FINAL PROJ

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Final Paper Project: Problem Solving

 

The project presents an opportunity for you to apply what has been learned in the course (through videos, cases, readings and discussions) to problems in an organization of your choice. This assignment requires you to apply topics from the course in attempt to solve a specific problem that exists in an organization with which you are familiar. That problem should center on either a job performance issue or an organizational commitment issue. The paper should be 1000 words in length (4 pages doubled spaced, excluding the cover page). More details are provided below.

Gather information from people in an organization through direct contact.  You may supplement this information with data from the media, the organization’s literature, and other secondary sources.  You should identify a relatively recent problem to analyze (i.e. this should not be an historical account of a problem and the company’s solution).  You should focus your analysis by applying the concepts from the course.  While it is acceptable to incorporate several concepts from the course, please aim for depth regarding the use of course concepts.  Your goal is to diagnose the mechanisms that are causing the problem or issue of concern in the organization. Initially, you may notice many symptoms (for instance, high turnover, seemingly low morale, low commitment, motivation etc.), but your task is to get to the underlying reason for these symptoms. And beware, sometimes the initial symptoms we think we see are not what they appear to be.

There are two broad goals for this assignment:

  1. One goal of this assignment is to take the initiative to make a positive contribution to an organization.
  2. Another major goal is to provide an opportunity for you to learn more about organizational behavior first hand and to use your critical thinking and reflection skills to link your experience with this organization to your learning in relation to organizational behavior theory.

To meet these broad goals, you should answer the following questions in your assignment:

  1. What are the issues or problems facing the organization?
  2. What course concepts can be applied to understand why this problem is occurring?
  3. What recommendations can you offer to help improve organizational functioning?

The Written Report  

  1. Company or organization’s background (including Mission/Vision Statement) (p.1)
  2. What are the issues or problems facing the organization? (pp.1-2) (2 problems are required)
  3. What course concepts can be applied to understand why this problem is occurring? (This can be explained when discussing the problems or recommendations or a section of its own)
  4. What recommendations, based on these course concepts, can you offer to help improve organizational functioning and address the problem you identified? (pp. 3-4) (2 recommendations per problem; a total of 4 recommendations)

**Note: Paper must be formatted in APA Style and should include the following:

  • Cover Page.
  • In-text citations.
  • Reference Page listing at least three references (1 reference must be our textbook).

***Note: An Abstract is not required. Please see the Sample Student paper in APA and Writing Resources in the Blackboard Content area

The grading details will show your originality score after submission using SafeAssign.  Please do not plagiarize.

The Presentation

Create a PowerPoint Presentation using the information in your written report.  The PowerPoint presentation will be visible to other students. In the PowerPoint presentation, please include the following slides:

  1. Slide 1: Company or organization’s name; Your name
  2. Slide 2: Company’s Mission/Vision what are the issues or problems facing the organization?
  3. Slide 3: List the issues or problems facing the organization
  4. Slide 4: List the recommendations to help improve organizational functioning and address the problem you identified?

The Discussion

After posting your final project PowerPoint presentation in the designated discussion area you will view the presentations of at least two of your classmates and reply to both.

In your reply, state an alternative solution to the problem presented in your classmates’ presentations (minimum of 150 words).