Discussion: Sociopolitical Skills Previous Next “U.S. Africa Command C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference, Vicenza, Italy, February 2011” by US Army Africa is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Assignment Expec
Module 4 – SLP ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE For the SLP 4 assignment, you will explore some aspects of an organization’s culture, at least as you see it. (Select an organization you have worked with, if possible.) Since the concept of organizational culture is open to many interpretations and classifications, this assessment offers a slightly different approach from your background reading on organizational culture. Required Reading The People Group, Based on Gallup Research: What Makes a Great Workplace? Retrieved from  https://thepeoplegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/article-gallup-research-what-makes-a-great-workplace1.pdf McNamara, C. (2000) Organizational Culture. Adapted from the Field guide to Organizational Leadership and Supervision. Free Management Library. Retrieved from http://managementhelp.org/organizations/culture.htm Assignment Think about the results from the Gallup Survey for a minute, and how it compares to the Academy, Baseball Team, Fortress, and Club cultures described by McNamara in the Background reading. Then prepare a 2- to 3-page paper addressing: In your opinion, do the Gallup results fit your general expectations or constitute a surprise in some ways? Interpret the results of the Gallup survey in terms of your own experience, either to confirm or to question the results. Compare the Gallup results and your opinions with the McNamara categories. The degree to which the Gallup results and the McNamara information tell you similar or dissimilar things about your organization. Does the Gallup survey and the McNamara categories help improve your managerial understanding and/or skills? What can you infer from the results about how your organization’s culture fits or doesn’t fit with you? What (if anything) can you do to make your interaction with the culture more effective? Provide your opinion on whether or not the above two sources in this SLP 4 help you understand the organization and how you cope with it. Do they accurately depict what is needed to analyze a company’s culture? SLP Assignment Expectations Your paper will be evaluated using the criteria on the SLP rubric (see the rubric for more detail): Assignment-Driven, Critical Thinking, Business Writing, Effective Use of Information, Citing Sources, and Timeliness.
Discussion: Sociopolitical Skills Previous Next “U.S. Africa Command C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference, Vicenza, Italy, February 2011” by US Army Africa is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Assignment Expec
Discussion: Sociopolitical Skills   Previous Next  “U.S. Africa Command C4ISR Senior LeadersConference, Vicenza, Italy, February 2011″by US Army Africa is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Assignment Expectations: In this Discussion, you should respond with substantial detail to this topic early in the first week of the module. This will be your “initial post.” For your initial post also bring in information from at least two background sources. You are also encouraged (but not required) to include a source or two from your own research to help inform your classmates. Cite the sources. The initial post should be about 250 words. Then, early in the second week of the module, respond to the posts of at least two of your classmates. Your responses should have depth of critical thought and not simply agree or disagree. For each response post also bring in information from at least one background source or your own research to help inform your classmates. Cite the source. Each response post should be about 175 words. Discussion posts will be assessed according to the following criteria found on the discussion rubric: Quality of initial posting (first post): Initial posting reveals a clear understanding of all aspects of the treated discussion question; uses factual and relevant information; and demonstrates full development of concepts. Quality of responses to classmates: Responds to the required number of students and to the professor, if appropriate. Demonstrates analysis of others’ posts; extends meaningful discussions by building on previous peer posts; and offers alternative perspectives. Reference to supporting readings/information literacy: Refers to and properly cites either course and/or outside sources in posts, as required. Critical thinking: Demonstrates mastery conceptualizing the problem; viewpoints and assumptions of experts are analyzed, synthesized, and evaluated; and conclusions are logically presented with appropriate rationale. Timeliness: Initial post occurs in a timely manner (1-3 days into module) allowing ample time for classmates to respond and engage. Posting early allows for more opportunities for leading the discussions, making substantial contributions, and engaging in meaningful and mutual discussions with others. It also is the best chance for the highest grade in the discussion. Background for Discussion 4: Organizational structure, norms, values, culture, etc., all have an impact on a leader’s success. Consider the new or advancing leader. Such a leader is expected to learn how to effectively perform all the important administrative and professional/technical tasks. In addition, the leader needs to master the necessary social skills associated with early effectiveness in the new position. Below are 10 “sociopolitical” categories which may influence a transitioning leader’s early (and enduring) effectiveness. These include, in no particular order, the ability to: enter into an established leader/employee “network”; sense, as well as use, appropriate communication and influence behaviors; sense and appropriately act on keen organizational norms; become aware of, and sensitively interact with, organizational “blockers” and “enablers”; build political bridges by identifying and relating to key formal/informal power sources; become known as a “go-to/can-do” individual; be perceived as a “team player”; sense key organizational issues upon which to create early vision, initiatives, and value; identify and appropriately respond to the requirements of superiors/peers/subordinates; and be perceived as having organizationally appropriate ethics, values, and beliefs. Please note that these are behavioral skill categories, not actual behaviors. You likely use many of the actual behaviors (such as “interpersonal communication”) within a category every day. Discussion Question Does this list of “sociopolitical” skill categories match your sense of what is most required to help ensure a leader’s early success in a new role/position? What might you add or subtract to help ensure the most effective transition into a new job? In your view, how important to your enduring success in the job are your early efforts in a new leadership role? Presuming you already have practiced some or all of the 10 items, how did you learn to do so? Remember, after you submit your answer to the Discussion Question itself, you also need to respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts.
Discussion: Sociopolitical Skills Previous Next “U.S. Africa Command C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference, Vicenza, Italy, February 2011” by US Army Africa is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Assignment Expec
Module 4 – Case ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE Assignment Overview The format of this case differs from the previous three The format of this case differs from the previous three modules and resembles more closely the format of assignments you will see in many of your courses going forward. This is not to say that you should abandon what you have learned about the analytical process of alternating between the abstract and the concrete, the reflective and the active, but this paper will not follow the format of a section on concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. Each of these aspects of analysis should be present, but integrated into the paper as a whole, rather than broken out into distinct sections. The topic of this case is organizational design. To complete this assignment, we will begin as before, and you should identify an organization you know very well. Then conduct your analysis by addressing the topics below. Do not line up the questions and address them one at a time as in a short-answer test, but rather integrate them into a single coherent commentary and analysis of the organization. A critical part of successful completion of this assignment is for you to demonstrate your ability to employ the concepts introduced in the background material in describing and evaluating the effectiveness of the organizational design. To do this, you will need to draw on the concepts from at least three readings/videos. This paper should be 4-6 pages long. Case Questions: Diagram the formal structure of your organization. Identify the various management positions or titles on the chart and indicate the positions/jobs that would report to each. Identify the various management positions or titles on the chart and indicate the positions/jobs that would report to each.SmartDraw.com (https://cloud.smartdraw.com/) provides free examples, though others are also available via Google. PowerPoint also has templates for organizational charts you can use. Describe how work is divided (specialization and departmentalization), coordinated (chain of command and span of control), and controlled (centralization and formalization). Is the structure more mechanistic or organic? Describe the informal structure of the organization. How does work actually get done? How does the organization deal with the differentiation-integration issue? Having completed this analysis, identify three strengths and three weaknesses of the organizational design. If you could suggest one major improvement to the organizational design, what would it be? Assignment Expectations Your Case paper will be evaluated using the criteria on the assignment rubric (see the rubric for more detail): Assignment-Driven, Critical Thinking, Business Writing, Effective Use of Information, Citing Sources, and Timeliness.
Discussion: Sociopolitical Skills Previous Next “U.S. Africa Command C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference, Vicenza, Italy, February 2011” by US Army Africa is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Assignment Expec
Discussion: Summary and Reflection (required)   Previous Next  “Think !” by Chad Santos Kuronois licensed under CC BY 2.0 In the Module 4 Reflective Discussion, please reflect on what you have learned in this course, by addressing the following: Paragraphs 1-3: Given the readings and assignments in the course, identify and discuss three important concepts applicable to your work experience, profession, and/or career plans for the future. Describe how each applies. Paragraph 4: Which part(s) of the course (background materials, assignments, and so forth) helped to shape or reshape your perceptions of the role of HRM in the private sector? Note: No outside research or citations are needed in your Reflective Discussion. Also, you need not respond to your peers’ posts. After responding to the Reflective Discussion above, please complete an anonymous Course Evaluation Survey. Instructors are not able to view course evaluation reports until after the grade submission period is over. Thank you for your feedback.