MGNT 6025 Managing Technical Professionals Spring 2013
Professor and Contact Information
Dr. Sandra Vasa-Sideris
Office: J328
svasasid@spsu.edu
Office phone: 678-915-3155
Office hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2:30-5 pm,
other times by phone, e-mail, and by appointment. I will
notify you if office hours change.
Classroom: J 132
Meetings on Monday from 6 pm to 8:45 pm
Course Description
(Course prerequisite: undergraduate course in management and organizational behavior or equivalent)
This course “can best be described as a management skills practicum…It is an attempt to teach a
set of skills grounded in behavioral science theory and research that are essential for a successful
career in management.” The course teaches principles of management using behavioral
guidelines grounded in research; it provides hands-on, practical learning, and emphasizes practice
as the key to behavioral change. (Source: Instructor’s Manual for the textbook)
Methods used in this course are designed for experiential learning—diagnostic surveys, reflective
writing, role plays, cases, discussion exams, discussions of course materials and outside readings.
For each chapter you will be able to view a PowerPoint presentation and take a quiz to make sure
you are familiar with key concepts.
Objectives
•
•
•
To increase your ability to utilize the core behavioral principles upon which important
management skills are based.
To self-assess your competency in critical management skills and to develop and
implement plans to enhance those skills.
To help prepare you to transfer this learning and improvement to real-life, out-of-class
settings.
Resources
Textbook
Developing Management Skills, 8th edition, by David A. Whetton and Kim S. Cameron.
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2011
Please be sure to order the 8th edition. Earlier editions do not have all of the chapters.
International editions do not have all materials. You can purchase a print or electronic copy
from the publisher or a print copy from the bookstore.
Textbook website: http://www.prenhall.com/whetten
Readings and videos may also be assigned and/or recommended by students.
GeorgiaView Desire2Learn (D2L)
Website with links to support information: http://www.spsu.edu/d2l/
Direct website: https://spsu.view.usg.edu/
D2L is the web-based platform SPSU uses to provide support for online and regular
classes. By registering for our class, your name should already on the roster in D2L. All
course-related communication after the first week of class should be in D2L (unless it is
unavailable or if you encounter technical difficulties). Assignments, discussions, e-mail,
exams, and instructions for outside activities will be located in our online class section.
Reminder about pop-up blockers: D2L may use pop-up screens for some activities. Please
allow pop-ups for this site.
System Maintenance: The University System of Georgia may perform maintenance on
D2L. Once we know the schedule, we will let you know.
Wimba Classroom (for live and archived discussions if we use this option)
SPSU provides access to Wimba Classroom from Horizon Wimba within D2L. This is a tool
that will be available for live discussions (useful for teams and if we have a blizzard) and to
archive group activities. Be sure to have a headset with a microphone if your group uses it
for online meetings.
Grade Components NOTE: Weights may be adjusted.
.
Grade Components (subject to minor adjustments
following discussion in class)
Weight
Exam(s)/Quizzes/Cases
• Quizzes on chapters in D2L(10%)
• 1 Discussion/case exam (20%)
• Oral exam (5%)
Reflective Writing
• Reflective Paper 1 (5%).
• Journal (eight entries throughout the semester)
(10%)
• Final Reflective Paper (10%)
Group Activities
• Written project work and group presentations.
Keep track of how your group develops throughout
the term.
Participation in class activities, submitting diagnostic
surveys on a timely basis, contributing relevant
comments/issues/examples in class.
Total
35%
25%
25%
15%
100%
Grades
A
B
C
D
F
=
=
=
=
=
90--100
80--89
70--79
60--69
below 60
Course Requirements
Diagnostic Surveys
Each chapter begins with a set of Diagnostic Surveys. Be sure to complete the surveys
prior to reading the related chapter. These surveys may provide you with information on
your current level of skill. Your diagnostic survey results will be important for online and/or
group discussions as well as for your reflective writing assignments.
Reflective Writing
Reflective Writing
An initial paper in which you write about your initial results on the PAMS survey and
Chapter 1 diagnostic surveys. Details will be posted in the Reflective Writing folder. Check
the Assignment DropBox. Formal writing activity.
Journal (details will be in GeorgiaView)
Regular entries in which you reflect on course chapter topics—what you are learning,
interpretation of diagnostic survey results, how you are applying skills, insights, plans to
improve a skill and then follow-up on how successful your plan was. Two entries involve
assigned reflective writing topics. My Journal will be a discussion topic—only you and your
professor can view it. Be sure to post regular entries. Informal writing activity.
Final Reflective Paper
At the end of the term, reflect on your goals and your accomplishments this term. See the
details in the Reflective Writing folder. Formal writing activity.
Group Activities
Groups will contribute content to the course in the form of projects on course-related topic.
The groups will make at least two presentations during and/or at the end of the semester
and will submit one or more written projects.
Activities may include conducting an in-class learning activity, a demonstration, reviewing
and discussing academic journal articles, case analysis and discussion.
Students in the groups will be expected to examine and assess the group process
through surveys and group feedback. By the midpoint of the semester, group members will
complete a self-assessment. After reviewing the results, the group will establish an action
plan to implement any changes needed to improve the group’s overall performance. A
second assessment will be conducted at the end of the semester.
Participation
Since this is a practicum-type course, regular participation in online discussions, live role
plays, and other course activities is vital. Participation grades will be based on your
contribution to the class discussions, involvement in the exercises, skill performance
improvement, and attendance. Be sure to log in to the class several times a week—not just
at the end.
Written Exam(s)
The test(s) will be integrative and application-oriented, i.e., you may be asked to analyze a
case and report what you would do to resolve the management problems or you may be
asked to role play appropriate managerial skills. Responses must demonstrate
comprehension of the course material as well as the ability to integrate and apply it.
Responses should also provide evidence that your approach to solving management
problems has been influenced by the material in this course.
Chapter Quizzes
Quizzes are a way to ensure that you have a working knowledge of the concepts we use in
this course. You will have two opportunities to take each chapter quiz in GeorgiaView. The
highest score will count for your quiz grade. You may use your book but may find that you
won’t have much time to check it.
Oral Exam
During the last half of the semester, students will demonstrate their ability to apply skills in
a role play and to provide a rationale for their choices.
Basic Skills Expected
Software skills: I assume that students in graduate-level courses have already learned
basic computer skills including the use of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
GeorgiaView: Once our class starts, you will be expected to keep up with assignments
and to check D2L at least two times per week (not the same day!). Some activities may
require that you log in more often. If you run into technical problems, make sure to contact
GeorgiaView support. You also may find that fellow students have solved similar problems.
Research skills: Assignments in this class may require you to search for information and
resources. You should be able to use an Internet search engine, online library databases
such as those found on Galileo, as well as various references and publications in the
library. The references librarians at SPSU are available to assist you in finding information.
Presentation skills: You are expected to prepare for in-class presentations and to treat
them as if you were making a presentation to a company or a group of professionals. Your
preparation should be visible in your attire, diction, body language, eye contact, and overall
organization and delivery of the presentation. Facing the board while you present, as well
as reading from notes (no eye contact) detracts from your presentation.
Should you be asked to give an informal presentation on a reading assignment or article,
you should still prepare. When you present, be sure that you provide a summary and your
perspective, and do not simply read the material you are presenting.
Policies
Communication
GeorgiaView D2Lwill be our primary means of communication this term, along with our
class meetings. You can send e-mail messages to me as well as to other students from
withinD2L. If you have a question that is relevant to the whole class, you can send me an
e-mail in D2L and I will reply to the entire class, or your can post a note in the “Open for
Discussion” topic for the module. This is a space to post comments and questions for your
classmates about the course or other issues of interest to you as a student. Sometimes
other students can answer your question. I will check D2L during the week and hope you
will too. Over the weekend, I may not respond as promptly. If you have an emergency,
send an e-mail to my spsu e-mail, svasasid@spsu.edu in addition to my D2L e-mail.
Written Work
All assigned written work (other than chats, discussions and e-mail in D2L, (which can be
done in HTML) should be typed. If you want to check your work for grammar and spelling
before posting a discussion topic, you can start it in Word and copy the text into the
discussion topic. Quality of work is more important than quantity, so make sure that your
writing is clear, concise, well-organized, and correct. Whether the assignment is submitted
online or in hard-copy, please type your name and the name of the assignment at the top
of the page. Please use the spell-check in your word processor, but do not rely on it
completely. Your careful rereading of a draft document is likely to catch incorrectly used
words; MS Word may not. If you choose to submit a print copy of a document, please
staple the pages together in the upper left-hand corner.
Saving documents to be uploaded intoD2L. Please use the following format for saving
documents that you attach and upload to GeorgiaView:
Yourlastname_Yourfirstinitial_Assignmentname.doc. By following this format, I will be
able to download a group of assignments at one time and keep them in a logical order.
Also, remember to type your name at the top of the first page of the document you submit.
Late Work
Assignments have deadlines and you are expected to meet them. Grades on late work will
be reduced by 10%. This includes postings to discussion topics, quizzes, exams, and
other work. Should you need an extension, please contact me before the deadline. I
understand that that there are extenuating circumstances such as storms and power
outages and will take that into consideration by extending deadlines, as appropriate. If you
expect to be unavailable during the term of a module, try to arrange to do as much work as
possible prior to your departure. Keep your professor and your group informed. No one
likes surprises.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are
encouraged to contact the counselor working with disabilities (in the ATTIC) as soon as
possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Those who feel comfortable discussing these issues with me (your instructor) should feel
free to do so at your earliest opportunity.
SPSU Honor Code
SPSU has an Honor Code and a procedure for handling cases when academic misconduct
is alleged. All students should be aware of them. Information about the Honor Code and
the misconduct procedure may be found at http://www.spsu.edu/honorcode/.
Collaboration with your classmates in studying and understanding the material is part of the
collegiate experience, and is strongly encouraged. Collaboration on some written
assignments is permitted and encouraged, but each student must turn in work written in his
or her own words. For example, a student may obtain feedback to improve his or her
resume from classmates as well as from the Career and Counseling Center. Copying
another's work will be considered cheating; all students involved will receive a grade of
zero, a reduction in the course grade, and possibly other penalties including failure of the
course and dismissal from the University. This also means that you must properly cite
sources used for assignments. Unless you are specifically advised otherwise by the
instructor, any work submitted for credit, must be completely the work of the individual
student. Collaboration or cheating on examinations will result in a grade of zero, a
reduction in the course grade, and possibly other penalties including failure of the course
and dismissal from the University. Plagiarism, fabrication, or other academic misconduct
will result in a grade of zero, a reduction in the course grade, and possibly other penalties,
including failure of the course and dismissal from the University.
Unsatisfactory grades earned because of academic misconduct cannot be removed from
your grade point average by repeating the course and will prevent you from earning Latin
honors on your diploma. However, you may be required to repeat the course in order to
graduate.
It is very important that you understand the concepts of academic integrity. If any of the
above is not clear, or if you are not certain what some of the terms mean, please ask me. A
misunderstanding in this area could end your academic career.
If you are not sure whether you need to cite a source or how to do it, ask me, another
faculty member, a librarian, a writing coach in the ATTIC, or refer to the recommended
articles below or the APA style manual. Using well-selected quotations, facts, tables, and
ideas, and even graphics, may enhance your credibility as a writer, but you need to
document the sources by providing appropriate citations.
Refer to the following articles on the Indiana University website
(http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets.shtml) for guidance on writing, using references,
and on how to cite sources:
“Citing Sources in MLA Style”: html, pdf
“Citing Sources in APA Style”: html, pdf
“How to Use Evidence”: html, pdf
“How To Write a Thesis Statement”: html, pdf
“Paragraphs and Topic Sentences”: html, pdf
“Plagiarism: What It Is and How To Avoid It”: html, pdf
“Proofreading for Common Surface Errors”: html, pdf
“Proofreading for Spelling Errors”: html, pdf
“Taking an Essay Exam”: html, pdf
“Using Outlines”: html, pdf
“Writing Book Reviews”: html, pdf
Another useful resource is the Purdue Online Writing Laboratory site:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
Click on “APA Formatting and Style Guide” and also “Avoiding Plagiarism”. The site
contains practice exercises on grammar, syntax, diction, etc. that you may find helpful.
TurnItIn.com is a tool within D2L which checks work for originality and identifies work that
comes from other sources. Some assignments may be submitted through TurnItIn.com and
graded.
Biographical sketch: Dr. Sandra Vasa-Sideris is a Professor in the Business Administration
Department. Her teaching interests include management and organizational behavior, human
resource management, managerial communication, and strategic management She holds an MBA
in Management and a Ph.D. in Industrial Relations, with a minor in Management, from Georgia
State University and BA and MA degrees in French from the University of Tennessee—Knoxville.
Dr. Vasa-Sideris worked as a manager for seven years including two years in personnel and
training for a retail company. She has been a consultant and trainer in the areas of management
and human resource management.