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C200 Task1 / Task2 Outline

This document provides guidance for completing two tasks for a course on managing organizations and leading people. Task One involves analyzing an organization the student has experience with by: 1) describing the organization and conducting a SWOT analysis, and 2) evaluating the organization's leadership and making recommendations. Task Two involves setting SMART goals for the student's own leadership development by analyzing their leadership practices. The document provides detailed instructions on completing each section of Task One, including describing the organization, discussing the leader's impact on culture, and evaluating the leader's strengths/weaknesses. It also provides examples and recommendations for sources to use in the analysis.

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Justin Gardner
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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50% found this document useful (8 votes)
6K views11 pages

C200 Task1 / Task2 Outline

This document provides guidance for completing two tasks for a course on managing organizations and leading people. Task One involves analyzing an organization the student has experience with by: 1) describing the organization and conducting a SWOT analysis, and 2) evaluating the organization's leadership and making recommendations. Task Two involves setting SMART goals for the student's own leadership development by analyzing their leadership practices. The document provides detailed instructions on completing each section of Task One, including describing the organization, discussing the leader's impact on culture, and evaluating the leader's strengths/weaknesses. It also provides examples and recommendations for sources to use in the analysis.

Uploaded by

Justin Gardner
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

BIP2Tips3/25/14

C200ManagingOrganizationsandLeadingPeopleTipsDocument
ForTaskOneyouwillwriteapaperonanorganizationwithwhichyouhavehadpersonalexperience.
YouwillfirstdescribethechosenorganizationandthenperformaSWOTanalysisonthatorganization.
Youwillanalyzetheorganizationsleadershipandmakerecommendationsforimprovement.
ForTaskTwoyouhavetheopportunitytoanalysisofyourownleadershippractices.Related,youwill
developaminimumoftwoSMART(specific,measurable,attainable,resultsoriented,andtimebound)
goalsrelatedtoyourownleadershipskilldevelopment.

TASKONE:ORGANIZATIONANDLEADERANALYSIS
OrganizationDescription
A1.Describetheorganizationanditsobjective(s)
Beginbythinkingaboutanorganizationyouhaveexperiencewithandideally,anorganizationwhere
youhaveeitherhaddirectaccesstoaleaderorhavebeenabletoobservealeader.Thisorganization
canbeanonprofit,forprofit,oraFortune100business.Inordertocompletethistask,youmay
furtherrefinethegroupinwhichyouwillconducttheanalysisasadepartmentordivisionwithinthe
organization.
Next,describetheorganizationyouwillbeanalyzing.Provideanoverviewoftheorganization,abrief
historyortheorganization,andincludetheobjectivesoftheorganization.Ifyouareanalyzingasub
setwithinanorganization,youstillwanttobeginwithanoverviewofthelargerorganizationpriorto
describingtheteam,department,division,etc.Finally,itisrecommendedthatyouincludeabrief
descriptionoftheorganizationsculture.
Atip:Weencourageyoutoreadthroughtheentiretaskinstructionspriortoidentifyingan
organizationandleadertostudy.
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed3pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
A2.Describeatleastthreeleadershippracticesoftheprimaryleader
Whencompletingthissection,itisimportanttodemonstratethatyoucanapplywhatyouhave
learnedinthiscoursespecifictoprovidinganinformeddescriptionoftheleadershippractices.A
leadershippracticeisacombinationofleadershipresponsibility,theperformanceofthe
responsibility,anditsuniquevaluetotheorganization.Youwanttoavoidgenericdescriptionssuch
asbeingagoodcommunicatorandinsteadprovideillustrationsofactuallyleadershipfunctionsin
whichyourleaderperformsdaily,weeklyorroutinely.Singleeventsisnotapractice.
Forexample,OneleadershipresponsibilityoftheCEOistoprovidestrategicleadershiptothe
organization.IntheperformanceofthisresponsibilitytheCEOshapedtheformationofthe
organizationsvisionandmission,whilefacilitatingstrategyformulationandstrategy
implementation.Thevalueofstrategicleadershipisdeterminingtheorganizationsdirectionby
effectivelymanagingtheorganizationsresourcesinpursuitoftheorganizationsvision.(Thisisjusta
smalldraftoftheleadershippracticenarrative.Yourerequiredtogofurtherindepthillustratinghow
theindividualperformstheleadershipresponsibilityandthevalueitprovidestotheorganization.
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Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed3pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
A3.Discusshowthecurrentleadershiphasaffectedtheorganizationalculture
Aleadersvaluesandbeliefsshapethecultureofanorganization.InsectionA1youbrieflydescribed
thecultureoftheorganization.Inthissection,youwillwanttofurtherdescribethecultureofthe
organization.Whentryingtodescribetheculture,thinkaboutthefollowing:

Howimportantisthevisionandmissionoftheorganizationinthedaytodayoperations?
Howisthestaffmanaged?
Howaredecisionsmadeandproblemssolved?Istheprocesscollaborativeormore
individuallydriven?
Istheorganizationhierarchicalorflat?Arejobtitlesimportant?
Isthereinternallanguageusedandunderstoodonlybetheemployees?
Whenitcomestoperformance,whatismostvalued?
Howwouldyoudescribethework/lifebalanceandmoodoftheorganization?
Whatarethecommonstoriestoldandwhatisthemeaningbehindthestories?
Whydoemployeesstayattheorganization?

Onceyouhavedescribedthecultureoftheorganization,discusshowthecurrentleadershiphas
directlyaffectedtheorganizationalculture.Youmayalsospeaktotherolepastfoundersorleaders
hadonshapingtheculture.
Thebigdealisthatyoucreateadirectrelationshipbetweentheleadersvaluesandbeliefsandthe
cultureoftheorganization.Provideexamplestosupportyouranalysis.
Thissectionshouldnotexceed2pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPAguidelines.

SWOTAnalysis
B1.Evaluateatleasttwostrengthsoftheorganization
Thissectionofthetaskasksyoutobestrategicanddemonstrateanunderstandingofthe
circumstances,forces,events,andissuesthataffectorganizationalperformance.Chapter8inyour
EtextprovidesadetaileddescriptionofaSWOTanalysisandprovidesexamplesofsourcesto
conductyouranalysis.
Discusstwostrengthsoftheorganization.Thesemustbeinternalcharacteristicsthatdirectly
supporttheachievementoftheorganizationalgoals.Foreachstrength,describethecharacteristicin
detailandincludethepositiveimpactontheorganization.
Whenassessingthestrengths,thinkaboutthevariousfunctionssuchasfinance,marketing,research
anddevelopment,andsoforth.Towhatextentarethefunctionswithintheorganizationpositioned
tosupportthestrategicgoalsoftheorganization?Youmayalsowanttoaskyourselfifthestructure
oftheorganizationsupportsoptimalperformance,arethemanagersandleaderscompetent,are
thereeffectiveprocessesinplacetoevaluateperformanceanddeveloptalent,etc.Basedonyour
understandingoftheseareas,youcandeterminethestrengthsoftheorganization.
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed1page.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
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guidelines.

BIP2Tips3/25/14
B2.Evaluateatleasttwoweaknessesoftheorganization
Discusstwoweaknessoftheorganization.Theseshouldbeinternalcharacteristicsthatdirectly
inhibittheachievementoftheorganizationalgoals.Foreachweakness,describetheconcernin
detailandincludethenegativeimpactontheorganization.
SimilartoB1,arethereparticularfunctions,processes,orpracticesthatarenegativelyimpactingthe
organizationsabilitytoachievethestrategicgoals?
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed1page.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
B3.Evaluateatleasttwoopportunitiesoftheorganization
Discusstwocharacteristicsoftheexternalenvironmentthathavethepotentialtohelpthe
organizationachieveitsstrategicgoals.Describeeachopportunityindetailandincludehoweachwill
supporttheperformanceoftheorganization.
Inordertorespondtothissection,chapter3inyouretextisagoodresource.Chapter3discusses
theexternalorganizationalenvironmentwhichincludescompetitors,resources,technology,andthe
economicconditionsaffectingtheorganization.Weencourageyoutorefertochapter3when
identifyingtheopportunitiesandthreats(sectionB4)oftheorganization.Remembertodescribe
eachopportunityandthreat(sectionB4)andincludetheimpactontheorganization.

Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed1page.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
B4.Evaluateatleasttwothreatsoftheorganization
Discusstwocharacteristicsoftheexternalenvironmentthathavethepotentialtobeathreattothe
organizationachievingitsstrategicgoals.Describeeachthreatindetailandincludehowthethreat
couldnegativelyimpacttheperformanceoftheorganization.
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed1page.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.

LeadershipEvaluation
C1.Evaluateatleastthreestrengthsofyourchosenleader
Thissectionofthetaskrequiresscholarlyresearch.Beginbyselectingonescholarlyleadership
theorytoconductyourevaluationofthestrengthsandweaknessesofyourchosenleader.Providea
briefoverviewoftheleadershiptheory.Next,usethetheorytodiscussthreestrengthsofyour
leader.Providespecificexamplestosupporteachstrength.Wealsorecommendthatyouinclude
thepositiveimpactofeachstrengthontheorganization.
Thissectionofthetaskrequiresyouciteandreferenceaminimumofthreescholarlysources.You
mayuseoneormoreofthescholarlyarticlesincludedintheCourseofStudyandavailablethrough
MindTap,however,thisisnotarequirement.
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ThisStrengthssubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriatefollowing
APAguidelines.

BIP2Tips3/25/14
C2.Evaluateatleastthreeweaknessesofyourchosenleader
UsingthesamescholarlyleadershiptheoryfromC1.,discussthreeweaknessesofyourleader.
Similartoabove,thetheoryshouldguideyouranalysis.Includeadetaileddescriptiontheeach
weaknessandtheimpactofontheorganization.Provideexamplestosupportyouranalysis.Include
thenegativeimpactoftheweaknessontheorganization.
ThisWeaknessessubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriate
followingAPAguidelines.
C3.Recommendthreetheorybasedpracticestomaximizethesuccessoftheleader
Reflectingonthestrengthsandweaknessesoftheleaderyouareevaluating,thinkaboutwhatskills
oractionswouldimprovehisorherabilitytoleadtheorganization.Recommendthreetheorybased
practicestoenhancetheleaderseffectivenessandmaximizeperformance.Forthissection,include
thefollowingforeachofyourthreerecommendations:1)Statethetheorybasedpractice,2)Include
whyyouarerecommendingthepractice,and3)Discusstheexpectedoutcomeoncethepracticeis
putintoaction.
Thisrecommendationsubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriate
followingAPAguidelines.
C4.Includeatleastthreescholarlysourcestosupportyourchosenleaderspractices
IncludeAPAcitationsthroughouteachsubsectionandareferencespageattheendofyourpaper.
ForguidanceonAPAformatting,pleasecontacttheCenterforWritingExcellence
(writingcenter@wgu.edu).

D.CitationsandReferencePage
YourpaperisrequiredtoincludeintextcitationsandareferencepagefollowingAPAguidelines.The
CenterforWritingExcellenceisaresourcetohelpwithformatting.

FinalThought
Itisimportanttoplanforhowyouwillorganizeandformatthisdocument.Weencourageyouto
createacoverpage,tableofcontents,andusesubheadersthroughout.Thisshouldbea
professionalpaperthatrepresentsyourcompetence.Refertothegradingrubricforevaluation
standards.Finally,yourcoursementorteamisheretosupportyouthroughoutthiscourse.

ImportantResources
ManagingPeopleandLeadingOrganizationsemail:ManagingOrgsLeadPeople@wgu.edu
TheCenterforWritingExcellence:WritingCenterHomePage
TheStudentSuccessCenter:StudentSuccessCenterHomePage
WGULibrary:WGULibraryHomePage
WellConnectCounselingServices:18776853269
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TASKTWO:YOURLEADERSHIPPRACTICESANALYSIS
YourLeadershipStyleandPractices
A1.andA1a.CompleteandreflectontheSevenHabitsProfile
Thissectionisallaboutyou!Youwillhavetheopportunitytoreflectonyourleadershipstyleand
practices.YourfirststepistotaketheSevenHabitsProfile.Toaccesstheprofile,openTaskstream,
inthelowerleftcornerafterthetaskinstructionsyouwanttoopentheattachedfile.

Afteryouhavecompletedtheprofile,saveyourresults.YouwilluploadacompletedSevenHabits
ProfileintoTaskstreamwhenyousubmityourfinalpaper.
Reflectonwhattheresultsmightindicateaboutyourleadershipstyle.Youmustreflectona
minimumofsixoftheninecategoricalresults.Bedescriptiveandprovideexamples.
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed3pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
A2.Evaluateyourleadershippracticesusingascholarlyleadershiptheory
AnoteaboutthissectionofyourpapersimilartosectionCintaskone,youwillevaluateyour
strengthsandweaknessesusingascholarlyleadershiptheory.However,thetheoryyouuseforthis
sectionneedstobedifferentfromtheoneyouusedintaskone.
A2a.Evaluateatleastthreestrengthsyoudemonstrateasaleader
Usingtheprinciplesoftheleadershiptheoryyouselectedforthisselfevaluation,identifythree
strengthsyoudemonstrateasaleader.Bespecific,provideexamples,andincludetheresultsofyour
leadershippractices.
ThisStrengthssubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriatefollowing
APAguidelines.
A2b.Evaluateatleastthreeweaknessesyoudemonstrateasaleader
Weallhaveroomforimprovement.Inthissection,discussatleastthreeareasforimprovement
specifictoyourleadershippractices.Remembertobaseyourassessmentinpartontheleadership
theoryyouselectedforthissection.Bespecific,provideexamples,andincludetheimpactofyour
weaknesses.
ThisWeaknessessubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriate
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followingAPAguidelines.

BIP2Tips3/25/14
A2c.Recommendthreetheorybasedchangesthatyoucouldmaketomaximizeyoursuccess
Nowthatyouhavereflectedonyourcurrentleadershippractices,itistimetolookforwardandplan
foryourdevelopmentasaleader.Inthissectionyouwillrecommendthreespecificactions,
behaviors,orpracticesthatwouldhelpyoumaximizeyoursuccessinmanagingorganizationsand
leadingpeopleinthefuture.Ideally,yourrecommendationswilladdressyouridentifiedleadership
weaknesses.Foreachrecommendationincludethefollowing;1)therecommendationand
supportingtheory,2)theperformancegaptherecommendationwilladdress,and3)theexpected
outcomeofputtingtherecommendationintoaction.
Theserecommendationsneedtobetheorybased.
ThisRecommendationsubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriate
followingAPAguidelines.
A2d.DiscusstwoshorttermSMARTgoalsthatwillhelpimproveyourleadershippractice
Congratulations!YouareclosetocompletingtheBIP2performancetask!Inthisfinalstep,youwill
setSMARTgoalsforyourself.Goalsettingisacriticalskillandhelpsbreakdownalargerinitiative
intomanageableaccomplishmentswhilestayingaccountableandimprovingperformance.
Beginbyidentifyingtwoskills,behaviors,orpracticesyouwouldliketomasterinthenextmonthor
so.NowitistimetotakethosetwogoalsandapplytheSMARTcriteria.Thesegoalsmustbe
leadershipdevelopmentgoals

Specific:Goalsshouldbeprecise.Forexample,Iwillrunfourdaysaweek.
Measurable:Ameasurementneedstobeincludedtoassesstheextenttowhichthegoalis
accomplished.Forexample,Iwillrunfor30minutesatatimefourdaysaweek.

Attainable(Achievable):Goalsshouldberealistic,challenging,andattainable.
Relevant:Goalsshouldfocusontheendresult.Statewhatresultscanrealisticallybeachieved,
givenavailableresources.TheyshouldstartwithTofollowingbyverbscomplete,acquire,increase,
decrease,etc.

Timebound:Goalsspecifytargetdatesfordurationandcompletion.Periodicityisrequired.
Forexample,OneleadershipskillIseektodevelopismymentoringskill.ItiscriticalIbecomea
bettermentortomystafftofacilitatetheirprofessionaldevelopment.Todevelopmymentorship
skill,Iwillmeetwithaseniorleaderoftheorganizationonceaweekforanhouroverthecourseof
sixteenweeksformentorshiptraining.Iwillalsotaskafourweektrainingcourseinmentorship
fromoforganizationsskillsofttrainingdatabase.(Pleasenoteyoumustprovideaminimumoftwo
actionsforeachsmartgoal).
Thisexampleisspecific,measurable,attainable,resultsoriented,andtimebound.Thisgoalismore
likelytoyieldsuccessthanagenericgoalsuchasIwillgotocollegetodevelopleadershipskills.
NowitisyourturntocreatetwogoalsthatmeettheSMARTcriteria.Important:Includewhyyou
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aresettingeachgoal,howthegoalislinkedtoyourleadershipdevelopment,andwhatyouhopeto
accomplishasaresultofachievingthegoals.
Thissectionshouldnotexceed2pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPAguidelines.

CitationsandReferencePage
YourpaperisrequiredtoincludeintextcitationsandareferencepagefollowingAPAguidelines.The
CenterforWritingExcellenceisaresourcetohelpwithformatting.

FinalThought
Itisimportanttoplanforhowyouwillorganizeandformatthisdocument.Weencourageyouto
createacoverpage,tableofcontents,andusesubheadersthroughout.Thisshouldbea
professionalpaperthatrepresentsyourcompetence.Refertothegradingrubricforevaluation
standards.Finally,yourcoursementorteamisheretosupportyouthroughoutthiscourse.

ImportantResources
ManagingPeopleandLeadingOrganizationsemail:ManagingOrgsLeadPeople@wgu.edu
TheCenterforWritingExcellence:WritingCenterHomePage
TheStudentSuccessCenter:StudentSuccessCenterHomePage
WGULibrary:WGULibraryHomePage
WellConnectCounselingServices:18776853269

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