MGT 424 – Senior Seminar in Management

Summer 2011 – 4 Credits

Instructor: WJ Patterson                                                                                                  cell                                 502.533.1671

Mon-Thurs 9am                                                                                                               email     wjpatterson@sullivan.edu

http://www.iluv2teach.com

MGT 424 is a comprehensive research project you are required to complete as part of your Bachelor’s Degree at Sullivan University. It is related to your learning experiences in the undergraduate program, your professional experiences, and your professional development interest.

 

You will receive guidance and direction in the preparation of your course research paper. MGT 424 is an opportunity for you to a) demonstrate what you have already learned, b) learn more about a topic that interests you, and c) learn about the research process.

 

Your finished research project should be approximately twenty pages long. 

It should follow a research format with

• Cover page,
• Abstract,
• Table of contents,
• Statement of purpose,
• Introduction,
• Review of scholarly literature,
• Discussion,
• Conclusions,
• References, and
• Appendices (optional).

 

The course offers students the opportunity to:

• Reflect on their academic and professional experiences in order to identify a topic for their final project;
• Select a project topic relevant to management studies and of importance to their professional development;
• Learn to find and analyze relevant scholarly information related to their topic in a wide range of publications;
• Demonstrate appropriate citation of sources;
• Read and synthesize in writing the information they have gathered;
• Reflect on your learning from the entire research experience, and
• Prepare a final document using academic writing standards and format.

 

To fulfill the course requirements, students must successfully complete the following:

1. Selection of a research paper topic that will allow students to demonstrate their academic program learning.
2. OR creation of a business plan that will allow students to demonstrate their academic program learning up to this point in your academic career.
3. Define the scope of the topic so that the research project can be completed by the end of the term.
4. Create a timeline for the completion of research project.
5. Prepare an original final paper of approximately 20-25 pages in accordance with APA 6 documentation style standards about a topic selected by the student and approved by the instructor. Include a minimum of 10 scholarly references.
6. Prepare an outline of the final paper with an annotated bibliography of at least five (5) sources.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the elements of an academic paper (abstract, introduction, literature review, discussion or business plan, conclusion, and references).
8. Contribute to class discussions by demonstrating an understanding of the assignments and ability to think critically.
9. Use Sullivan University’s online library and other libraries to conduct scholarly research.
10. Contribute to peer review assignments.
11. Complete the project and class assignments in a timely and professional manner.

You are required to use a few essential tools to organize your sources and your work. Avoid confusion and frustration by using the following materials:

 

• JumpDrive/FlashDrive 
• Access to a computer with Microsoft Word
• Course project MUST be completed in Microsoft Word

Class sessions will provide the opportunity for students to aid and learn from each other. Students will develop the research knowledge required to complete MGT 424, and conduct independent research and writing. Electronic correspondence will be used during the course.  Each week a new topic will be discussed with lecture notes provided on the course web site.

 

Handouts, course information, and reminders are posted @ www.iluv2teach.com  The web site works BEST with Internet Explorer.

You are expected to understand and comply with the Sullivan University academic honesty policy.  We will review the meaning of plagiarism and how to avoid it. Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses that will result in a grade of F for the course and/or dismissal.  Please see the Sullivan University Student Handbook for other information.

 

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s work as if it were your own.  It can take many forms.  The most obvious form is to turn in a paper that someone else wrote.  Or, you might copy material from a book, an article, or a web site and present it as your own work.  When you use words that are directly copied from a source, you must place them in quotation marks and cite the source, using APA format. Summarizing or paraphrasing without giving credit to your original source is plagiarism.  

 

At the start of the term, every student is required to complete the plagiarism tutorial (see class schedule below for the link to the tutorial).

 

Plagiarism is academic misconduct and will result in a grade of F.  

·       The instructor will provide both oral and written feedback throughout the term.

 

DELIVERABLES:
The weekly schedule contains a series of deliverables that will guide you toward successful completion of your project. Grading is as follows.

 

• One-page description of two possible topics with rational for selection (5%). Week 1
• RESEARCH PROPOSAL: Description of project topic, thesis statement, research question, expected findings,and an annotated bibliography that includes 5 scholarly sources(10%). Week 3
• Peer review comments (5%)  Week 4
• PowerPoint presentation of project (5%).  Week 8
• Final paper Week 9

o   Abstract (5%)

o   Introduction (10%)

o   Literature review (10%)

o   Discussion (20%)

§  Original Research/Statement of Purpose, Primary Data Collection and Discussion

o   Conclusion (10%)

o   Overall paper: format, grammar and mechanics, APA, audience awareness, development and organization of ideas (10%)

·       Presentation ( 10%)  Week 10

 

Research Paper Specifications

All drafts must be typed and double-spaced. Have a title page with your name, the course number, and the date. The process of writing your project will include several drafts. Papers need to be handed in on time in order for me to give effective feedback.

 

Your final research paper should be approximately 20-25 pages and be prepared in accordance with the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 6e.

 

(Examples of style: one-inch margins, 12 pt Times Roman type, double space). 

Attendance

 

Your attendance and participation are essential to your successful completion of your project.

Failure to attend is sometimes the result of family, medical, or transportation emergencies, in which case you are expected to contact the instructor by phone or e-mail within 24 hours of a missed seminar or meeting.  You are required to work with an identified assignment buddy to learn what took place in our class meetings during your absence.

 

The Following criteria will be used in the grading of the research project

·       Grade A:
--The student has completed MGT 424 in the correct format, with the appropriate number of scholarly sources, and for the intended audience.
--Ideas are developed in great depth and clearly organized. Errors are minimal.
--The student has conveyed oral communications with a clear purpose and in a way that is easily understood by the rest of the class. Errors are minimal.
--The student has demonstrated successful critical research and reading strategies.
--The student uses the technology in the course effectively all the time.

·       Grade B
--The student has completed MGT 424 generally in the correct format, with the appropriate number of scholarly sources, and for the intended audience.
--Ideas are developed in sufficient depth and well organized. Errors are minimal.
--The student has conveyed oral communications with a clear purpose and in a way that is understood by most of the class. Errors are minimal.
--The student has demonstrated successful critical research and reading strategies.
--The student uses the technology in the course effectively most of the time.

·       Grade C
--The student has completed the minimum requirements of MGT 424 (correct format, adequate number of scholarly sources, and for the intended audience).
--Ideas are developed and organized sufficiently to communicate ideas to the reader. Some errors persist.
--The student has developed some strategies for error correction.
--The student has conveyed oral communications but not always with a clear purpose and not always in a way easily understood by the rest of the class. Errors persist.
--The student has acquired some critical research and reading strategies.
--The student uses the technology in the course effectively most of the time.

·       Grade D
-- The student has met the minimum requirements of MGT 424.
--The student has not developed and organized ideas sufficiently for the reader to understand the project.
--The student has failed consistently to respond to feedback on how to correct errors.
--The student has conveyed oral communications but not always with a clear purpose and not always in a way easily understood by the rest of the class. Errors persist.
--The student has acquired some critical research and reading strategies.
--The student uses the technology in the course effectively some of the time.

 

 

 

• Grade F
  --The student missed a significant number of class hours and needs to strengthen the skills needed to convey oral and written communications in the appropriate format and to the intended audience. The student did not complete MGT 424.

Cell Phone Policy

If, for any reason, you need to be available by cell phone during our seminar meetings, set your phone to silent mode so that the class will not be interrupted.  Please leave the room immediately to answer your call.

ADA Policy

If you have a disability, please talk to me at the start of the semester about accommodations you will need.

 

One Final Requirement: Back up all of your work; don't take the chance of losing an entire semester's work because of a computer glitch. That is why one of the required tools for this course is a Flash / Jump Drive

 

Resources

Library and Research Resources and Instruction at Sullivan University:

·       Links to detailed information about library and research resources for Sullivan University students are at http://library.sullivan.edu

 

·       To log in to Sullivan University Online Library, go to library.sullivan.edu

 

·       For tutoring support, schedule an appointment in room 238 at the Sullivan University Tutor Center

 

Steps to Completing Your Research Project

 

The completion of your research project at Sullivan University requires that you find, read, and synthesize ten pertinent sources on your topic, and then conduct a tiny research project to learn from people with first-hand experience on your topic. 

 

The Taskline

You are familiar with timelines that depict a series of events over time. Following is a slight adaptation to a timeline--a "taskline"--that shows the progression of steps for completing this project.

 

1 –––– 2 –––– 3 –––– 4 –––– 5 –––– 6 –––– 7 –––– 8 –––– 9 –––– 10 –––– 11 –––– 12

 

1.     Establish your topic.

2.     Begin searching for sources on your topic.

3.     Learn how to document your sources.

4.     Create a conceptual framework.

5.     Code your source material.

6.     Sort and compile source material within subsections.

7.     Develop your narrative of points—introducing, analyzing, and synthesizing various researchers' findings.

8.     Complete first draft of literature review for instructor's input.

9.     Revise.

10.   Conduct primary research and analysis.

11.   Compare primary research findings to prior research (literature review).

12.   Write your conclusions and reflections on the research process.

MGT 424 Senior Seminar in Management

 

Weekly Schedule

Please note that the weekly schedule and assignments may change based on class needs.

 

DATE

TOPICS/ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1

Introduction History of Management Discussion of the History of Management ·       What is Management?  ·       Timeline of the History? ·       What are the characteristics of a good Manager?   Overview of Project ·       Research paper elements ·       Academic Integrity ·       Topic selection/MindMapping ·       Introduction to website and online library ·       APA Style ·       Introduction to the Annotated Bibliography (5 scholarly sources) In class writing: ·       What topic(s) do you want to investigate? (Choose something you really care about.) ·       Why are you interested in this topic? ·       What specific and answerable question would you like to answer by doing this research? (You may have more than one question, at this time.) ·       What do you already know or believe you will find out?   HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS DUE Friday of Week 1 ·       Revise and e-mail your in-class writing by midnight on Thursday of wk 1. ·       Complete topic development: include two possible topics and your reasons for their selection. ·       Begin your research and draft Annotated Bibliography with a minimum of 5 scholarly resources – Due in printed copy for next class   email your writings and questions for next week to wjpatterson@sullivan.edu

 

 

DATE	TOPICS/ASSIGNMENTS
Wks 2-3	Lecture Topics – Leadership / The Balanced Scorecard TOPIC DEVELOPMENT/PROBLEM STATEMENT DEVELOPMENT Selection of topic Topic Development Definition of research question Thesis statement development Online research Review Proposal Individual timelines Review APA Documentation and plagiarism (in-text citations and References)   HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS DUE Friday of Week 3 DELIVERABLE: ·       Complete Annotated Bibliography with a minimum of 5 scholarly resources – Project Proposal Problem statement   email  to wjpatterson@sullivan.edu     Complete the plagiarism tutorial http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/plagiarism_test.html Print out the certificate and bring to class on the Monday of week 4
Wks 4-6	Lecture Topics – Communication / Innovation and Change / eCommerce Project: INTRODUCTION and LITERATURE REVIEW Reading a research article: small groups. Writing your Introduction Draft of literature review Outline of project Online research APA Style Review   HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS DUE Friday of Week 6 DELIVERABLE: Skeleton completed: Title page, copyright page, acknowledgements page, absract page, table of contents page, references page Introduction – first draft Literature Review – first draft References – transfer references to your project in APA format   email to wjpatterson@sullivan.edu

 

DATE	TOPICS/ASSIGNMENTS
Wks 7-8	Lecture Topics – Ethics / Strategic Management / Entrepreneurship BODY/DISUSSION and METHODOLOGY Review Introduction and Literature Review Draft of Methodology Draft Body/Discussion Brainstorming and outlining you Discussion Section   HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS DUE Friday of Week 8 DELIVERABLE: Revise Introduction Revise Literature Review Draft Methodology Draft Discussion/Body Prepare a 8-12 slide PowerPoint presentation of your project   email wjpatterson@sullivan.edu
Week 9	Lecture Topics – Improving as a Manager / Diversity PEER REVIEWS and FINAL STEPS Peer Reviews Skeleton Introduction Literature Review Methodology Body/Discussion Individual conferences in addition to class meeting Writing your Conclusion Writing your Abstract   HOMEWORK/ASSIGNMENTS DUE Friday of Week 9 DELIVERABLE: Revise Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Revise Discussion/Body of your project Draft Conclusion Draft Abstract COMPLETE final research project and sumbit   email wjpatterson@sullivan.edu
Week 10	FINAL PRESENTATIONS PowerPoint presentations CELEBRATE!   This tentative schedule is subject to change by the instructor

 

 

 

Grading Rubric for MGT 424

 

Qualities & Criteria	Poor (0-80)	Good (80-90)	Excellent (90-100)
Format/Layout •  Presentation of the text •  Structuring of text •  Follows require-ments of length, font and style (Weight 15%)	Follows poorly the requirements related to format and layout.	Follows, for the most part, all the requirements related to format and layout. Some requirements are not followed.	Closely follows all the requirements related to format and layout.
Content/Information •  All elements of the topics are addressed •  The information is technically sound •  Information based on careful research •  Coherence of information (Weight 50%)	The essay is not objective and addresses poorly the issues referred in the proposed topic. The provided information is not necessary or not sufficient to discuss these issues.	The essay is objective and for the most part addresses with an in depth analysis most of the issues referred in the proposed topic. The provided information is, for the most part, necessary and sufficient to discuss these issues.	The essay is objective and addresses with an in depth analysis all the issues referred in the proposed topic. The provided information is necessary and sufficient to discuss these issues.
Quality of Writing •  Clarity of sentences and paragraphs •  No errors and spelling, grammar and use of English •  Organization and coherence of ideas (Weight 20%)	The essay is not well written, and contains many spelling errors, and/or grammar errors and/or use of English errors. The essay is badly organized, lacks clarity and/or does not present ideas in a coherent way.	The essay is well written for the most part, without spelling, grammar or use of English errors. The essay is for the most part well organized, clear and presents ideas in a coherent way.	The essay is well written from start to finish, without spelling, grammar or use of English errors. The essay is well organized, clear and presents ideas in a coherent way.
References and use of references •  Scholarly level of references •  How effective the references are used in the essay •  Soundness of references •  APA style in reference list and for citations (Weight 15%)	Most of the references used are not important, and/or are not of good/scholarly quality. There is not a minimum of 4 scholarly resources, and/or they are not used effectively in the essay. References are not effectively used, and/or correctly cited and/or correctly listed in the reference list according to APA style.	Most of the references used are important, and are of good/scholarly quality. There is a minimum of 4 scholarly resources that are for the most part used effectively in the essay. Most of the references are effectively used, correctly cited and correctly listed in the reference list according to APA style.	All the references used are important, and are of good/scholarly quality. There is a minimum of 4 scholarly resources that are used effectively in the essay. All the references are effectively used, correctly cited and correctly listed in the reference list according to APA style.
Overriding criterion: Originality and authenticity. If the essay is identified as not being original, and/or not done by the student, the instructor has the right to grade the paper as an F.