ROBERT F. WAGNER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
P11.2116
Instructor: Sara Grant
Phone: 917-297-6378
E-mail: scg1@nyu.edu
DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Summer 2009
Location: C-20, 25 West 4th Street
Day/Hour: Tues./Thurs. 6:45-8:25 p.m.
Course Objectives:
This course provides an opportunity for students to improve many key
managerial skills. There are two broad course objectives. The course:
 provides an opportunity for you to learn about your strengths and
weaknesses around many traits and skills required of an effective manager.

explores the competencies and habits needed for accomplishing those
aspects of a manager's job requiring personal adaptation and interpersonal
interaction.
Course Format:
Usually, but not always, the class will consist of a mixture of lecture, in-class
group and individual activities (e.g. role plays, in-basket exercises), and
workshops.
Books Available for Purchase at the Professional Bookstore:
Required:
David Whetten and Kim Cameron, Developing Management Skills, 7th edition,
Prentice Hall, 2007 (referred to as W&C).
Stephen R. Covey, The 8th Habit, From Effectiveness to Greatness, Free Press,
2004.
The Tracom Corporation, Social Style Self-Perception Guide and Self-Perception
Profile, 1993.
**Always bring your W&C text to each class in which an assignment/exercise is
discussed.
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Statement of Course Expectations:
The following are the expectations for professional class work and conduct for
Developing Management Skills.
1. Students are expected to attend every class on time.
2. Students are expected to participate in class discussions.
3. Students are expected to accord the same professional respect to their
classmates' contributions as they would to the instructor's.
4. If an absence is unavoidable, students are expected to make arrangements
with a fellow student to obtain handouts and get an update on topics and
announcements.
5. Students are to keep a copy of their assignments in the event of a loss.
6. All students will receive a grade at the end of the term. No incompletes.
7. Late assignments will be accepted but points will be deducted.
8. Students should avoid multi-tasking with phone or computer.
COURSE TOPICS, READINGS, AND ASSIGNMENTS
SESSION 1: THE SKILLS OF EFFECTIVE MANAGERS May 26
SESSION 2: DEVELOPING SELF-AWARENESS I: SOCIAL STYLES
May 28
Read: W&C pp. 3-23
Assignment: Begin to complete and score your Personal Assessment of
Management Skills (PAMS). This can be found on Blackboard.
Bring to class Social Style Self-Perception Profile. Do not read the
Self-Perception Guide.
***Distribute the PAMS to at least 5 people to evaluate you. This assignment
makes it possible for you to develop what is often referred to as a "360 degree"
personal skills profile. We will call it a personal SPOT analysis. Your PAMS
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should be returned to you no later than June 11. Also, begin to interview
managers for first graded assignment.
SESSION 3: DEVELOPING SELF-AWARENESS II: DIAGNOSTIC
SURVEYS June 2
Read: Social Style Self-Perception Guide
Assignment: Complete, score, and be prepared to discuss your responses
to the following self-assessment exercises:
Self-Awareness Assessment, W&C, p. 46
Emotional Intelligence Assessment, W&C, p. 47
Defining Issues Test, W&C, p. 48
The Learning Style Inventory W&C, p. 52
SESSION 4: DEVELOPING SELF-AWARENESS III: SURVEYS AND
STYLE June 4
Read: Covey, Chapters 1-5
Assignment: Complete, score, and be prepared to discuss your responses
to the following self-assessment exercises:
Locus of Control Scale, W&C, p. 54
Tolerance for Ambiguity Scale, W&C, p. 56
Core Self-Evaluation Scale, W&C, p. 57
Submit Exercise for Interviewing Managers, W&C, pp. 28-29.
SESSION 5: DEVELOPING SELF-AWARENESS IV: SSS SOFTWARE
June 9
Assignment: Submit in-basket exercise, SSS Software, W&C pp. 30-41.
Carefully follow the instructions on p. 30. Bring 2 copies to class;
submit one copy to the instructor.
Complete "Through the Looking Glass" pp. 93-94 and be
prepared to discuss.
SESSION 6: COMMUNICATING SUPPORTIVELY June 11
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Read: W&C pp. 238-269
Submit: Social Style Assignment
SESSION 7: MANAGING STRESS/Covey June 16
Read: W&C pp. 110-150
Covey, Chapter 6
Submit: Complete Life-Balance Exercise pp. 160-162.
SESSION 8: PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS June 18
Read: W&C pp. 172-213
Submit: Personal Profile
SESSION 9: MANAGERIAL POWER AND INFLUENCE June 23
Read: W&C pp. 284-313
Covey, Chapters 7-9
Submit: Skill Application I
SESSION 10: MOTIVATION TECHNIQUES AND PERFORMANCE
IMPROVEMENT June 25
Read: W&C pp. 328-357
SESSION 11: MANAGING CONFLICT June 30
Read: W&C pp. 378-408
Covey, Chapter 10 and 11
Submit: Skill Application II
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SESSION 12: EMPOWERING AND DELEGATING July 2
Read: W&C pp. 444-477
SESSION 13: BUILDING EFFECTIVE TEAMS July 7
Read: W&C pp. 494-522
Covey, Chapters 12 and 13
Submit: Complete exercise on building effective teams, pp. 527-528.
Be prepared to discuss in class.
SESSION 14: LEADING POSITIVE CHANGE July 9
Read: W&C pp. 538-571
Covey, Chapters 14 and 15
Submit: Final Assignment
DUE DATES FOR GRADED ASSIGNMENTS:
6/4
6/11
6/18
6/23
6/30
7/9
Exercise for Interviewing Managers (15 points)
Social Style Assignment (10 points)
Personal Profile (25 points)
Skill Application I (10 points)
Skill Application II (10 points)
Final Assignment
(20 points)
**Your meeting class expectations will be awarded up to 10 points.
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