MGT 330 (Latest) – Ashford- Management for Organizations
MGT 330 – Week 1 – Week 5 (All Discussion Questions)
Week 1 Discussions
Week 1 – DQ 1: Surf Shop Comparison
Access the web sites of Ron Jon Surf Shop and Hilo Hattie. Explain how the two companies are similar and how they are different. Can you find elements of organizational planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and control in their web content? Provide specific examples. Respond substantively to two other learners.
Week 1 – DQ 2: Company Evaluation
Select one of the companies below and conduct some basic research. State what you believe is the distinctive competence and core competence of your selected company. Give an example of how the values and mission statement help to shape planning. Also give some internal and external factors that may influence the business in the future and explain how they will influence the business. Respond substantively to two other learners.
British Petroleum( BP)
Facebook
Hyundai
Dunkin Donuts
Netflix
Week 2 Discussions
Week 2 – DQ 1: Structure for Conglomerates
Reflect on your reading for the week, specifically Analytical Exercise 8. Is another form of structural configuration better suited to multiproduct, multiservice companies? If not, is there a form of departmentalization for multiproduct, multiservice companies which would match somewhat the divisional structure configuration?”
Explain how the following somewhat match each other:
functional structure with simple structure
divisional structure with departmentalization by product
machine bureaucracy with centralized, mechanistic structure
professional bureaucracy with decentralized, organic structure
Week 2 – DQ 2: Classifying Structure
Address the following questions and also provide the name of a company example of each structure with supporting rationale. Reply substantively to two other learners.
What kinds of companies should employ the simple structure organizational configuration?
What kind of companies should use the machine bureaucracy form of structure?
What kinds of organizations should feature a professional bureaucracy form of structure?
What kinds of firms should use the divisional form of structure?
What types of organizations are best suited to the adhocracy form of structure?
Week 3 Discussions
Week 3 – DQ 1: Legal Aspects of Staffing
Select one of the laws listed below and explain how it has changed the staffing process. Also select one governmental activity from the second list and explain how it influences staffing. Respond substantively to two other learners.
Laws to choose from in answering the discussion question:
a. employment-at-will
b. Fair Labor Standards Act
c. The Civil Rights Act of 1964
d. EEOC Regulations concerning sexual harassment
e. Age Discrimination in Employment Act
f. Americans with Disabilities Act
g. Family and Medical Leave Act
Governmental activities to choose from in answering the discussion question:
a. Social Security premiums
b. Social Security disability insurance
c. Unemployment insurance
d. Federal income tax
Week 3 – DQ 2: Bias in Performance Appraisal
The main problem with performance appraisal programs is supervisory bias when making judgments. How can a company attempt to identify and reduce appraisal bias? Respond substantively to two other learners.
Week 4 Discussions
Week 4 – DQ 1: Theories of Motivation
Explain how the concepts contained in Locke’s goal setting theory can be incorporated into Vroom’s expectancy theory. Explain how the concepts contained in Adams’ equity theory can be incorporated into expectancy theory. Respond substantively to two other learners.
Week 4 – DQ 2: Productivity Management
View the video ‘Making it All Work’. Explain the parallels of the concepts presented in the video to the five functions of management. Explain how the five functions of management can help you in your personal life. How could the concepts presented make you a better leader? Respond substantively to two other learners.
Week 5 Discussions
Week 5 – DQ 1: Steps of Control
Explain why the four steps involved in the controlling function are important. Why is a good understanding of the various ratios used by accountants and managers important to the controlling function? Give specific examples. Respond substantively to two other learners.
Week 5 – DQ 2: Changes in Management
Of the five management functions, which do you expect will experience the most dramatic changes in the next decade? Defend your answer. Which will have the least amount of change? Explain your answer. Respond substantively to two other learners.
