Trident MGT501 All Modules Discussions Latest 2019 October

MGT501 Management and Organizational Behavior

Module 1 Discussion

DQ1 How to
design jobs to enhance satisfaction and motivation: Job Characteristics Model

In the
Module 1 Discussion Forum be sure to post your responses using the background
material, including the reading and video on the Job Characteristics Model.
Here is a shorter synopsis of that material:

Louis, D.
J. (2016) Notes on the Job Characteristics Model.

In Week 1,
consider a job you have held that you did NOT find motivating. What job
characteristics were missing? Look at another student’s post and suggest some
ways that a manager could redesign that job to enhance one or more job
characteristics and increase the motivating properties of that job. When
someone has posted to your original job characteristics, go back and comment on
whether or not the suggested changes would have made you feel more motivated.
Why or why not?

(Besides
the source listed above, introduce and cite at least one other source of
information for your initial post.)

DQ2 How to
design jobs to enhance satisfaction and motivation: Job Characteristics Model

http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/ob/motivation/herzberg/

Herzberg’s
Theory suggests that pay and benefits are not motivators, because they do not
satisfy the worker (who doesn’t want more pay or vacation time?). However, they
can cause dissatisfaction if not sufficient. Critically compare and contrast
his theory to the Job Characteristics Model. For example: What factors leading to satisfaction
(motivators) can be aligned with Job Characteristics or Critical Psychological
States? Do you think any of Herzberg’s dissatisfiers (hygiene factors) align
with Job Characteristics or Critical Psychological States? Does this mean one
or both of these theories is wrong?

(Besides
the source listed above, bring in and cite at least one other source of
information for your initial post.)

MGT501 Management and Organizational Behavior

Module 2 Discussion

DQ1 Conflict
Management

Recall that
the discussion for each module has two parts—one for each week. To get proper credit,
be sure you post an initial posting for each week, as well as respond to the
postings of at least two other students each week. Remember that if someone
posts a response to one of your posts, you should engage with that person as
appropriate—as if you were having a real-time conversation.

Review the
background materials on Conflict Management. You will need the concepts and
principles from these readings to support your responses to the discussion
questions. You may also support your comments with references from outside
sources. Be sure to cite sources used.

Week 1:
Conflict Management

What was
the worst experience you ever had with conflict? What was so bad about it? What
are some of the things that caused the conflict? Look at another student’s post
and comment on how you, as an outsider, see the causes of their conflict. What
are some suggestions you would have to mitigate or resolve their situation?
When someone has responded to your post, be sure to go back and comment on if
you think that the suggestions would have worked to resolve the conflict. Why
or why not?

DQ2 Active
Listening

Active
listening is a technique that is frequently used in conflict situations to
increase the effectiveness of communication. View the following video and short
article that teach active listening skills.

MindToolsVideos.
(2015, June 12). Improve your listening skills with active listening [Video
file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2z9mdX1j4A

Now try to
practice active listening with a friend, a spouse, coworker—or even a stranger
on the bus! (You can use a cheat sheet if you can’t remember all the steps.)
Tell us about your experience. What were the circumstances of the conversation?
Was it easy or hard? What gave you difficulty in putting the technique into
practice? What was the other person’s reaction? Do you think the experiment was
successful?

(Besides
the source listed above, bring in and cite at least one other source of
information for your initial post.)

MGT501 Management and Organizational Behavior

Module 3 Discussion

DQ1 Merger
and Unit Integration Issues

As a
leader/manager, one circumstance you may encounter is the necessity to
integrate or merge two organizational units. This can be a stressful period
which, if not properly managed, can cause a good deal of tension and/or
conflict, often leading to decreased organizational performance.

Consider
that senior management has dictated that your unit will merge with another
manager’s unit over the next three months. You will be the leader of the newly
merged group. The previous manager will remain on your staff. Senior management
has asked you to submit a merger plan. (If you have previously been involved in
an actual unit merger, please share the organizational dynamics you experienced
as well as any lessons learned.)

(Bring in
and cite at least one source of information from your background readings for
each of your weekly initial posts.)

Week 1
Discussion Question:

What are
the key issues/challenges/opportunities you face, both short- and long-term?

DQ2 Merger
and Unit Integration Issues

Using the
same scenario as Week 1 of this Discussion, answer the question in bold below:

In
describing three key elements of your merger plan, explain the sources of power
that will be available to you and upon which you will draw to help achieve a
successful merger.

MGT501 Management and Organizational Behavior

Module 4 Discussion

DQ1 Sociopolitical
Skills

Using the
same scenario as Week 1 of this Discussion, answer the question in bold below.

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 of 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.

Week 1
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?

DQ2 Sociopolitical
Skills

Using the
same scenario as Week 1 of this Discussion, answer the question in bold
below.

Week 2
Discussion Question:

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 each week to the Discussion Question itself, you
also need to respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts.

(In total
for this module’s Discussion Forum you should have contributed at least two
Discussion Question posts and four response posts to your classmates.)

You must
participate in BOTH Week 1 and Week 2 Discussions to get credit for each
module’s Discussion.

Posting
early each week will allow for more opportunities for leading the discussions,
making substantial contributions, and engaging in meaningful and mutual
discussions with others.

MGT501 Management and Organizational Behavior

Module 4 Reflection Discussion

Given the
readings and assignments in this course discuss three concepts that you believe
are likely to be the most important for your own career. Explain how these
concepts may be applicable and how you expect the knowledge you have gained to
be helpful.

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.