Assign 2

In this assignment, I'm asking you to look inward and identify several errors we all make in deciding on why others do things, as well as creating excuses for mistakes we make. First, read Chapter 3, then think back to your own experiences.

Instructions: 

1. Discuss a workplace example of an attribution you have made as well as the cause. (Remember that "attribution involves forming beliefs about the causes of behavior or events." (section 3.3). (Be sure to use the Attribution Theory Process to explain the situation. (Exhibit 3.5). You may use a personal example if you don't have a workplace example.)   5 pts.

2. Discuss an example of an attribution error you have made at work. Was it a self-serving bias? Perhaps it was a fundamental attribution error? 5 pts 

3. Describe the difference between these two errors. Next, using your example in #2, see if you can explain how your attribution error may have impacted the effectiveness of your communication. 10 pts

Assign 3

Assignment #3: Proposed Focus Project Outline due Week 3

By the end of the term, each of you is required to complete a Focus Project on a topic in this course. I have provided the instructions for the final Focus Project below that may help you with your outline.

Instructions for assignment #3:  Submit your plan outline for your Focus Project by responding to the 6 questions below:

1. What topic did you choose for your Focus Project (Review the list of possible topics below for ideas that correspond to weekly lesson topics)? 1 pt. 
2. Why did you select this focus topic? 3 pts.
3. What 3 subtopics will you consider? 1 pt
4. How you will present the information: PowerPoint presentation with a written script, write a paper, oral video presentation, etc.? 1 pt.
5. Write a brief overview of your plan for the project. How does this apply to you, your workplace, a company you are interested in, a topic for interviews, etc.? 3 pts.
6. What specific outside articles or research studies do you plan to use and reference, along with information in the text? (name at least two) 1 pt. 

Here is an example of a Topic Approval Outline

Topic: How Leaders Overcome Challenges in Multi-Cultural Teams. This applies to my work situation since I participate in a diverse work team and we have various challenges that get in the way of meeting our team goals. I will be presenting what a diverse team is along with specific challenges and ways to overcome these challenges. Also, I will be examining the pros and cons of strategies for managing challenges and coming up with a realistic action plan to help our team become more inclusive and productive.

Throughout my project, 

Subtopics:

1. Definition of Multi-Cultural Teams
2. Specific Challenges of Multi-Cultural Teams
3. Strategies to overcome these Challenges 
4. Pros and or Cons of using these strategies
5. Create an action plan
6. Summarize how to use this plan in the future. 

Sources: Common challenges of a multicultural team, 7 Multicultural Team Challenges And Solutions and text chapter 10: "Multicultural Teams"

Make sure to check grammar and spelling. If there are numerous mistakes, you will be marked down accordingly. Also, write your work and save it as .pdf or .docx and "submit" it to the Assignments box by the due date. Thanks!

Here are a few questions to help guide you in finding a topic that you find of interest and want to know more about and apply. 

1. How can Intrinsic rewards and Extrinsic rewards be used to effectively motivate employees?

2. What are effective and meaningful employee performance appraisals?

3. Why is the quality of group decision-making beneficial? 

6. What can leaders do to effectively manage individual differences in the workplace?

7. What types of challenges occur in multicultural teams and how can the organization or team leader overcome these?

8. What is work conflict and what conflict resolution strategies can be used in groups or an individual employee?

9. How can an organization or team leader overcome barriers to effective communication?

10. How are the different leadership roles that are effective in supporting self-managed work teams?

11. Why organizational change may be necessary and ways to encourage changes? 

12. How can leaders increase creative decision-making within their teams?

13. How can an organization minimize stereotypes and hidden biases so employees feel safe and inclusive?

Please be flexible, I may ask you to change your topic if there are several student proposals on the same topic. 

(Below are the Instructions for the final Focus Project due in Week 9 to give you a sense of future requirements and expectations.)

• Choose a topic that interests you and do research, interviews, observations, etc. to learn strategies or processes that you will be able to use in your work or your life. (You will need to get the topic approved by your instructor).  The format can be a paper, PowerPoint presentation with a written script, or video narrative PowerPoint presentation.
• Examine the topic from the viewpoint of at least two different resources, plus the text. 
• Length: minimum 800- 900 words (approximately 3 pages or a minimum of 8 slides for PowerPoint Presentation)

Respond to the following below:

1. Introduce your topic and provide a preview including a list of at least four of your subtopics on what you will address in your presentation. 10 pts. 

2. Clearly explain ideas and views of what you learned from your research. Make sure to identify your sources and use references and quotes.  15 pts

3. Describe several pros and cons you found after researching your topic, be specific. Use references. 10 pts

4. Develop a detailed action plan including various strategies and why you chose these strategies. along with how they will have a positive impact on your plan.10 pts

5. Summarize in a strong paragraph, how you could use your plan in the future. 5 pts

6. Cite the sources embedded in the content of your presentation and correctly use a References Page. Be sure to cite the name of the publication, author, date, and page or location. 10 pts

7. Format: Use a title and subtitles, double-spacing if writing a paper, and correct spelling and grammar. 5 pts

8. I encourage you to use graphs, and graphics supporting your plan or topic, offering +5 extra credit points. 

Assign 4

Assignment #4: Decision-Making

Decision-Making Elements in 6.2 Perceptions and Managerial Decision-Making: (Remember to incorporate some of these decision-making elements in your response to Scenario #1 or Scenario #2)

• Characteristics of managerial decision-making
• systems of decision-making in the brain
• Programmed and nonprogrammed decisions.
• Barriers to making effective decision-making difficult
• Quality group decision-making

Instructions:

Select one Scenario from the two below and use the decision-making elements above to help guide your answer. Use at least three specific references from the text readings in your reply to all questions. You can use an example from your work if you choose one that may have a similar circumstance (like the first one). Each Scenario is worth 20 pts.

Scenario # 1: You have been asked whether your organization should expand from selling its products only in North America to selling its products in Europe as well.

1. What information would you want to collect? 10 pts
2. Who would you want to discuss the idea with before making a decision? 5 pts
3. Reference your responses identifying the text chapter number, title, and subtitle name 5 pts

OR

Scenario #2: Your manager has asked you to take the lead on a new and creative project. They have encouraged you to create your own team (from existing employees) to work with you on the project.

1. What factors would you want to consider in deciding who should join your project team? 5 pts 
2. What would you want to do as the team leader to increase the likelihood that the group will be successful in making decisions? 10 pts 
3. Reference your responses identifying the text chapter number, title, and subtitle name 5 pts

(n.d.). In Organizational Behavior. Houston, Texas: OpenStax. Retrieved from: https://openstax.org/books/organizational-behavior/pages/6-managerial-decision-exercises

Assign 5

Assignment #5: Leadership

Instructions: Write a minimum of four detailed paragraphs following the formatting tips below.

• Explain your understanding of the Transformational Leadership style. 5 pts.
• Write a comprehensive analysis of how these skills reflect upon 9 pts.
• Professional ethics,
• Employee Sustainability
• Social responsibility
• Embed three references to the reading with quotes in your content for each of the subtopics to support your thoughts (cite the text including title number, name, and subtitle name). 4 pts. 
• Use one or more links to external articles and reference specific parts of the articles (embedded in your content) to support your thoughts. 2 pts.

Format Tips

Include these four paragraphs in 600 words:

1. My understanding of the Transformational Leadership style is….. (write an explanation) (use a reference)
2. Here's how this style might/does make ethical decisions….(write an explanation with an example) (use a reference)
3. Here's an example of how this style might/does help an organization incorporate sustainable practices for employee engagement….(write an explanation with an example) (use a reference)
4. Here's an example of how this leadership style might/does help an organization manage employees in a socially responsible manner. (write an explanation with an example) (use a reference)

Assign 6

Assignment #6: Self-Assessments

Instructions:  Follow the format below for each of these 3 self-assessments:

1. Chapter 13: Bases of Power
2. Chapter 13: How Political Are You?
3. Chapter 14: What is your approach to conflict resolution

Format

• Describe your results – 3 pts.
• What did you learn about yourself – give specific examples? 5 pts.
• What might you do about what you learned – how was this useful? 2 pts
• Describe a couple of strategies managers could implement in helping employees deal with individual differences in the workplace. Refer to specific paragraphs in this week's reading assignment (cite the text including title number, name, and subtitle name). 10 pts. 

(n.d.). In Organizational Behavior. Houston, Texas: OpenStax. Retrieved from https://openstax.org/books/organizational-behavior/pages/13-management-skills-application-exercises

Assign 8

Assignment #8: Organizational Structures

Instructions

Read Chapter 16 and specifically 16.1, 16.2, and 16.3. Next select one of the Choices below:

Choice 1

Refer to Exhibit 16.2, Exhibit 16.3, and Exhibit 16.5 for this exercise.

1. Pick a business that you are familiar with, and draw their existing organizational chart. You may be able to infer much of the information from their website or through a short interview with someone in their organization. After completing this task: 

2. Construct an alternative organizational chart and comment on why it may be more effective than the current organizational structure and what risks that new structure may have.

3.Write at least three paragraphs, use descriptions from the text (cite the text including title number, name, and subtitle name), or refer to the exhibits on the different types of organizational structures and change models. 20 pts.

OR

Choice 2

You have been assigned the task of working with a company that had a traditional, functional organizational structure with sales, marketing, product development, finance and accounting, and operations teams, each reporting to a VP, who then reported to the CEO. The company wants to move to a matrix organization that will retain the efficiencies of the functional organization but also group employees by product teams.

You have been asked to comment on managing this change and communicating and responding to employee concerns. Specifically, your response to the following questions: 20 pts. 

1. What are the desired impacts or benefits of moving to a matrix structure for the organization? (Include descriptions from the text to the exhibits on the different types of organizational structures and change models)
2. What are your employees' emotions about this organizational change in structure? 
3. How could the employee's emotions impact the organization or its operations? 
4. How can the organization manage these emotions, or in what ways should it manage them to achieve the desired outcome?

 In your responses to the above questions, provide text references and citations, including title number, name, and subtitle name.

(n.d.). In Organizational Behavior. Houston, Texas: OpenStax. Retrieved https://openstax.org/books/organizational-behavior/pages/16-managerial-decision-exercises