Research shows that people learn effectively when working on real problems grounded in their work experience. To this end, the Individual Course Project is designed to incorporate students’ work experience into the learning process in this course.
The project is an opportunity to explore, in-depth, a topic related to the course objectives (COs) that are of significance to your organization (current or former).
You will be required to prepare an 8 to 12 page applied research paper excluding cover page, table of contents, and appendices, on a specific issue related to leadership or organizational behavior. This research paper is to be individually completed.
Guidelines
Topic Selection
- Select a specific organization of interest to you and identify a problem at the firm related to organizational behavior (OB). This maybe an organization where you currently serve or one where you have served.
- Think of yourself as an organizational consultant. Assume that a key manager has requested a thorough analysis and recommended course of action to resolve an actual organizational problem. Your goal is to develop recommendations that will positively impact the organization’s performance.
- Your research paper should address the following four-course objectives, at a minimum:
- Evaluate how organizational theories and practices can improve organizational operations
- Analyze how values, attitudes, beliefs, feelings, and personality influence decision making in the workplace
- Analyze the impact of different structures and lines of authority on organizational strategy and culture
- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of enterprise-wide functions relevant in the global economy
