3a/3b digital audio reviews and 1b/2b video reviews

2 students have told me they could not access the reviews tonight via electronic reserve, so I've put additional copies on the blackboard homepages.

The video review sessions (one for exams 1b and 2b, and another with just the 2b portion) are now available via electronic reserve.  There are also powerpoint slides there for exams 1b and 2b.

Exam 3a questions from students

Here are some recent questions from students with my replies included.

Q: 
I was wondering if you could answer two questions for me. They are related
to the University of Michigan hospital studies and IDEO. ...What are the most important things I should
know about the two topics?
 
A: Regarding the UM case, remember what they were faced with (resistance, etc.), how they implemented the program (e.g., TQM and the groups' levels of autonomy), and what the outcomes were.

The aspects of IDEO's "deep dive" decision processes, which I mentioned in the digital audio exam reviews posted today, are most of what you'll need to review for exams 3a/3b.


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Q: What do you mean by know the functions of groups and teams? Also i want to make sure that we don't need to know about social loafing and How to build and maintain trust? 

A: The functions of teams center on how they function and what they do, especially what they can do well.  Though I didn’t single out either of those other topics, I’m not  guaranteeing they’re completely absent from the exam. …mf

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Q: Looking back at my notes I seem to miss what a semi-autonomous work group is and self designing team is could you please explain what they are again or if not where i might find the answer. 

A:

self-designing team	team that has the characteristics of self-managing teams but that also controls team design, work tasks, and team membership
self-managing team	team that manages and controls all the major tasks of producing a product or service
semi-autonomous work group ---------------	group that has the authority to make decisions and solve problems related to some tasks associated with producing a product or service

Q: First, in the ethics session, the shareholder theory is the same as the
agency theory(by friedman)? if so, what does it support? And what is the
difference with the stakeholder theory by Freeman?

A:Agency theory is defined in the slide I put up in class...along with several that were in your session 24 set of review slides. You can get a fuller definition from it online if you like--here, for example (considering the manager as "broker" and the shareholder as "client"):


I used AT in reference to the shareholder view, just to point out how it addresses the fact that managers' interests sometimes diverge from those of owners. You won't have to deal on these exams with the complicated relationship between AT and the stakeholder view.

Also, from the leadership session, do we need to know characteristics of
each contingency factor from the goal trait theory(for example
achievement-oriented,work facilitation etc)or just know the general
research findings and managerial implications?

All you need to know about contingency theory is the topics I discussed in class, which are also in your slides. (Of course, you may need to review the chapter to fully understand those aspects--which DON'T include any full analysis of the goal trait theory you note in your question.)
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http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Agency+Theory

(1) typo corrected, and (2) extra office hours tomw a.m.

1. An alert student pointed out to me that I inadvertently had two assignments listed with the same number--Asg05.  I've corrected the second one, due 4/14, on both the Blackboard homepage and the blog.  If you've already done the service learning assignment, the easiest solution is for you to re-post what you've written as Asg06.  Of course, you're entitled to credit for both Asg05 and Asg06 even if you forget and leave them both posted as Asg05.  My apologies for the error.

2.  If you need to meet me...
From time to time, students indicate they want a meeting with me but cannot make the time during my office hours or the other days of the week when I'm here.  In that case, tomorrow's class time might be the best chance for us to meet.  Just let me know by email if you'd like to speak with me then and I'll be sure not to leave my office at that time.  (Class session 21 on 4/7, as you know, is a virtual one that is now available online.)

Incidentally, I remind you not to wait until the last minute to review any of the course session or review videos on electronic reserve--available via Blackboard.  High usage levels can cause the video server to lock out any additional users--especially late in the term.

Blackboard Assignments #5, #6, #7, and #8

Regarding Blackboard Assignments #5, #6, #7, and #8

Due April 12, 14, 26, and 28, respectively

For your convenience as we approach the term’s crush period, assignments #5, #6, #7, and #8 are posted together. They have different deadlines, as you can see, but you are encouraged to complete them as early as possible. (Please DO NOT do Asg08 TOO early.) Liaisons have no extra responsibility on assignments #5 and #8; they should just do what all the other students do. Liaisons are also advised that there will be no Blackboard contributions #9 and #10. For those two assignments, everyone gets two **really free** points. If liaisons want to be sure to take their two individual Blackboard Assignment "days off," assignments #5, #6, #7, and #8 will be their last opportunities to do so. Liaisons doing 7 or 8 assignments receive the same 10 individual contribution points as those who do just six of them.

Blackboard Assignment #5 - Asg05-Grp##

Due date: TUESDAY, APRIL 12

In the “student edition” of the premium content site, go to Self-Assessment Topic 13, Communication, and complete the “Active Listening Skills Inventory.” Once you complete the survey as honestly as possible, you will be issued a feedback report. Do you agree fully with the feedback you received? Write a short response outlining the reasons you do or do not agree with this feedback. Feel free to cite specific conversations or other events from your own experience or instances you are familiar with. Liaisons do only what is required of everyone else for this assignment. Due date: TUESDAY, April 12.

Blackboard Assignment #6 (Asg06-Group##)

Due THURSDAY, April 14

Lives people generally consider to be "well-lived" are often characterized by extensive community involvement, so "service learning" is a topic we've mentioned more than once in class. Though doing a project to benefit both the student and the community is an important part of students' preparation for business careers, such an activity is not easily mentored and evaluated in a survey course like Management 341. Knowing and thinking about SL, however, remains an objective of this course. Write a short report (1-3 paragraphs) covering one of three topics: (1) a service learning project you began and sustained throughout this term, (2) some such project you carried out at any time in the past, or (3) a project you will or might engage in at some time in the future. Include a discussion of the activity's benefits to you and to the community.

There is a wealth of information at the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse web site (http://www.servicelearning.org/what_is_service-learning/service-learning_is/index.php). Along with a more detailed definition and explanation of the process, you will find a glossary of terms and a list of some jobs/activities to give you ideas. Appropriate local undertakings might include work on the campus drive to increase organ and tissue donation, cooperating with the Junior Chamber of Commerce to teach economic concepts to public school students, or running a campaign to provide household or medical supplies to less privileged populations here or in developing nations. Due date: THURSDAY, April 14.

In addition to doing what is required of everyone else for this assignment, liaisons should post a paragraph to the executive council discussion board.  In this posting, please indicate which of the other students’ exercises you considered to be of the greatest overall learning and service value in each category ([1] those that are in progress, [2] those actually completed, and [3] those that are planned or imagined).  Indicate why you chose this posting above the others in that category.  Of course, you can ignore any category in which no group member posted. Liaison posting deadline: FRIDAY, April 15.

Individual Blackboard Assignment #7

Due on TUESDAY, April 26

In the "student edition" of the premium content site, take the Self Assessment titled “Assessing Your Ethical Decision-Making Skills.” Read the feedback and write one or two sentences reporting your score and reacting to it in any way you like. Look over Session number “24 Supplemental Ethics Case Slides,” posted on Electronic Reserve two weeks before this assignment’s deadline.
Then go to the Manager's Hot Seat section and complete Scenario #2: Ethics: Let’s Make a Fourth Quarter Deal. Review the profiles, references, scenario, and dossier before you create your report.

Answer the questions throughout the case, and add a paragraph evaluating Jason’s performance.

Please post your assignment as Asg07-GrpNN, where NN represents your 2-digit group number. If you are in Group 18, for example, the subject heading will include "Asg07-Grp18" with no spaces, and the posting will be created on the group 12 discussion forum.

In addition to doing the same assignment as everyone else, liaisons should read everyone else’s assignments and post a message (Asg07-Grp18) to the Executive Council discussion. First, liaisons should list people’s scores on the assessment (not their names, just their scores), and then write a paragraph discussing very generally the variation in their evaluations of Jason’s performance. Indicate whether you think the group could have been lead to any consensus about Jason’s overall behavior in this scenario and how YOU believe he should proceed at this point.
This liaison report is due by THURSDAY, April 28.

Blackboard Assignment #8 (Asg08-Grp##)
Due THURSDAY, April 28

Write one or two paragraphs describing your reaction to this course. Which topics did you find most (or least) helpful and interesting? Especially welcome are your opinions of the various tools and instructional techniques, including the text and other readings, regular and "second chance" exams, quizzes, short in-class videos, downloadable review slides, virtual discussion groups, the hotseat, guest speakers, clickers, and on-line contributions like this one. What changes might improve the course for the students who will follow you? React also to any new ideas mentioned in class, including video replacements for three or more class lectures. Liaisons do only what is required of everyone else for this assignment. Due date: THURSDAY, April 28.