Just for THE BEST AllRoundBest
Billgill
allroundbest_step_10.docxStep 10: How to Search for other Articles
1. Follow the EBSCO Host Tutorial through Step 6.
2. I recommend starting with the “Advanced Search” tab so that you can enter two or three search terms related to your problem statement. Also, check the boxes that provide “full text” and “Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals.”
You can email or download the articles. I warn against storing them in the folder provided in the database. Many students tried to save articles there and later found them missing.
TIP: If you click on the "Preferences" link in right corner of EBSSCO, you can select show "Detail" in your search results. Your search results will then show the Abstract of the source that makes searching for relevant sources easier. That way you don't have to click through the source link to see the abstract.
Please refer to the Class Project Guidelines on the course website for details on how many references are required in your paper. Check out EBSCO host’s tool for help on your Works Cited page or see BibMe.com.
Also, check out the Works Cited page of the sample papers in Doc Sharing to see an example of what this section should look like. The “works” on the Works Cited page and the corresponding cites throughout the paper should be done in either MLA or APA format.
COURSE DETAILS
Week 3
Submit a written Brief Proposal of Research containing the following (copied from Course Home/Course Project content item):
1. a brief overview of the chosen organization and your role in it;
2. a brief narrative description of the organizational problem that you would like to research and resolve;
3. a preliminary problem statement in the form of a researchable question; and
4. which TCO or textbook topic your problem is related to.
5. The Terminal Course Objectives (TCOs) define the learning objectives that the student will be required to comprehend and demonstrate by course completion. The TCOs that will be covered in detail each week can be found in the Objectives section for that particular week. Whenever possible, a reference will be made from a particular assignment or discussion back to the TCO that it emphasizes.
A
6. Given an example of a dysfunctional organization that is highly diverse, evaluate how organizational theories and practices can improve the situation.
7. B
8. Given profiles of individuals that include descriptions of values, attitudes, beliefs, feelings, and personality, examine how these factors influence decision making in the workplace.
9. C
10. Given an ineffective individual or team in an organization, evaluate how motivation affects organizational behavior and the achievement of organizational goals.
11. D
12. Given a team that is struggling to meet its objectives, examine the appropriate application of organizational behavior theories to become high-functioning.
13. E
14. Given a specific workplace conflict attributable to an inappropriate use of power, evaluate leadership decision-making behaviors and communication processes for resolving this conflict.
15. F
16. Given specifics about work flow or practices within an organization, compare and contrast the impact of different structures and lines of authority on organizational strategy and culture.
17. G
18. Given a situation describing forces for and against change at an organization, evaluate a framework for managing change that includes the impact on human resource policies and practices.
19. Course Schedule
|
Week, TCOs, and Topics |
Readings and Class Preparation |
Activities and Assignments |
|
Week 1 TCO A Introduction to Organizational Behavior |
Chapter 1: What Is Organizational Behavior? Chapter 2: Diversity in Organizations |
Review Life Styles Inventory™ (LSI) Paper Guidelines Review Course Project Proposal Guidelines (Course Home) Graded Discussion Topics |
|
Week 2 TCO B The Individual's Influence on Decision Making in the Workplace |
Chapter 3: Attitudes and Job Satisfaction Chapter 4: Emotions and Moods Chapter 5: Personality and Values Chapter 6: Perception and Individual Decision Making |
Life Styles Inventory™ (LSI) Paper Graded Discussion Topics |
|
Week 3 TCO C Concepts and Applications of Motivation |
Chapter 7: Motivation Concepts Chapter 8: Motivation: From Concepts to Applications |
Brief Proposal of Research (Course Project/Course Home) Graded Discussion Topics |
|
Week 4 TCO D Group Behavior and Work Teams |
Chapter 9: Foundations of Group Behavior Chapter 10: Understanding Work Teams Case #3: Building a Coalition (Robbins & Judge, p. 580) |
Case Study Write-Up Graded Discussion Topics |
|
Week 5 TCO E Leadership Decision-Making Behaviors |
Chapter 11: Communication Chapter 12: Leadership Chapter 13: Power and Politics Chapter 14: Conflict and Negotiation |
Expanded Research Proposal (Course Project/Course Home) Graded Discussion Topics |
|
Week 6 TCO F The Organization's Structure and Culture |
Chapter 15: Foundations of Organization Structure Chapter 16: Organizational Culture |
Organizational Culture Inventory (OCI) Graded Discussion Topics |
|
Week 7 TCO G The Impact of Change Upon the Organization |
Chapter 17: Human Resource Policies and Practices Chapter 18: Organizational Change and Stress Management |
Course Project (Course Home) Graded Discussion Topics |
|
Week 8 All TCOs |
Final Exam |
Week 7
Objective
Research shows that people learn effectively when working on real problems grounded in their work experience. To this end, our Course Project is designed to incorporate students' work experience into the learning process in this course.
The project is an opportunity to explore, in-depth, a topic related to the course objectives (TCOs) that is of significance to you or your organization (current or former).
Summary
Members of the class are required to prepare an applied research paper, with a minimum of 10 pages but not to exceed 15 pages in length (excluding cover page, table of contents and appendices), on a specific issue related to leadership or organizational behavior.
Guidelines
Topic Selection
1. Select a specific organization of interest to you and identify a problem at the firm related to organizational behavior (OB).
2. Think of yourself as an organizational consultant and assume that a key manager has requested a thorough analysis and recommended course of action to resolve an actual organizational problem that will make a difference to the future performance of the organization.
3. Identify which course Terminal Course Objectives (TCOs) are related to the problem you identify.
Research Sources
1. All papers must have a minimum of six scholarly sources cited within the text of the paper and identified in the references section.
2. Additional research sources can be attached in a bibliography.
3. Review the following document for instructions on how to access and use EBSCOhost for your research: EBSCOhost.
Paper Format
1. All papers should be double-spaced, using an 11- or 12-point font.
2. The length of the paper is to be between 10 and 15 pages, not counting the cover page, table of contents, nor appendices.
3. The first page should include the title of the work, student name, course number and title, date, and professor name.
4. The second page should be a table of contents. It should, at a minimum, reflect the seven items listed in the Grading Rubric.
5. Follow APA style for general format and citations (see the APA Guidelines Tutorial in the Syllabus).
6. The paper sections must adhere to the guidelines below, and each section must be labeled in the text.
7. The language should be clear, concise, and precise.
8. The tone should be professional, consistent, and not filled with jargon.
9. Grammar and syntax (sentence structure) must be correct.
10. The report must be free of misspellings and typos.
Tables and Figures
1. All figures and tables must be referred to in your text before they appear on the page.
a. Figures and tables should appear on the same page as, or the page after, the text that refers to them.
2. All figures and tables need captions. Captions go below figures and above tables.
Quotations and Citations
1. Quotations and citations are crucial components of a research paper and must be present.
2. Failure to properly cite research sources and borrowed ideas is plagiarism.
3. Refer to the APA style guide for assistance with properly citing quoted or borrowed materials and ideas.
4. Turnitin is used on all reports and projects. A report can be obtained for your review prior to submitting your final work. Make sure that you are in compliance with the University's 20/80 rule.
Milestones
|
Week |
Action Required |
|
1 |
Familiarize yourself with course content and select an organization and problem area to research. |
|
3 |
Submit a written Brief Proposal of Research containing the following: 1. A brief overview of the chosen organization and your role in it 2. A preliminary problem statement in the form of a researchable question 3. A brief narrative description of the organizational problem that you would like to research and resolve 4. Which Terminal Course Objective(s) your problem is related to |
|
3 |
Conduct library research on your topic. 1. Identify a minimum of six scholarly resources for your project. 2. All resources for the paper must come from DeVry Library and must be of scholarly quality. 3. Use the librarians for assistance in accessing materials. 4. Review the Using EBSCO tutorial. Please Note: Articles found online (many on consulting company websites, Internet magazines, or other blogs) will not be considered an acceptable scholarly resource. Conduct your research through a library where you can be assured that the sources are of scholarly quality. |
|
5
|
Submit a written Expanded Research Proposal containing the following: 1. Title page and Table of Contents 2. Documentation of at least three initial scholarly sources from the library 3. Expanded introduction to the organization 4. Expanded description of your chosen problem 5. Preliminary solution options (can be bullet points) 6. Preliminary analysis of leadership and organizational behavior concepts addressed in the paper |
|
6
|
Continue to work on the class project; seek professor help as required. |
|
7 |
Submit the completed project. |
Project Outline
Your paper must include the following sections.
|
Section |
Points |
Description |
|
Title Page |
5 |
Title of your applied research paper, course number and title, professor, and date. |
|
Introduction |
10 |
Provide an overview of the organization and your role in it. Give enough information about the firm to acquaint an unfamiliar person (no matter how famous the company). Identify name, location, size, market segment (business line), and a brief history. Identify the essential issues, events, or actions to help frame the problem and subsequent discussion points. |
|
Problem Statement |
15 |
Identify and clearly state the problem (the leadership or organizational behavior issue that you have selected to research). The problem statement should be phrased in terms of a researchable question. For example, if a work group is not performing effectively, an effective problem statement might be "How can group performance be improved?" A well-formed problem statement has the following. 1. Focus: The problem should be well-defined and specific enough for the reader to gain a clear idea of the OB topic area and the direction of your study and research. 2. Structure: If the problem statement is sufficiently focused, it will provide a basis for decisions about which information to include and which to exclude from the paper. |
|
Literature Review |
40 |
You must address at least six scholarly resources in this section. Approach this section as a mini book report on each of the reference sources that significantly informed your analysis and proposed solutions. Give the reader an encapsulated review of what information you found most relevant to your research. You may have found conflicting opinions or theories related to your topic area. Identify and discuss any such contrasts or describe in detail significant agreement among your sources. Your literature review should be separate and distinct from your analysis section; it is a summation of your research. The goal should be a paragraph containing a minimum of three to five sentences per review. |
|
Analysis |
40 |
Explore the problem in depth and with scholarly rigor. Provide an identification and description of the root causes of the problem or issue. Be sure not to address only symptoms of your problem. Diagnose the problem and its origins. A critical element of this section is to apply leadership and organization concepts and models from our text, from class discussions, and from your literature review. Discuss the concepts, ideas, or insights that are most valuable in helping you make sense of the causes of the problem. Support your analysis with reference to appropriate research material. |
|
Solutions |
30 |
Identify at least three potential workable solutions to your problem and identify the pros and cons of each alternative solution and its high-level implementation steps. Identify your preferred solution and describe exactly what should be done and how it should be done, including by whom, with whom, and in what sequence.Always explain your thinking behind your final solution set. It's important to be clear about why a particular alternative (solution) was chosen, as opposed to others. |
|
Reflection |
10 |
Think about this assignment and write a well-thought-out reflective statement about how this assignment influenced your personal, academic, and professional leadership and managerial development. |
|
References |
10 |
You must use no fewer than six library resources outside of your textbook. All references must be cited in two places—within the body of your paper and on a separate reference list. Choose references judiciously and cite them accurately. Cite all sources using APA format. Please note that citing an author's work within your text documents your research, identifies the source for readers, and enables readers to locate the source of information in the alphabetical reference list at the end of the paper. To use the ideas or words of another person without crediting the source is plagiarism. Plagiarism in its purest form involves copying passages either verbatim or nearly verbatim, with no direct acknowledgment of the source. The most common form of plagiarism is to paraphrase information from your source material. Paraphrasing does not relieve you of the obligation to provide proper identification of source data. The best way to avoid plagiarism is to make sure all quotes, ideas, or conclusions that not your own are given proper acknowledgment in your text. |
|
Total |
160 |
|
Grading Rubric
|
Criteria |
Failed to Meet Minimum Standards 0–95 |
Barely Meets Minimum Standards 60+% - D 96–111 |
Meets Minimum Standards 70+% - C 112–127 |
Good 80+% - B 128–143 |
Superior 90+% - A 144–160 |
|
Title Page and Table of Contents (5 Points) |
Page not provided. (0) |
Title but no TOC. (2) |
Title and attempted TOC. (3) |
Title and TOC but Table without page numbers. (4) |
Title of your applied research paper. Your name, course number and title, instructor, and date, plus appropriate TOC. (5) |
|
Introduction (10 Points) |
Introduction is not apparent. (0) |
Introduction is vague, incomplete, or lacks focus. (6) |
Introduction reflects barely adequate information to acquaint reader to the problem context. (7) |
Contains a focus and provides sufficient detail to set the stage for the analysis but may contain extraneous information. (8) |
Introduction has a sharp, distinct focus; complete information. (10) |
|
Problem Statement (15 Points) |
No problem statement apparent. (0) |
Problem statement is vague; does not agree with title of paper. (9) |
Presented mostly as symptoms of the problem. (11) |
Presented as a disguised solution. (13) |
Focused and concise. (15) |
|
Literature Review (40 Points) |
None provided. (0) |
Too shallow; insufficient depth; provides review of only one source; does not cite sources properly; may include analysis of the problem in this section. (27) |
Provides a review of only two to three sources; does not address topic areas germane to the problem; including analysis of the problem; does not cite some sources properly. (31) |
Provides a review of the minimum six research articles; lacks reference to insights or findings from many of the readings that are applicable to the problem. (35) |
Discusses the concepts, ideas, or insights that have the most value for helping make sense of problem; excellent use of citations; follows proper citation protocol; exceeds all standards defined in the Syllabus guidelines for the project. (40) |
|
Analysis (40 Points) |
No analysis evident or presents a simplistic, inappropriate, or incoherent analysis of or response to the problem. (0) |
Illogically analyses the problem; may lack coherent structure or elaboration with examples. Does not apply findings from literature review. Clear lack of evidence to support analysis; makes broad generalizations and unsupported assertions. (27) |
Presents an adequate analysis of the problem, elaborating the analysis with sufficient examples and acceptable reasoning. May not apply findings from literature review appropriately. Lack of evidence to support analysis; making broad generalizations and unsupported assertions. (31) |
Presents a thoughtful analysis of problem, elaborating that response with appropriate examples and sensible reasoning. (35) |
Presents a cogent analysis of the stated problem, elaborating that response with well-chosen examples and persuasive reasoning supported by the literature. (40) |
|
Solution (30 Points) |
Solutions and recommendation not included. (0) |
The choice of solution(s) is not linked to the analysis. (20) |
Presents only a single solution that may or may not be fully supported by the analysis. (23) |
Solution or recommendations linked to the analysis. Partially supported and defended. (26) |
Solution or recommendations logically flow from the analysis. Well-supported and defended. (30) |
|
Reflection (10 Points) |
No reflective statement offered. (0) |
Perfunctory effort at drawing lessons from the assignment. (6) |
One key lesson; no other insights offered. (7) |
Good faith effort in discussing the lessons from the assignment; some insights are included. (8) |
Well-presented insights on how the assignment influenced personal, academic, and professional development. (10) |
|
References (10 Points) |
Few or no references listed. (0) |
Insufficient references listed; inconsistent format. (6) |
A few appropriate references listed. (7) |
Well-chosen references used; minor errors. (8) |
Well-chosen references used; follows correct format for listing; no errors. (10) |
|
NOTE: Points will be deducted for grammar, syntax, and punctuation errors. Failure to cite sources properly or using incorrect protocol when citing sources and listing references is cause for point reduction. Failure to cite sources will result in a submission for academic integrity review. |
