, how do you suggest the managing director respond to Charleys challenge?
Week 5 Discussions
Week 5 DQ 1: Negotiating Salary
Discuss the common pitfalls you would expect to encounter in negotiating your salary for your first job, and explain how you would best try to deal with them. Share any experiences you have had that you feel might help your peers in the future. Respond to at least two of your classmates posts.
Week 5 DQ 2: Organizational Controls
Describe some of the side effects of organizational controls in a large mechanistically structured organization, such as the United States Postal Service. Identify at least one other large mechanistically structured organization that could have the same problems. Respond to at least two of your classmates posts.