Managing Organizations and Leading People

 

 

Course Overview

Managing Organizations and Leading People (C200) provides a foundation for the principles of effective leadership and management to optimize organizational performance. By completing this course, you will be able to analyze realissues relevant to twenty-first century organizations and apply appropriate leadership and management theories to increase organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

About Assessments

The performance assessment for this courseincludes the following twotasks:In the first task,youbecome more familiar with yourown leadership by completing the CliftonStrengths assessment, analyzing the results, and applying what the results indicate about yourleadership effectiveness. Youthen apply a leadership theory to yourstrengths, weaknesses, and recommendations as a leader. Task 1 also requires youto create two SMART goals with specific actions that help you tomaximize youreffectiveness as a leader.

 

The second task requires youto analyze an organization and perform a SWOT analysis to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the organization. Youwill analyze the current leader of the organization and explain the leader’s influence on organizational culture.

 

You must provide three scholarly resourcesfor Task 1 and Task 2. When writing, youmust useAPA style and format.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are scholarly sources?

Scholarly sources contain an abstract, footnotes, references, and a bibliography. They list the credentials of the authors who are typically affiliated with a university or an academic organization. Before publication, these sources are examined by experts in the field for accuracy and research validity. Publications can be monthly, quarterly, biannually,or triannually. The sources are written for scholars, researchers, and students. They focus more on text and tabular data, and less on visual appeal.Examples of scholarly sources include The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), American Journal of Nursing, The Journal of Faculty Development,Journal of Developmental Education, and Nursing Outlook.

 

What are leadership practices?

Leadership practices are routine actions, behaviors, functions, and responsibilities that acurrent leader performs.

 

How to differentiate leadership theories?
To differentiate between leadership theories, utilize one of the following scholarly theories: transformational leadership, transactional leadership, situational leadership, contingency theory, participative leadership, servant leadership, behavioral leadership, or trait theory of leadership.

 

How do I do a SWOT analysis?

Utilize the following information to design a SWOT analysis:

 

Strengths—Thecurrent and specific aspects of an organization that have a positive impact.

Weaknesses—Thecurrent and specific aspects of an organization that have a negative impact.

Opportunities—Thecurrent and unmet specific aspects of an organization that have the potential to benefit the organization.

Threats—Thecurrent and unresolved specific aspects of an organization that have the potential to threaten the organization.

 

What are SMART Goals?

Utilize the following information to create SMART goals:

Specific—Describes the goal in detail

Measurable—Explains how you know if the goal is reached

Achievable—Explains if the goal can actually be reached

Relevant—Describes the goal’s relationship to you

Time-Bound—Provides a specific date for the goal’s achievement

Course Road Map

WEEK 1	□   Self-Awareness □   Read and understand the performance assessment instructions and rubric requirements in the assessment tab. □   View the welcome video. □   Complete the readings and watch the instructional videos in the section. □   Complete the CliftonStrengths assessment. □   Complete “Preparing for Task 1—Section A.”
WEEK 2	□   Theories of Leadership □   Complete the readings and watch the instructional videos in the section. □   Choose one of the leadership theories listed that best applies to you as a leader. □   Complete “Preparing for Task 1—Sections B and C.” Use the WGU library to find articles that help support the analysis of the application of the leadership theory to your leader. □   Submit Task 1.
WEEK 3	□   Management Analysis □   Complete the readings and watch the instructional videos in the section. □   Complete “Preparing for Task 2—Section A.”
WEEK 4	□   Strategic Management □   Complete the readings and watch the instructional videos in the section. □   Complete “Preparing for Task 2—Section B.”The SWOT Analysis should be at the same level of the organization used in the organization description from Section A (e.g., the team, department, division, or whole). Use the WGU library to find articles that help support the analysis of the application of the leadership theory to your leader.
WEEK 5	□   Organizational Structure and Innovation □   Complete the readings and watch the instructional videos in the section. □   Choose one of the leadership theories that best applies to your current leader. Leadership theories: Trait, Behavior, Contingency, Situational, Servant, Transactional, Transformation, and Participative □   Complete “Preparing for Task 2—Section C.”
WEEK 6	□   Contact a course instructor if you have any questions regarding the course or the assessment.   Course completed!

Tips for Success

• Read and write simultaneously. Use an outline
  to complete tasks and self-evaluate yourpapers using the criteria of the rubric.
• Attend live events consistently, contact course instructors, and keep regular appointments with program mentors.
• Take a tour of the WGU library to become familiar with how to research topics and access tools available through the library. Utilizing the 24/7 chat feature, you can search the WGU library to find scholarly resources for Tasks 1 and 2.
• Maximize your time by creating an effective outline of both tasks before beginning to write.
• Get the most from attaining a master’s degree by analyzing and applying conceptual and critical thinking skills.
• Understand the criticality of explaining the how and why in completing yourtasks.
• Utilize specificity of response in completing your tasks.

 

Course Instructors

Most successful students reach out to their course instructors early! Contact your course instructor when starting in the course.