MBA 5001 Argosy University Organizational Behavior and Change Management Research
Course Project: Organizational Behavior PerspectivesThe course project has major assignments that will be due in Weeks 3 and 5. It will take more than a week’s effort to adequately complete them. Plan time to start the research and other work for those assignments earlier than the week in which they are due.Course Project ScenarioYour course project is to identify potential organizational behavior problems and recommend solutions for an organization with which you are familiar. All your weekly, written papers will be course project tasks.Early in Week 1, identify an organization you would be interested in studying. You will investigate the organizational behavior in this organization and research best practice solutions for any problems you observe. You may select your own organization, the organization of a family member, or an organization that interests you. Be sure to review each week’s assignments before selecting the organization to make sure you can locate necessary information. Contact your instructor early in the week if you need advice on your organizational selection. As much as possible, you should utilize actual research and real data for your project. Occasionally, you may fill in some details with hypothetical information. However, you are expected to provide documentation (e.g., citations) throughout your work.Each week, you will write on the topics identified in that week’s reading, so note any information you find related to any of the following topics:Systems theoryIndividual behaviorCommunicationChangeConflictMotivationGroups and teamsMaking decisionsOrganizational cultureLeadershipWeek 1Assume that the human resources department of your selected organization has received disappointing results on a job motivation survey administered to all employees at all levels. The results indicate that employees reported lower-than-industry-average job motivation, and management is concerned. Employee comments on the survey included the following:My job is so boring!My boss micromanages me but never tells me how I'm doing.I've been in my position for fifteen years, but I am never allowed to provide any input about making the work better.You have been tasked with writing a paper that reviews the theoretical perspectives relevant to the situation in your organization. In particular, you are interested in systems theory and job motivation for this week’s analysis.Tasks:Write a paper addressing the following:Summary: Identify the organization you select and provide a summary of it. What is it? What does it do? Cite research from a variety of sources, including the company's website, social media sites, company blogs, industry and trade sources, and other sources. The summary should include the organization's products or services, customer or client base, areas of operation or distribution, history, main competition, and current situation (whether it is an industry leader, a start-up, or a well-established corporation).Analysis: Analyze the factors that affect job motivation and the internal and external consequences of low job motivation. At this time, you do not need to propose any solutions. Rather, you are using scholarly literature and data (e.g., observations, discussions, events, outcomes, reports, etc.) from your organization to analyze factors and consequences related to job motivation.Submission Details:Name your file: SU_MBA5001_W1_LastName_FirstInitial.doc.Submit your three- to four-page paper in APA style to the Submissions Area by the due date assigned.Course Project: Change ManagementThe course project has major assignments that will be due in Weeks 3 and 5. It will take more than a week's effort to adequately complete them. Plan time to start the research and other work for those assignments earlier than the week in which they are due.Change ManagementUsing the same organization that you selected in Week 1, propose a change that your organization could implement that would aid it strategically. The proposed change might relate to some area of need, performance deficiency, or other opportunity that you observe in the organization. Note: You will be proposing a change initiative related to motivation in next week’s assignment. Accordingly, focus your change project for this week’s paper in a direction other than motivation.Write a paper addressing the following:Describe the change that you propose and defend its benefits to the organization.Evaluate how the proposed change may affect various groups of employees.Assess the conflicts that might occur before, during, and after the change, including why you anticipate these conflicts.Defend at least three best practices to prevent or resolve those conflicts.Justify the channels of communication the organization should use in implementing this change.Submission Details:Name your file: SU_MBA5001_W2_LastName_FirstInitial.doc.Submit your four- to five-page paper to the Submissions Area by the due date assigned.Course Project: Change for Motivation The course project has major assignments that will be due in Weeks 3 and 5. It will take more than a week's effort to adequately complete them. Plan time to start the research and other work for those assignments earlier than the week in which they are due.Use the same organization that you selected in Week 1.Scenario:Management has reviewed your work from two weeks ago about how the employees' low job motivation may affect the company internally and externally and determined that there is sufficient evidence to support an organizational change. It has asked you to recommend changes that will help to boost employee job motivation.Recall that a survey showed job motivation among employees was lower than average, with complaints such as:My job is so boring!My boss micromanages me but never tells me how I'm doing.I've been in my position for seven to fifteen years, but I am never allowed to provide any input about making the work better.Write a paper in which you:Defend at least two organizational changes and explain how these changes will improve job motivation in the workforce. Support your recommendations by citing the theories covered in the readings or your own research.Assess potential conflicts that may arise due to the changes, including why you anticipate these conflicts.Justify a change implementation plan for leading the change initiatives and helping the organization overcome any resistance to the changes.Justify an appropriate communication plan that announces the changes and continues through the change management process.Submission Details:Name your file: SU_MBA5001_W3_ LastName_FirstInitial.docSubmit your six- to eight-page paper in APA style to the Submissions Area by the due date assigned.