management

Management and Organisation Behaviour BMO1102

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF:

ASSESSMENT 2b RESEARCH ESSAY

Semester 2, 2015

PREPARED BY: Alan McWilliams

ASSIGNMENT TITLE

Research Essay

This assessment accounts for the following proportion of marks for this unit

10 %

LEARNING OUTCOMES BEING ASSESSED

1. Critically analyse management practices in the Australasian context. 2. Understand organisational behaviour and management theory. 3. Critically analyse the underlying values of these theories. 4. Demonstrate knowledge of management theories and evaluate their impact on practical

management decision making in the Australasian context

(See the unit of study guide for the full list of learning outcomes for BMO1102).

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Essays must be submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word document file via the VU Collaborate Assignment Submission process. The file name for your essay must be in the format of Given Name_Family Name Student_ID_Number_Assignment. For example Alan_McWilliams_s1234567_Essay

Essays submitted with any other file name format will not be accepted.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

Midnight, Friday of Week 7

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT

1500 word essay based upon the comprehensive essay plan submitted for assessment task 2a. This essay is to be a discussion of a specific management topic and to be presented as a review of the relevant literature (the essay requires at least a review of the relevant chapter from the prescribed text and at least three refereed management journal articles relating to the set topic: the use of additional references is also encouraged).

Your essay should include at least three in-text citations of refereed management journal articles you have drawn on, and indicate where you are using your subject textbook. The use of additional references is encouraged.

NOTE: ‘Wikipedia’, ‘answers.com’ and other non-peer reviewed online sources of information are not acceptable references.

The Harvard referencing system must be used both for your in-text citations and List of References

Essay Topics

1 Employees might resist change because of self-interest, misunderstanding and distrust, and a general intolerance for change. How can companies manage resistance to change? Outline the five ways to manage resistance to change that are outlined in your textbook. (Chapter 7)

2 Define what is meant by Global Business. Identify the stages in the phase model of globalisation and explain the level of risk inherent in each. (Chapter 8)

3

Job Specialisation uses standardised work procedures to have workers perform repetitive; precisely defined and simplified tasks. Explain why companies use this approach to job design. Using the Job Characteristics model, describe how specialised jobs can be modified to eliminate the boredom and low job satisfaction associated with them. (Chapter 9)

4 Define motivation. Use a personal example to explain how reinforcement theory works. Include in your essay a discussion of Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Punishment and Extinction. (Chapter 12)

5 Define leadership. What is the path-goal theory of leadership? Identify the four leadership styles of path-goal theory and explain when they are most appropriately used. (Chapter 13)

6 What are the steps of the Control Process? Describe the elements of the Control Process and explain how assignment assessment works at your university in terms of the Control Process. (Chapter 15)

BMO1102 Mgt and Org Behaviour Essay Assessment Criteria Grid and Feedback Sheet CRITERION HD D C P Refer / FAIL

Presentation & Style 10 8 6 5

Organisation of assignment Shows a well-developed and imaginative approach to the topic

Carefully and logically organised Shows organisation and coherence

Shows some attempt to organise in a logical manner

Disorganised / incoherent

Clarity of expression (incl. accuracy, spelling, grammar, punctuation

Fluent writing style appropriate to document. Grammar and spelling accurate.

Language fluent Grammar and spelling accurate

Language mainly fluent Grammar and spelling mainly accurate

Meaning apparent, but language not always fluent Grammar and/ or spelling contain errors

Meaning unclear and / or grammar and / or spelling contain frequent errors

Academic Integrity 20 15 12 10

Referencing (in-text and reference list)

Referencing is consistently accurate

Referencing is mainly accurate Some attempt at referencing. Referencing is absent / unsystematic

Demonstration of scholarly writing

Strong synthesizing skills (including well selected and integrated quotes/paraphrasing that extend student’s argument)

Reasonable ability to paraphrase and summarise

Some evidence of paraphrasing and summarizing.

Reliance on quotations Over-reliance on quotations and / or copying

Content and knowledge 60 50 40 30

Content and range Detailed knowledge of topic with areas of specialisation covered in depth and awareness of limited nature of theoretical knowledge demonstrated.

Reasonable knowledge of topic and an awareness of a variety of ideas / contexts / frame – works

Has given a factual and / or conceptual knowledge base and appropriate terminology

Evidence of limited knowledge of topic and some use of appropriate terminology

Lacks evidence of knowledge relevant to the topic and / or significantly misuses terminology

Use of literature / evidence of reading

Has developed and justified using own ideas based on a wide range of sources which have been thoroughly analysed, applied and discussed

Able to critically appraise the literature and theory gained from variety of sources, developing own ideas in the process

Clear evidence and application of readings relevant to the subject; uses indicative texts identified

Literature is presented uncritically in a purely descriptive way and indicates limitations of understanding

Either no evidence of literature being consulted or irrelevant to the assignment set

Knowledge of theory Assignment demonstrates integration and innovation in the selection and handling of theory

Insightful and appropriate selection of theory in key areas

Most key theories are included in the work in an appropriate straight forward manner

Selection of theory is appropriate but some aspects have been missed or misconstrued

Inaccurate or inappropriate choice of theory

Subject’s limitations and boundaries / relation to other frameworks

Boundaries of the subject and relationships with other disciplines and frameworks have been explored and tested. Examples illustrating subject boundaries are provided

Some boundaries are explored and the relevance of relationships with other disciplines and frameworks are recognised

Awareness of subject boundaries is demonstrated and some connections with other disciplines and frameworks identified

Limited awareness of subject boundaries and / or relationships with other disciplines and frameworks demonstrated

Lacks awareness of subject boundaries or relationships

Thinking / analysis / conclusions 10 8 6 5

Critical reasoning Consistently demonstrates application of critical analysis well integrated in the text

Clear application of theory through critical analysis / critical thought of the topic area

Demonstrates application of theory through analysis of the topic area

Some evidence of critical thought / critical analysis and rationale for work

Lacks critical thought / analysis / reference to theory

Comment:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Mark: ……………………………