Managing the Contemporary Organization – BMAL 703

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive background in the critical role of management in the modern organization. Topics include the management process, planning and decision making, organizing and motivating individuals and groups, and effective communication.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The evaluation of concepts of management from a biblical perspective is important when making effective decisions. The most effective decisions managers can make are those that are biblically sound. Therefore, those decisions will have long-term benefits and broad ramifications. In our world of constant change, the role of management is critical in developing people to their fullest potential. The ability to choose the best course of action that both inspires motivation and creates synergy is critical for managers to facilitate organizational sustainability and growth.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete 2 Discussions in this course. The student will post one thread of at least 500 words. The student must then post 2 replies of at least 250 words. For each thread, the student must support his or her assertions with at least 2 citations to peer-reviewed journal articles. Each reply must also incorporate at least 1 citation to peer-reviewed journal articles. The initial threads and replies also should be supported through Biblical integration. This assignment will make use of current APA formatting standards.

Motivation Theory Assignment

Since motivation is a major determinate of a person’s persistence toward achieving a goal, it is important to examine how managers can use motivation to attain organizational goals. This Motivation Theory Assignment requires the student to select and examine one of 3 motivational theories in detail: Expectancy, Equity, or Goal-Setting Theory. Then, the student will evaluate the effectiveness of the selected theory according to peer-reviewed literature and biblical principles. This paper will cite from at least five (5) peer-reviewed journals published within the last five years in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, and it will make use of current APA formatting.

Decision-Making Assignment

Successful managerial decision-making is often complex because managers attempt to analyze options and make determinations to select the best course of action in response to opportunities and threats. The student will compare 2 decision making techniques and apply the technique that would be most effective in solving a specific problem within an organization or industry from the student's personal experience or from the media or from the literature. This paper will cite from at least five (5) peer-reviewed journals published within the last five years in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, and it will make use of current APA formatting.

Team Management Assignment

Effective teams apply effective team management concepts. Managers are tasked with producing high team performance teams from synergy. In this Team Management Assignment, the student will evaluate the effectiveness of 2 team management concepts in producing synergistic performance. This paper will cite from at least five (5) peer-reviewed journals published within the last five years in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, and it will make use of current APA formatting.

Research Paper: Annotated Bibliography Assignment

In this Annotated Bibliography assignment, students discover and evaluate the most current and credible sources of scholarly Christian and secular literature in contemporary organizational management. The paper must include at least 10 bibliographies from secular and Christian articles published within the last five years (that have not been used previously in the course) from which the student will create his or her annotations. Each annotation will include the purpose of the study, the method of the study, key findings of the study, and student critique of the study in terms of its contribution to the body of knowledge. The literature chosen for each annotation will discuss at least one of the following: evaluate the effective application of primary management concepts, analyze the similarities and differences between various management theories, recommend strategic management solutions to complex situations, integrate biblical principles to attain optimal management performance. This assignment will be structured according to current APA formatting standards. The provided topic for this assignment is "How to Manage a Diverse Work Team." 

Research Paper: Abridged Literature Review Assignment

Research Paper: Personal SWOT Analysis Assignment

This assignment will help students to develop an inside-out, principle-centered approach to management by self-reflection. A personal assessment of managerial strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats via a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis will be conducted, and strategies for self-improvement via TOWS Matrix will be developed. The student will evaluate his/her own personal management factors (principles, traits, skills, or practices) that are critical to their managerial effectiveness. This paper must include at least three (3) references from scholarly articles published within the last five years in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, and it will make use of current APA formatting.