Purpose:
In the first assignment,
students are given a scenario in which the shipping manager who has worked for
Galaxy Toys, Inc. since 1969. The scenario serves to set the stage for
students to demonstrate how management theories have changed over time.
For example, management 30 years ago is different than management in the
21st century.
Outcome Met by Completing
This Assignment:
integrate management
theories and principles into management practices
Instructions:
In Part One of this analysis,
students are to use the facts from the case scenario to determine the two
different organizational theories that are demonstrated. For Part Two,
students will compare the 21st century manager to that of the main character in
the case scenario and discuss using the course readings the implications of
change in being a 21st century manager.
In selecting a School of
Thought and an organizational theory that best describes the current shipping
manager, students will use the timeline, the information provided in the course
schedule, the course readings. Students will use the course readings to
respond to most of the assignment requirements but will also need to research
the theorist(s) and theories to complete the assignment. Students are
expected to be thorough and demonstrate accuracy in responding to the
assignment, analyzing the case scenario and in supporting all reasoning.
In Part Two, students are
going to take what they have learned and compare the management skills of the
21st century shipping manager to the skills of the current shipping
manager.
Step 1: Preparation
for the Assignment
Before you begin writing
the report, you will read the following requirements that will help you meet
the writing and APA requirements. Not reading this information will lead
to a lower grade:
Review “How to Analyze a
Case Study” under Week 4 Content. You are expected to use the facts from
the case scenario focusing on using this information to determine opportunities
and solve problems.
Read the grading rubric for
the assignment. Use the grading rubric while writing the report to ensure
all requirements are met that will lead to the highest possible grade.
In writing this assignment,
you will read and following these tasks:
Task 1: Third person
writing is required. Third person means that there are no words such as
“I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or
your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third
person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person.
Task 2: Contractions
are not used in business writing, so you are expected NOT to use contraction in
writing this assignment.
Task 3: You are
expected to paraphrase and are NOT to use direct quotes. You are expected
to paraphrase, which can be learned by reviewing this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html.
Task 4: You are
responsible for APA only for in-text citations and a reference list.
Task 5: You are
expected to use the facts from the case scenario paired with the weekly courses
readings to develop the analysis and support the reasoning. No more than
three (3) external resources can be used in completing the assignment.
The expectation is that you provide a robust use of the course readings.
If any material is used from a source document, it must be cited and
referenced. A reference within a reference list cannot exist without an
associated in-text citation and vice versa. View the sample APA paper
and the How to Cite and Reference file located under Week 4 content.
Task 6: In completing
the assignment, students are expected to use the facts from the case study and
company profile paired with the weekly courses readings to develop the
analysis. View the company profile here: Galaxy Toys, Inc. Company
Profile.
Step 2: How to Set Up
the Paper
Create a Word or Rich Text
Format (RTF) document that is double-spaced, 12-point font. The final
product will be between 5-7 pages in length excluding the title page and reference
page and appendix. You may not exceed seven (7) pages so it is important
to write clearly and concisely.
In addition to providing an
introduction, students will use headings following this format:
Title page with title, your
name, the course, date, the instructor’s name;
Introduction
Background on the Galaxy
Inc. scenario – one to two paragraph that is paraphrased (approximately 150
words);
Part One;
Part Two
Step 3: Create the
introductory paragraph. Within this paragraph, provide a brief overview
of the scenario. Then, provide a thesis statement and tell the reader the
main topics covered in the paper. The introductory paragraph is the first
paragraph of the paper but is typically written after writing the body of the
paper (Questions students responded to above). View this website to learn
how to write an introductory paragraph: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
Step 4: Part One:
Read critically and analyze the following scenario:
The shipping manager for
Galaxy Toys Toledo, Ohio branch, Bart Aldrin, has been in his job since 1969.
Prior to coming to Galaxy, Bart worked as shipping clerk for
International Shipping, a large container company. Bart quickly rose to
supervisor at International Shipping because of his ability to plan daily work,
provide detailed instructions to workers that helped optimize the way tasks
were performed and his knack of implementing processes so workers could be
trained to perform their specialized sequence of motion in the most efficient
way. He brought this management style to Galaxy, which helped to improve
the methodology of toy assembly as well as the shipping processes.
Employees often criticized Bart,
who was heard to say (on many occasions), “It’s my way or the
highway” or “Just do your individual task the way you were trained
and don’t worry about what others are doing.” In fact, it was clear
that Bart was focused on efficiency and to that end, he had a keen
understanding of all of the tasks that needed to be completed and was focused
on hiring and training workers that could perform their individual task in the
most efficient way possible. In his early days, one could find Bart on
the shipping floor taking copious notes as to each individual task completed
and figuring out ways to turn the employees into robots…programming them to
perform their one task in the single-most efficient way possible (at least from
his perspective).
A major shift in management
occurred in the late 1980’s and early 90’s that caused Bart (and other
managers) to reconsider their management approach. For example,
heightened competition, advances in technology, the workers threat to unionize,
a greater demand for employee management participation, work-life balance and a
general shift in employee workplace values caused management to change the
culture of Galaxy. A greater focus on employees led to a new approach to
management at Galaxy: people focus within a learning environment. The
owners of Galaxy embraced diversity and were willing to hear the ideas of
employees and this change in attitude and culture was evident in Bart, who
embraced these changes wholeheartedly. These internal changes enabled the
company to adapt to uncertainty and to respond to its competitors more quickly.
Step 5: Identify and
discuss the School of Thought that best describes Bart’s management style when
he first joined Galaxy. Remember to explain the facts that you have
relied upon in your selection. Note that there is one best answer so not
doing a thorough analysis will yield partial credit for this element.
Step 6: Discuss the
theorist (only one) under the identified School of Thought that best depicts
Bart’s management style when he joined Galaxy. What contribution did this
theorist make to management and why was his or her contribution important to
the field of management? Remember to explain the facts that you’ve relied
upon in your selection. Note that there is one best answer so not doing a
thorough analysis will yield partial credit.
Step 7: Identify and
discuss the School of Thought that best describes the management style Bart
used once the shift took place. Why is this School of Thought the best
choice? Remember to demonstrate that the facts given in the scenario
align with your choice. Note that there is one best answer, so doing a
thorough analysis will yield partial credit for this element.
Step 8: Identify and
discuss the theorist who best supports this School of Thought. Address
the principles of the theory and how these principles affected the new approach
to management as exhibited Bart and his fellow managers. How does what
the theorist propose support the facts in the case study? Remember to
demonstrate that the facts given in the scenario align with your choice.
Note that there is one best answer, which is not related to the P-O-L-C,
so doing a thorough analysis will yield partial credit for this element.
Step 9: Compare and
contrast the two Schools of Thought that were identified above. To help
you understand how to do this element, view Writing a Comparison and Contrast
Paragraph. The expectation is that this element is covered in detail,
which is more than 2-3 sentences.
Step 10: Part Two:
Read critically and analyze the following scenario:
Recently, Bart announced
his plans to retire. His replacement is Joyce Barnhart. Joyce is
confident as a 21st century manager that she is capable of handling the new
position as manager.
Step 11: As a 21st
century manager, how will Joyce’s understanding of the role of a manager be
manifested/demonstrated in how she approaches her job? Remember that in
responding to this question, students are expected to demonstrate an understanding
of the 21st century management concepts discussed early in this course.
Step 12: How will the
new approach to the job likely change the production and shipping department at
Galaxy headquarters?
