Assignment:
1. There are many types of managers in an organization. They work at different levels in the management hierarchy. Describe all of the types of managers in some type of hierarchical order of your own design, noting some vertical as well as horizontal distinctions.
2. Effective managers must possess technical skills, human skills, and conceptual skills in varying degrees. After defining each term, justify your assessment of which of the three skills you deem to be most important to a successful manager.
3. Briefly discuss the relationship between management skills (as defined in 3 above) and management level (as described in 1 above).
4. Why are conceptual skills most important for top managers?
5. Think about the highly publicized safety problems at General Motors (GM). One observer said that a goal of efficiency had taken precedence over a goal of quality within this company. In your own words, define efficiency and effectiveness. Do you think managers can improve both efficiency and effectiveness simultaneously? Discuss.
Questions related to the syllabus:
6. In your own words, describe a good faith response.
Class Preparation Assignments (CPAs): CPAs are reading assignments accompanied by informal writing assignments consisting of six to ten questions. The questions serve as a guide in your reading and as a basis for class discussion. The goal of the CPAs is to enable an informed class discussion, and to allow for class time to focus on applying, analyzing, and evaluating the material with the aid of fellow students and my guidance. The majority of class discussions, activities, exercises, and assignments will be based on class preparation assignments.
CPAs will be posted in week prior to the in-class due date. There will be 34 CPAs throughout the semester. For each CPA, you will have to answer questions and bring at least one copy of your answers to submit at the beginning of class. Bring a second sheet or an electronic version that can be edited so notes can be added.
In the past, students were required to upload the CPAs by the following Sunday. I will not require that for this semester. However, please check your mail (Bbmail) frequently. If I suspect any issues, I will request that you Bbmail me your CPA within five days from the date I SENT the email.
To earn credit for a CPA, you must:
1. Give a good faith effort on each and every question. Examples and a rubric are provided in.
2. Bring two copies of your answers to class and give me one copy before class starts. Submissions can only be submitted in class to be counted unless there is an excused absence.
3. Attend class to modify and expand your answers and add value to the discussion.
4. The in-class submission will be used to determine pass/fail.
5. Handwritten submissions are NOT accepted.
6. Do not submit your cpa and leave. You must be present to receive credit. You will not receive credit and could face bigger penalties. Multiple offenses will have greater penalties.
If you do not show a good faith effort on all of the assignment's questions, do not give me one copy before class starts, or you miss class (even if you have answered all the assignment questions) you will not earn credit for that CPA. If you do not Bbmail me your CPA within five days of the request, you will not earn credit for that CPA. For the first three CPAs, I will allow students to submit revised CPAs if one or more responses does not meet the good faith effort criteria.
Before class starts, place one copy of your CPA answers on the table at the front of class. If you come to class more than five minutes late you will be counted as tardy. Two tardy submissionsequals one absence, meaning that you will not receive credit for the CPA on the second tardy. If there is a special circumstance, please see me in advance.
For a response to be considered as a good faith effort you must have attempted to answer the question completely, accurately, and using concepts from the course. Questions require an understanding of the material, not simply providing a brief response. ALL WORK MUST BE IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Do not copy the book or materials found online. Presenting any work done by others as your own constitutes plagiarism.
Important: Please see the grading section of this syllabus to understand how CPAs impact your grade.
CPA Late Submission - All students are allowed one late CPA submission if the following criteria are met:
1. A written explanation of why the assignment is being submitted late and how you will do to prevent missing deadlines in the future (not just our class but for all of your classes.) This must be submitted within 24 hours of when the CPA was due (using the class start time).
2. The late CPA must be emailed to me within 72 hours of when it was due (using the class start time).
3. Just because you are able to submit a late CPA, it does not mean you will automatically receive a pass. The CPA still must be a good faith effort.