I. PREREQUISITES

NONE

This course is a PREREQUISITE to all senior-level courses in Management.

II. POLICIES

A. CLASS POLICIES

1. ATTENDANCE - Attendance is strongly suggested.
2. LATE PAPERS - NO late papers will be accepted.
3. "MAKE-UP" QUIZZES - NO "make-up" quizzes will be given.
4. PRESENTATIONS - NO "make-up" presentations.
5. PARTICIPATION - REQUIRED AND GRADED.
6. IMMEDIATE "F" - Any and all forms of dishonorable or unethical conduct related to academic work including but not limited to plagiarism, cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification, and multiple submissions will result in an immediate grade of "F" in the class. See the General Catalog for examples and definitions which clarify the standards by which academic honesty and honorable conduct are judged.

Absent special circumstances, these will be the policies of this class.
NOTE: All special circumstances must be documented in writing.

B. UNIVERSITY POLICY ON DISABILITIES:

Georgia State University (GSU) provides program accessibility and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Specifically, GSU provides evaluation of individual needs, advisement, and appropriate support for academic programs of identified persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities have the responsibility of contacting the Office of Disability Services to assess their needs. Students must identify themselves and their needs to the professor no later than the first day of class.

III. COURSE RATIONALE

This course invites you to explore the fundamentals of management. Effective management is one of the great human challenges.

How can one best enlist the help of others to achieve things that are beyond our individual capabilities (Barnard, 1938)?

How can one sustain cooperation to accomplish both the right things and to do them right (Drucker, 1954)?

How can one, in the face of competitors who are constantly trying to do it better, maintain an organization which continuously learns to respond to customers' needs and expectations as those needs change?

The practice of management is far more difficult than it appears to be in theory. While the prescriptions for effective management may be simple to understand, they are difficult to implement, and even more difficult to sustain over time. Implementation requires the mastery of both content and process issues. One must have both a grasp of the activities and concepts of management, in terms of what managers do (content), and one must also understand the contexts that affect how these activities interrelate and change with respect to one another over time (process). In this course, we will view MANAGEMENT as the Ultimate Human Challenge.

IV. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is concerned with the study of management theory and practice and their impact on the performance, productivity, and development of organizations. Major topic areas to be covered include: THE FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, DECISION THEORY AND TECHNIQUES, OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, and ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE.

The environment, structure and functions of modern organizations and the roles and functions of their members are analyzed from an interdisciplinary point-of-view. Various schools of management thought and their effect on the decision-making process and on organizational performance will be examined.

A framework of organizational analysis will be developed around:
1] The functions that managers should perform,
2] The human interactions involved, and
3] The operating system within which managers must work.

This framework is not based on a single school of management thought. Rather it examines and integrates concepts and practices that managers should be aware of in their pursuit of performance.

This course is not limited to the management of business organizations. Stress is placed on the application of modern management concepts to organizations of all types, and in various fields, with a view toward improving organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

V. COURSE OBJECTIVES

It is my goal that by the end of the course, you will be able to:

Bridge the gap between theory and practice by integrating management concepts with real world situations.

Develop and apply problem-solving and decision-making skills that will enable you to be effective and efficient managers

Understand the key concepts of management and their impact upon change, development and performance in organizations.

Understand the interdependence of the three characteristics common to all organizations - Behavior (of individuals or groups), Structure (design of fixed relationships among organizational jobs), and Processes (communication, decision-making and socialization).

Understand the multidisciplinary nature of management, the integration of management theory, and its applicability to all organizations and organizational endeavors including those in the international arena.

To help you become much more proficient in using personal computers for business analyses.

To gain experience working effectively in groups by harnessing the diverse skills, abilities, and perspectives of individual group members.

VI. COURSE METHODOLOGY

The primary teaching vehicles used in this course include Lectures, Class Discussions, Videos, Exercises, and a Group Project.

Before each class session, you must read the designated text material and the current issue of The Wall Street Journal/BusinessWeek/Fortune/Forbes/Harvard Business Review.

This is Not a ‘lecture' course! Hopefully, it will be an interactive and dynamic learning experience. This class provides a vehicle for creativity, communication, initiative and risk-taking. Your quality participation is required for every class.

VII. WITHDRAWAL
August 29, 1998 is the last day to receive a 100% refund if withdrawing from any or all classes (see revised refund policy). October 16, 1998 is the last day to withdraw and receive a "W," provided that you have a passing grade at that time, and have met all other requirements specified by the Registrar's Office.

VIII. FLEXIBILITY

This course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.

IX. PERFORMANCE

I will return quizzes/reports/assignments/exams as quickly as possible in order to provide you with timely feedback.

You may talk with me about your performance at any time. If you have any questions - ASK. I want to help you to perform as well as you can. If you have suggestions - MAKE THEM!

X. GRADING

LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT

A = 90% -100%

B = 80% - 89%

C = 70% - 79%

D = 60% - 69%

F = 0% - 59%

XI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The course requirements are as follows:

We will cover the 20 chapters in the textbook. There will be twenty (20) quizzes (of which the lowest quiz grade will be dropped), one (1) Final Exam (comprehensive), and one (1) Group Project.

A. QUIZZES
Twenty quizzes will be used to test your knowledge of the subject matter. The quizzes will be based on class material and reading assignments from the text. The quizzes will consist of multiple-choice questions. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
NOTE: "Make-up" Quizzes will NOT be given.

B. FINAL EXAM

The Final Exam is a Departmental Exam. It is a comprehensive exam consisting of multiple choice questions.

DATE: Tuesday, December 15, 1998 10:30 A.M.

NOTE: There is NO "Make-up" for the Final Exam.

C. GROUP PROJECT:
OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME EXERCISE

Team Presentation 10%
Written Report (1 per Group) 25%

The purpose of this report is to bridge the gap between theory and practice by integrating management concepts with a real world situation.

This is a group assignment which emphasizes the research and application of core management concepts and theories.

Background

Venture Capital, Inc. (V.C.) is looking for good investment opportunities. V.C. is willing to loan any amount, up to $500,000, for a well-designed business proposal. Proposals will normally be for new business "start-ups." V.C. is operated by socially-responsible investors, therefore, profit as well as not-for-profit proposals are given equal consideration. Each proposal that is accepted for funding must pay interest and repay the loan within a specified period of time as follows:

For-Profit Ventures 15 percent interest with payback period not to exceed 8 years.
Not-for-Profit Ventures 12 percent interest with payback period not to exceed 10 years.


To evaluate each proposal, V.C. utilizes the attached Presentation Evaluation.
(NOTE: You will evaluate all team's proposals except your own.)

Your Task

Students will be assigned to small groups. Each group will meet regularly throughout the quarter to develop its proposal. The completed proposal must utilize concepts from throughout the course, and, is to be presented in the form of a "Business Plan." To facilitate the team's work, you may wish to have team members assume specific company roles. You should also designate specific individuals to preview various upcoming text chapters to identify key concepts/points which will need to be covered.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is expected that each team member will research and write portions of the proposal. The individual doing the industry analysis, the individual doing the human resources plan, etc., should prepare written reports for all group members to discuss and edit. Remember that little actual "work" gets produced in a group meeting. Group meetings are the time to agree on individual assignments, make collective decisions, coordinate responsibilities, review the efforts of team members, etc. Should there be a member in any group not adequately discharging his/her responsibilities, the other group members may make the decision to "fire" the delinquent individual. See the instructor for procedures to implement such an action. Any individual who is "fired" will be responsible for completing this assignment, either on his/her own, or, perhaps working with an individual(s) who is fired from some other group.

The MAXIMUM length of the written proposal is 25 pages - full-sentence, outline format. This page limit does not include appendices, bibliography, organization charts, job descriptions, pro-forma financial statements and other supporting documentation. It is expected that your paper will follow appropriate university-level style guidelines and that proper spelling, grammar, organization, neatness, clarity, etc., will be utilized. All of these factors will affect your grade.

Your written report is to be turned in at the beginning of class on Tuesday, December 1, 1998. Late papers will NOT be accepted. PLEASE be advised that "printer viruses," and other word-processor difficulties, are known to be rampant near the end of every semester. You are encouraged to complete the paper a few days early. Also note that two progress reports are required during the semester. Each one of these must be in outline format, typed, double-spaced. They must include all of the information specified in the Project Report attachments located in this syllabus.

You will also present your proposal orally to V. C. Members (the class) for evaluation. MAXIMUM time for this presentation is 15 minutes - you must be well-organized and you are urged to utilize overheads (that the class can read.). You should not read to the class. Among other things, reading suggests a poor knowledge/understanding of your material. It is expected that you will also be asked to respond to questions from your audience. The instructor may also invite an "outsider" who has had venture capital experience to evaluate the presentations - you should plan to make a first-class presentation.

The first meeting of your team should focus on getting acquainted (organized), exchanging phone numbers, an audit of member interests and skills, identifying several possible topics, agreeing on a meeting schedule, and selecting a name for your team. YOU WILL NEED TO MEET REGULARLY TO DO A GOOD JOB ON THIS ASSIGNMENT. The team will require Planning, Organizing, Staffing (of various tasks), Leading and Controlling as you develop your proposal. Remember that all of the individual parts must be brought together to form a comprehensive and cohesive proposal.

ALSO, remember that your group needs YOU. The active involvement and support of every team member is important. Each team needs to utilize all of its resources if it is to compete successfully for V. C. resources. Individual team members are required to evaluate the contribution of each person (including yourself) using the Peer Evaluation Form. This peer evaluation is to be submitted directly to the instructor by each individual on the last class day. Failure to submit this peer evaluation will result in an Incomplete ("I") for the course.

WRITTEN REPORT COMPONENTS

Business plan contents are influenced by such things as the specific mission selected, nature of the proposed organization, philosophies and values of writers, etc. The following components are required in your proposal: [Use the same number and heading in your report as is used below]

I. TABLE OF CONTENTS

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY- Discuss your firm's mission, objectives, competitive advantages, and strategic positioning.

III. NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION

IV. NAMES OF THE OWNERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS/TOP MANAGERS

V. OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS - Detailed description of the industry and opportunity/niche which the organization seeks to exploit. Also address industry threats.

VI. STRATEGY - Complete information on the proposed organization's strategy, products, services, market segments, unique features, etc.

VII. ORGANIZATION CHART delineating lines of authority and communication. Include an organizational chart and explain the mode of departmentation. ALSO DISCUSS THE RELEVANT VARIABLES (FIG. 10-3, P.200) AFFECTING YOUR CORPORATION'S ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE.

VIII. STAFFING PLAN, including both job descriptions and job specifications.

IX. DETAILED FINANCIAL PLAN for the first year including all projected expenses and revenues, and, a break-even analysis. [Include a Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Break-Even Analysis Chart]

X. SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL PLAN for additional years until payback is completed. [Include an Amortization Schedule]

XI. PHYSICAL LAYOUT of the company including its operating system, geographic location(s), space and equipment, unique features, etc.

XII. DISCUSSION OF OPERATIONAL FEATURES of the organization such as:

-Customer identification/relationships
-Supplier identification/relationships
-Planning/forecasting methods
-Decision processes
-Communication systems/methods
-Management of crisis, conflict, stress
-Development of human resources
-Performance appraisal methods
-Reward system, including assurances of equity
-Control mechanisms

XIII. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES - Critical risks that are involved in the proposed venture and important milestones that will be used to evaluate progress. Also address key strengths that the organization will try to develop and potential weaknesses that must be guarded against.

XIV. DESCRIPTION OF THE LEADERSHIP of the organization, including the CEO's management style and philosophy, and, the distribution of responsibility and authority throughout the organization.

XV. APPENDICES

XVI. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Guidelines

• 20-25 pages (excluding Table of Contents/Models/Diagrams/References) in full sentence outline (typed, double-spaced).
• Use headings and subheadings to organize your paper.
• References, grammar and syntax are important and will be considered in grading.
• Include at least two (2) Original Models/Diagrams/Tables/Exhibits [This does not include the Income Statement/Balance Sheet].
• All models/diagrams/tables/graphs/exhibits should be referenced in the text, fully explained in the text, and underlined in the text (e.g. Model 1)
• The written reports will NOT be returned, therefore, make extra copies for yourselves
• Late papers will NOT be accepted

PRESENTATIONS

COMPUTER PRESENTATIONS ARE REQUIRED

When making your presentations, keep in mind the following:
• Presentations should be no longer than 15 minutes
• Quantity and quality of presentation
• Be clear
• Organize your presentation
• Be creative
• Be prepared
• Strive for positive delivery, pace, volume and ease of presentation
• Use appropriate and effective visual aids
• Be enthusiastic
• Answer all points clearly and succinctly
• Summarize

DUE: All Group Projects will be presented on NOVEMBER 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, DECEMBER 1, 3, 1998. All Group Project Written Reports must be turned in by DECEMBER 1, 1998.
Late Group Project Written Reports will NOT be accepted.

Additional items that are relevant to your particular proposal should be added as appropriate. The nature of your team's competitive environment, mission, technological factors, anticipated future developments, etc., may suggest specific (other) things that you need to address. You are also strongly encouraged to do some library research on the competitive situation in your chosen industry. In doing this research, you may find that your organization will need to have certain specific core competencies if it is to be a successful competitor.

In addition to covering the above items, remember (as already noted above) that you must prepare your final document in a proper format for a university-level submission. This includes a cover page, table of contents page, executive summary (this should be written last, but, is included immediately after the table of contents), appendices and bibliography.

A final reminder - put each of the "DUE DATES" on your calendar and plan your team's work to meet each deadline. As noted regarding "printer viruses," you are encouraged to stay a few days ahead.

PRESENTATION EVALUATION

EVALUATOR: ______________________(top portion to be cut off by the instructor)_____________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRESENTERS ___________________________PROPOSAL_____________________________

(1) Explanation of the Need/Opportunity (relevant, thorough, etc.,?)
Comments:

(2) Quality of Planning (appropriate, adequate, realistic, etc., ?)
Comments:

(3) Quality of Management Team (evidence of hard work, team unity, persuasiveness, knowledge of management process, creativity, etc., required for success ?)
Comments:

(4) Quality of Presentation (well-organized, clear, observed time limit, etc., ?)
Comments:

OVERALL EVALUATION - Circle the appropriate number for each statement.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being Perfect and 1 being Unintelligible, I would rate this presentation:

1      2      3       4      5       6      7     8      9     10

NOTE: Be sure to complete the "bottom line" rating above.

PROJECT REPORT NO. 1
DUE DATE: ___________________

NOTE: Any individual who wishes to seek membership with a different team must negotiate arrangements prior to the submission of this progress report. Your signature on this report represents your personal commitment to your team.

Utilize the format provided below to prepare your first progress report. Utilize the same number to identify each response as is used below. THE COMPLETED FORM MUST BE TYPED AND ALL TEAM MEMBERS MUST INDICATE AGREEMENT BY THEIR SIGNATURES. Remember that "late" progress reports will NOT be accepted.

(1) Name selected by the project team to identify itself as an organization.

(2) Name of the organization (venture) the project team will propose.

(3) Overview of the organization being developed - what will it "do" and who will be its clients/customers?

(4) Overview of the environment within which the organization will compete to exist - explain the nature of the competitive process and identify "key success factors."

(5) List each member of the project team and describe the research, development and writing responsibilities to be undertaken by that person.

(6) List each team member's name again and have each individual provide their signature beside their typed name.

PROJECT REPORT NO. 2
DUE DATE: ___________________

Progress Report Number 2 includes two parts. Part One is to be signed and submitted by all team members. Part Two is to be submitted on the same day by each individual member of the team. (It is assumed that copies of each Part Two will also be distributed to all members of your team - these are to be "working papers.")

Part One: The requirements for Part One are exactly the same as for Progress Report Number One. This is the time for you to re-submit Report Number One with any modifications that the group has found to be necessary. If the team does not wish to make any changes at this time, a statement to that effect (signed by all group members) may be submitted. Should you wish to make any change at all, submit a complete new Progress Report Number One with the signatures of all team members.

Part Two: Rationale: As the team becomes "organized," and has selected the type of organization it will propose, the next step is to build an adequate, shared information base. The key to success in this phase is high-quality research. The goal is to understand the nature of the chosen type of organization/industry and what is required to be a successful competitor.

Part Two, to be signed and submitted by each team member individually, consists of summaries of two articles which have been read/analyzed specifically for this project. Please provide a complete reference for every article. Each summary should be in full sentence outline (typed, double-spaced) format. The relevance of each article selected to the organization the team plans to propose should be obvious. Each article which is summarized should be taken from a credible source (such as The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Fortune, etc.) and focus on (A) the industry in which your organization will compete, or, (B) a specific, existing organization which would be viewed as a competitor. Articles should be from recent issues of the publication, preferably within the last 12 to 18 months.

ALSO, the team is to coordinate this information-gathering process so that all articles which are submitted are different. For example, if there are four members on the team, eight different articles must be summarized for that team.

NOTE: If you are not able to find the required number of "different" articles, you may wish to reconsider the type of organization you wish to propose. It will not be possible for you to do a quality job on this assignment if you are unable to find the necessary information.

As you move from the information-gathering phase into initial report drafting, keep in mind the importance of all team members being involved in the strategic management and financial planning decisions.

D. CLASS PARTICIPATION
Increasingly, Business Schools throughout the country are emphasizing class participation to an even greater extent. In large part, this reflects the need for effective communication in the corporate world. Many of you will work for corporations where part of your performance evaluation will be based on both verbal and written communication skills. It is your responsibility to cultivate these skills.

To this end, class participation is STRONGLY encouraged. Lack of participation will negatively affect your final grade. Classroom sessions should be built on trust and communication where students may interact with each other in a non-threatening environment. Class discussions provide a forum for your ideas and questions. Everyone benefits from either a clarification or an insight. The only "BAD" question is the one not asked. Please take advantage of this opportunity to develop your communication skills. Note that communication involves sending, receiving, and understanding. Communication can only take place if the transmitted information is received and understood.

Your participation grade is based on the following:
1] Quantity - Active participation in class discussions/during individual presentations/and in response to questions from the instructor.
2] Quality -Quality comments include:
A unique and relevant perspective.
Evidence of reflective and critical thinking.
A recognition of inherent trade-offs.
Building on other comments.
Movement of the discussion forward.
3] Points may also be earned by bringing to class current magazine/newspaper articles relevant to the course. Please identify the management concept which relates to your article.

F. CLASS ATTENDANCE
There is no formal attendance policy. However, in order to receive the maximum value from this course, it is strongly suggested that you attend all class sessions. There are two reasons for this: (1) You must be physically and mentally present in order to participate. (2) Learning from each other is central to education. Interactive discussions provide valuable insights for all concerned.
Please plan to be here!

I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THE COURSE!

XII. LIST OF JOURNALS

1. Academy of Management Executive
2. Academy of Management Journal
3. Academy of Management Review
4. Administrative Science Quarterly
5. Advanced Management Journal
6. American Sociological Review
7. Business Ethics Quarterly (Emory)
8. Business Horizons
9. Business Management
10. California Management Review
11. Fortune
12. Harvard Business Review
13. Human Organization
14. Industrial and Labor Relations Review
15. Industrial Management Review
16. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science
17. Journal of Applied Psychology
18. Journal of Business
19. Journal of Business Communication
20. Journal of Human Stress
21. Journal of Management Studies
22. Management International Review
23. Management Review
24. Management Science
25. New Management
26. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
27. Organizational Dynamics
28. Personnel
29. Personnel Administrator
30. Personnel Journal
31. Personnel Psychology
32. Public Administration Review
33. Public Personnel Review
34. Sloan Management Review
35. Training and Development Journal

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