Assignment 2 – Written assignment
Task: Critical analysis of a personal experience:
• Task 1: 500 word (max) scenario
? Task 2: 1,500 word written answer (excludes the list of references)
? Task 3: 1-2 page table of recommendations
Weight: Marked out of 100 and worth 45% of total assessment
Due date: 27 April 2015 (this is a Monday)
Submission requirements: To be completed on the assignment template available in the ‘Assignment 2’ topic area on MGT5000 StudyDesk.
You have up to midnight on the due date to electronically lodge your assignment. The submission link is in the ‘Assignment 2’ topic area on the MGT5000 StudyDesk.
Relevant modules: This assessment task requires you to demonstrate an understanding of learning objectives selected from Modules 3, 4 and 5.
Instructions Refer to the following for a description of the tasks.
Task 1 (up to 500 words)
Think of a story/scenario about an incident/event/problem which has occurred or is currently occurring in your working life and/or organisation (which may include experiences working/attending charity, school and sporting organisations) and in which the concepts of motivation, group dynamics and communication are relevant.
Write this story/scenario down (in no more than 500 words or one page). Be sure to include the titles/descriptions of key people/actors and descriptions of relevant situational variables (who? what? where? why? how?).
Several examples of scenarios appear in the ‘Assignment 2’ topic area on the MGT5000 Studydesk (Note: some of the concepts may differ in the scenarios from the concepts you are being asked to capture).
Guidelines to write the scenario
• The scenario should commence with an opening statement which sets the scene in terms of the relevance of the scenario to you.
• The scenario must describe an event/problem which could be analysed from a motivational perspective.
• The scenario must describe an event/problem which could be analysed from a group dynamics perspective.
• The scenario must describe an event/problem which could be analysed from a communication perspective.
• The story/scenario should be concrete (about real people, actions and events); familiar to a work setting and believable to those who read it.
• Structurally your story should involve a setting, a build-up (trouble’s coming!) and a crisis, problem or climax.
• The information you include in this assignment is for assessment purposes only. If you feel the need, you are welcome to change identifying information such as names of people, organisations and places. If you feel a particular scenario is too sensitive to discuss – then please select another scenario from your experience that you are comfortable discussing in your assignment.
Task 2 (1,500 words)
Analyse the scenario/event/problem by critically discussing the following organisational behaviour issues as they pertain to the scenario:
1. Choose two motivational theories from module 3 which are relevant to your scenario and critically discuss what impact the events/incidents/problems in this scenario are likely to have on the motivation of the people identified in the scenario. (500 words)
2. Draw on the content in module 4 to critically discuss group dynamics in the scenario. (500 words)
3. Draw on the content in module 5 to critically discuss communication in the scenario.
Task 3 (1-2 page table)
Make recommendations: Draw up a table (1-2 pages) and summarise what actions could be taken to manage (1) the motivation of the people identified in the scenario; what actions could be taken to improve (2) the group dynamics/functioning in the scenario; and (3) what actions could be taken to improve communication in the scenario.
An example of a previous assignment appears in the ‘Assignment 2’ topic area on the MGT5000 Studydesk (Note: Some topic areas are different to the ones you need to discuss).
Structure of the assignment
This assignment should be prepared in three parts.
Part 1 containing task 1: An opening statement and the description of the scenario/telling the story (no more than 500 words). Present your scenario in well-constructed paragraphs.
Part 2 containing task 2: An analysis of the scenario/story according to the guidelines above. Use three sub headings to reflect the three main themes (ie: motivation; group dynamics; and communication) (1,500 words in total). An essay response is not required (that is, there is no need to write an introduction and conclusion) but you must present your answer in well-constructed paragraphs.
Part 3 containing task 3: Recommendations in table format according to the guidelines above (1-2 pages)
Research and referencing
? You are required to find and cite within your answer a minimum of ten (10) sources.
? The emphasis should be on refereed journal articles to support your arguments; however you are also to refer to your text book as a distinct source. Other sources may be relevant books.
? Private web pages such as pages of study notes from other university courses are not acceptable. If you elect to use a website it must be of a scholarly and credible nature that clearly displays the sponsoring organisation, and if available, the author of the article.
? These sources must be published from the year 2000 to the present. However if you do use older sources, you may be requested to provide evidence of a hard copy of the source.
? Use Harvard referencing throughout your paper. You can refer to the USQ Library at http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/referencing/harvard.htm for help on Harvard referencing techniques.
? The template contains a reminder to include a list of references at the end of your paper using the Harvard referencing style.
Presentation
? You MUST use the template available on the MGT5000 StudyDesk for your assignment. This template contains the marking criteria sheet upfront for the evaluator to complete. You write your assignment from page two of the template.
? This template is set so that your paper is presented with 2 cm margins all round, 12 pt Times New Roman; 1½ line spacing. For Task 3, the table of recommendations is set at single line spacing.
? Your assignment must fall within the required length guidelines: +/- 10% of the word count indicated for each question.
? Page numbers, headers and footers have been included in the template. You need to insert your student details into the header.
? Headings, diagrams and/or brief tables are permissible in your responses (they are included in word count). Tables and diagrams (if used) must be labelled and referenced and must be explained in the body of your answer. If you have solely developed it, cite it as ‘Developed for assignment’. If you adapted someone else’s work, cite (Adapted from: author, year pg. no).
? Compile a single List of References on the last page of the assignment (as allowed for in the assignment template) according to Harvard AGPS requirements.
? The course teaching team reserves the right to submit any or all students’ assignments for a plagiarism and collusion check through 'turn-it-in'.
General comments in relation to assignment 2
? The aim of the assignment is to test your understanding of some of the key concepts in the material covered in the study modules, examine your ability to critically analyse a particular behavioural and organisational situation and to demonstrate how the concepts, ideas, suggestions, content, theory and research results can be applied in a practical situation.
? A further objective of the assessment task is to draw you into questioning of the current organisational practice evident in the case/scenario and to facilitate reflection, selfawareness and a better (critical) understanding of others and yourself.
? Don’t be put off by the terms ‘critically discuss’ or ‘develop a sound argument’. In simple terms, they involve the process of analysis. Unfortunately, over the years, many students don’t quite understand what an analytical approach to assignment questions mean. Instead, they present an answer to an assignment question in very descriptive terms – that is, they just define terms and describe or repeat what the text and associated materials present. Every answer will contain an amount of description but the analytical aspect of your writing is when you identify the issues in the material, the arguments and results that are apparent in the material and the differences of opinion expressed by various authors on the topic under discussion. You answer the question by presenting and analysing the ‘facts’ contained in the relevant material, and presenting an answer as a supported and logically presented argument – a critique. Your support comes from the authoritative references you present.
? Don’t close the textbook and think ‘I will think about it’. You need to DO something after reading every module, chapter and article. What do you need to do now?
? Get out your computer or your notebook. Start the assignment now. Map it out in the form of a structure. Then put into this structure that you create for this assignment, your notes from the material you have just read. Make notations on what is missing and what you need to do as soon as possible. Of course, the structure will follow closely the questions you have to answer.
? Make sure you refer to the marking criteria sheet used to evaluate the assignment.
? As far as the material is concerned, go back over the material on definitions and make notes. Identify what you see are the issues between the definition and the reality of describing the workplace pictured in the assignment.
? With each module, we refer you to various materials within the study book for enrichment. The textbook supplies the basics to support you in understanding the topics prescribed. You are also expected to seek out additional material and use it where appropriate.
? The word limit is always an issue. It acts as a guide to the quantity required. First impressions are that the requirements are significant. However, what generally happens is once students start to get their teeth into their answer, the word count becomes a limiting factor. Please do not go over the limit.
? Students can get bogged down in the reading to a point where they believe they are reading too much and have lost the plot. There is a general amount of reading at the outset that is suggested in the study notes. This is to understand and absorb the thrust of each topic. These initial stages of reading promote general learning. You get to understand the concepts. You start to see how it does and can apply to your work specifically and to the organisation in general. Once you have achieved this general understanding, you then start to look at how you are going to approach the assignment questions. These questions are set to test your understanding of the key topic areas.
Reading from this point is quite specific. You are looking for material to support your assignment and make your case.
Please check the electronic discussion board on a regular basis for answers to frequently asked questions on the assignments. ENJOY!
Marking criteria for Assignment 2
The content is the most important regarding the relative contribution of each of the dimensions. ‘Understanding and interpretation of assignment questions’, ‘critical analysis’, ‘research’ and ‘interpretation and application of theory’ account for 80% of the final grade on the assignment. Technical and academic care such as ‘presentation’, ‘written expression’, ‘structure’ and ‘academic referencing protocols’ account for 20% of the final grade on the assignment.