Don A. Larsen, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

College of Business

Montana State University-Billings

• Rules

• Syllabus

• Course Schedule

• Handouts

  • CH 10 handouts

  • Internal vs. External Recruiting

  • Content Theories of Motivation

  • Equity Theory

  • Operant Conditioning Theory

  • Least Preferred Coworker Scale

  • Leadership Substitutes and Neutralizers

• Iceberg Picture

• Apple Innovations

• Dilbert

Files may be one of two types

• pdf

• html

• Answer the following question: Due Thu. Sep. 17

  • Read chapter one and chapter two. Then think about what it takes to be a successful manager. Think about management at all levels of an organization (first-line supervisors, mid-level managers, and presidents of companies). Also, think about the companies/organizations with which you have been involved and the managers you have had to deal with. Think about how successful all of them were (I bet you can think of a few that were not very effective). Now, answer the following question:
    • Does management sound more like common sense or brain surgery? Why? Cite material from Chapter 1 and/or Chapter 2 to support your view.
  • Length requirements:  the paper should be at least one page, double spaced.

• Read the following series of articles on music downloading: Due Thu. Oct. 1

  • Articles on Music Downloading
    • After downloading the article, read it.  Then, do the following:
      • Voice your opinion on the subject
      • Mention which ethical views (i.e., utilitarian view, moral rights view, justice view, practical view) you feel are being used by both sides of the arguments to justify their positions?
      • The length should be at least 1 typed page (double spaced).

CH 6:  Managing the Global Environment

• Wall Street Journal article, “Wal-Mart's Foray into Japan Spurs a Retail Upheaval.”  Due Thu. Oct. 8

  • Wall Street Journal article

    • After loading the article, read it.  Then, answer the following questions:

      • Based on what you read in the article, discuss the specific forces in the task environment and in the general environment that you see affecting Wal-Mart as it enters Japan.

        • Please organize your paper by these two general categories.  First discuss all the forces from the task environment that you see affecting Wal-Mart, then discuss all the forces from the general environment that you see affecting Wal-Mart.

      • Give specific examples as you discuss these forces.  Label these examples regarding the forces they are illustrating (e.g., sociocultural, economic, competitor, etc.) as well as the category of the environment (i.e., task or general) to which they belong.

    • Length Requirements

      • This paper should be at least 2 double-spaced pages. Use one-inch margins and Times Roman 12-point font.

CH 7:  The Manager as a Decision Maker

• Examine the innovation process at 3M.  Due Tue. Oct. 20

  • This short assignment has you examining the innovation process at 3M.  Do this by going to the links at the bottom of these instructions.  Read all of the instructions BEFORE accessing the various links. 

    Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) has been the source of many innovative products over the last 100 years.  Consequently, we will use the company to learn some things about the nature of the innovative process and the decisions that occur which ultimately turn innovative ideas into products.  The instructions for the assignment are found below:

     

  • Instructions

    • (1) Read the articles on the invention of masking tape, scotchguard, and Post-its Notes by accessing the link below.

    • (2) Read the article on 3M's recent struggles with creativity and its return to a more innovative climate at the company by accessing the link below.

    • (3) Extra information on 3M and innovation:

      • if your internet connection can handle video, there is a short clip about 3M's history (150K and 500K versions) below.

      • You can also download an 8MB file (3M - A Century of Innovation) that discusses some facets about the innovation process at 3M as well as some of the companies many famous innovative products.  I would advise skimming it since it is about 40 pages of reading, although it does have many pictures

    • After reading the items in instructions #1 & #2 above (and #3 if you have the internet capability to do so), answer the following questions:

      • Are there any patterns regarding the innovative process in the three 3M stories you read (don't discuss the McNerny years when Six Sigma was being heavily emphasized)?

      • How does 3M seem to foster a good climate for creativity and innovation?

      • How does the decision process seem to work at 3M for deciding if a project is worth pursuing?

• Length Requirements

  • This paper should be at least 1 ½ double-spaced pages. Use one-inch margins and Times Roman 12-point font..

LINK:  Masking tape, Scotchguard, Post-its Notes

LINK:  Article:  3M's struggles with creativity

LINK:  Video (150K)  Video (500K)

LINK:  3M - A Century of Innovation

• Formal article review.  Due Tue. Oct. 27

  • Instructions

    • The specific instructions for the assignment are found via the above link.

    • The article review assignment is worth 25 points.  You will need to find an article that discusses the issues surrounding a merger or acquisition (i.e., two companies combining into one – whether it is a friendly combination or a hostile takeover doesn’t matter).

    • Below is the link to the MSUB library's database for business articles.  Use the "Business Source Premier" site to search for articles.  You simply enter search terms in the FIND box (e.g., terms like merger, acquisition, or something more specific).  Be sure to check the box for "full text" so that articles provided in the search results can be accessed on line.  If you don’t select “full text” in your search, some search results will only be references rather than complete articles.
      • http://www.msubillings.edu/library/ws07/Research%20tools/subject%20areas/Business.htm
    • If you are off-campus, you will need a username and a password to access the "Business Source Premier" site.
      • Username = student I.D. number
      • Password = last 4 digits of social security number
    • Another source is the Wall Street Journal.  Use the same link above, but this time select "eResources" in the left-hand navigation menu rather than "Business Source Premier".  Then scroll down to the "Business & Economics" section of the page and select the “Wall Street Journal: Search” option.  Again, you enter the search terms in the search box.  I believe you will still need your username and password to access the Wall Street Journal from off-campus.

CH 11:  Organizational Control and Change

• Article, “Mr. Eden Profits from Watching His Workers' Every Move.”  Due Thu. Nov. 5

  • Article Link

    • Access the article via the above link.  Then, answer the questions located at the end of the article.

• Length Requirements

  • This paper should be at least 1 ½ double-spaced pages. Use one-inch margins and Times Roman 12-point font..

 

CH 12:  Human Resource Management

• Articles on pension troubles  Due Thu. Nov. 12

  • United Airlines Defaults on Pension

  • PBGC in Trouble

    • Select and print the two articles from above.

    • The topic of pensions is not discussed in the chapter under the pay and benefits section, yet it is a very important issue in today's business environment.  This week's short assignment has you reading two articles that deal with the topic of companies defaulting on pension promises to their employees.  First, you will read an article about United Airlines and their recent default (May 2005) on their pension plan.  Next, you will read an article about the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (the PBGC).

       

      You may never have heard of this governmental organization, but as you read the article, you will realize that the PBGC will be in the news more and more over the coming years.  The organization is similar to the FDIC.  While the FDIC guarantees your bank deposits up to $100,000, the PBGC guarantees workers' pension payment up to a certain amount per year . . . sort of.  You will read the terms "defined benefit" and "defined contribution" in the articles, and these terms refer to two different types of pension plans.  The PBGC only guarantees the defined benefit plans.  These are the retirement plans where the amount of money an employee receives at retirement is based on a formula that typically includes the number of years worked at the company, ending salary, etc.  These retirement plans are also completely dependent upon the organization’s solvency in order to meet its obligations to its retirees.

                        

      Defined contribution plans are retirement plans such as a 401(k), where an employee typically puts money into an retirement account and the employer may match a certain amount of the contribution of the employee (although the plan may simply have only the employee contributing money to the account or only the employer contributing).  Defined contribution plans don’t need to be insured by a governmental agency because the company doesn’t guarantee the employee a predetermined amount upon retirement.  The amount received in retirement will depend upon the return on the investment made over the employees working years.  In addition, defined contribution plans are portable, so your investment travels with you as you change jobs.

       

    • After reading the two articles, answer the following three questions:

      1. Is it ethical for companies to default on their pension obligations (the defined benefit kind)?  Why or why not?  In your response, state which ethical view (or views) you are using as the basis for your argument (i.e., use the ethical views/rules from Chapter 4).

      2. What should companies, who find themselves in a financial crisis, do when their pension obligations are creating potential bankruptcy?

      3. Should the government do more?  Are you willing to pay more taxes to keep the PBGC solvent in the face of a potential onslaught of pension defaults in the future?

  • This assignment should be at least one page in length (double-spaced).

CH 13:  Motivation and Performance (Case Analysis - 25 points)

• Case analysis.  Due Tue. Nov. 24

  • Boston Duck Tours

    • Access the case and instructions via the above link.

    • Complete the assignment.  The instructions for format and content are provided.

• Explore Fiedler's Contingency Theory of leadership.  Due Tue. Dec. 1

  • Fiedler's LPC (Least Preferred Coworker) Scale
    • Complete the LPC scale by selecting the above link, printing out the survey and instructions, and scoring the survey by hand.  After completing the LPC scale, answer the following questions:

    1. What is your score on the LPC, and what type of leader are you based on the score?  Do you agree or disagree with the assessment, and why?
    2. What do you think of Fiedler’s theory?  Do you believe it has some merit?  Does it make more, or less, sense than the other leadership theories in the chapter?
    3. What do you think of the LPC scale?  Is it a valid way to assess your leadership style?

    • Be sure to refer to appropriate information from the chapter in your response.  This is a key to receiving a good grade.  I don't want an answer based solely on opinion.

• Length Requirements
  • The assignment length should be at least 1 1/2 pages double spaced.  You should use 1 inch margins and a font no larger than that of Times Roman 12 point (hint: Arial 11 point font is equal to Times Roman 12 point font).  You should spend most of your paper answering questions #2 and #3.

These are html files