Organizational Theory

Project 1 Organizational Theory (Week 3) In the first assignment, students are given a scenario in which the shipping manager who has worked for Recycled Furnishings since the inception of the company is getting ready to retire. The scenario serves to set the stage for students to demonstrate how management theories have changed over time. For example, managing 30 years ago is different than managing in the 21st century. In selecting an organizational theory that best describes the current shipping manager, students have to use the timeline to select a school of thought and a theory or theories of that time frame. Students will need to research the theorist and theories to complete the assignment and answer the questions below. Students are expected to be thorough in responding to Part One. In Part Two, students are going to take what they have learned in weeks 1 – 3 and compare the management skills of the current shipping manager to that of you as the new shipping manager. Part One Recycled Furnishings is a division of an international home furnishing company called Thor Enterprises. Recycled Furnishings makes glass sofas for outdoor use from recycled bottles and glass. The business has grown rapidly in the last thirty years and now that it has become a division of Thor Enterprises, the company is going international. The shipping manager for Recycled Furnishings has been in his job since the start of the company. He is going to retire. You have been hired as his replacement. Select an organizational theory that you believe best describes the current shipping manager and which explains the organization and its structure; Identify the theorist(s) who proposed the theory; Discuss how the selected organizational theory and theorist fit into the school of thought of that time period. Address the principles of the theory and how the manager would do his job and interact with his staff. Using the course readings and your own research, explain in detail how you arrived at your conclusions. Part Two You would like to characterize yourself as a 21st century manager. As a 21st century manager, compare the way you would manage versus the way of your predecessor. What implications do the changes in management have for the future of Thor? How will the new approach to the job likely change the shipping division? Required Formatting of the Project 1: This report should be double spaced, 12-point font, and four to five pages in length excluding the title page and reference page; Include an introduction and a summary paragraph; Title page with your name, the course name, the date, and instructor’s name; Use headings; Write clearly and concisely; Write in the third person; Use APA formatting for in-text citations and reference page. You are expected to paraphrase and not use direct quotes. Deductions will be taken when direct quotes are used and found to be unnecessary; Outside resources may be used but the majority of the support will come from the course readings with a wide array of readings used; Submit the paper in the Assignment Folder. Rubric Name: Written Assignment (20%) Criteria Outstanding Superior Good Substandard Failure Critical Thinking/Reasoning 7 points demonstrates a high degree of critical thinking, is consistent in accurately interpreting questions & material; provides solid assumptions, reasoning & claims; provides thorough analysis & evaluation with sound conclusions 5.95 points shows good critical thinking; accurately interprets most questions & material; usually identifies relevant arguments/reasoning/claims; offers good analysis & evaluation with fairly sound conclusions 5.25 points shows occasional critical thinking; questions & material is at times accurately interpreted; arguments/reasoning/claims are occasionally explained; offers fair analysis & evaluation with a conclusion 4.55 points shows little critical thinking, misinterprets questions or material; ignores or superficially evaluates; justifies little and seldom explains reasoning; draws unwarranted conclusions 3.85 points lacks critical thinking consistently offers biased interpretations; ignores or superficially evaluates; argues using poor reasoning, and/or unwarranted claims Application of Concepts/Development 7 points arguments or positions are well-supported with evidence from the readings/experience; ideas go beyond the course material and recognize implications and extensions of the material and concepts 5.95 points arguments or positions are mostly supported by evidence from the readings and course content; ideas presented demonstrate student’s understanding of the material and concepts 5.25 points arguments are more often based on opinion or unclear views than on position grounded in the readings of material or external sources of material 4.55 points arguments are frequently illogical and unsubstantiated; student may resort to ad hominem attacks on the author instead of making meaningful application of the material 3.85 points a meaningful attempt to explain or support ideas does not exist Attention to Instructions 3 points demonstrated full understanding of requirements; responded to each aspect of assignment 2.55 points demonstrated understanding of requirements; missed one minor aspect of assignment 2.25 points demonstrated some understanding of requirements; missed a key element or two minor aspects of assignment 1.95 points failed to show a firm understanding of requirements; missed two key elements or several minor aspects of assignment 1.65 points did not demonstrate understanding of assignment requirements Clarity; including grammar 2 points writing is clear and easy to follow; grammar and spelling are all correct; formatting gives a professional look and adds to readability 1.7 points most ideas are presented clearly; occasional spelling and/or grammar issues 1.5 points wordy; some points require rereading to understand fully; more than an occasional spelling and/or grammar 1.3 points unclear and difficult to understand; frequent spelling and grammar issues 1.1 points largely incomprehensible writing/poorly written in terms of mechanics and structure Adherence to APA style (6th ed.) 1 point no APA style errors 0.85 points attempts in-text citation and reference list but 1 or 2 APA style errors are present 0.75 points attempts in-text citation and reference list; APA style errors are present; inconsistencies in citation usage can be found throughout the document 0.65 points attempts either in-text citation or reference list but omits the other 0.55 points no attempt at APA style Overall Score Outstanding 18 or more Superior 16 or more Good 14 or more Substandard 12 or more Failure 0 or more