CAREERS AND MANAGING IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

MANA 5338 – FALL 2008

Course Time and Location: MANA 5338 Section 001 Wednesday 7:00 – 9:50 p.m.

Room COBA #243

Instructor: Pam Van Dyke

Office Hours: By Appointment Only

Email:

Phone: 214.564.6352 please leave a message

Webpage: http://management.uta.edu/vandyke/homepage.htm

TEXTS:

1) The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan, How to Take Charge, Build Your Team, and Get Immediate Results

Bradt, G.B., Check, J.A., & Pedraza, J.E. (2006). The New Leader’s 100-Day Action Plan, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2) Now, Discover Your Strengths – MUST BUY BRAND NEW

Buckingham, M. & Clifton, D. (2001). Now, Discover Your Strengths, New York: The Free Press.

3) The Thin Book of Naming Elephants, How to Surface Undiscussables for Greater Organizational Success

Hammond, S.A., & Mayfield, A.B. (2004). The Thin Book of Naming Elephants, Bend: Thin Book Publishing Co.

MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

My teaching philosophy is to do everything I can to make learning an action VERB. What I mean by that is I view learning as active and dynamic! What I have learned in my 13 plus years of teaching higher education is I cannot teach alone, I need YOU to make it interesting. I hope to create the type of learning environment that is interactive and interesting. Therefore, I will look for you to actively participate in the class discussions and help me make this a positive experience for us both.

Let the learning BEGIN!

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course presents both practical and theoretical perspectives on careers and leading in a changing work environment. A course fee of $50.00 will go on the student’s bursar’s account. This will be done some time during the semester.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: To create an environment in the classroom whereby participants are able:

·  To increase their level of self-awareness by gaining a broader understanding of their decision-style preferences, interpersonal attributes, skill strengths, interests, and conflict resolution styles;

·  To help cultivate an awareness to facilitate effective team effectiveness and leadership.

COURSE – AT – A - GLANCE

Course Schedule:

Tentative and WILL change! Additional topics and reading assignments may be covered. Students are responsible for keeping up with any changes to the course schedule announced by the Instructor.

WEEK / TOPIC / READINGS / ASSIGNMENT
1 / 8/27: Course Overview
v  Intros / Ø Begin reading Texts / Research definition and meaning of self-efficacy.
Write essay, refer to essay guidelines.
2 / 9/3
SELF EFFICACY / Naming Elephants
& (NDYS) / SELF EFFICACY
ESSAY DUE
3 / 9/10
GUEST SPEAKER-Generations / Naming Elephants
& (NDYS)
SEPT. 5th / PLEASE HAVE ALL / ASSESSMENTS / COMPLETED
4 / 9/17
MBTI / Naming Elephants
& (NDYS) / Research definition and meaning of emotional intelligence.
Write essay, refer to guidelines.
5 / 9/24
MBTI Con’t
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE / Naming Elephants
& (NDYS) / EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE
ESSAY DUE
6 / 10/1
CISS / Naming Elephants
& (NDYS)
7 / 10/8
LEADER COMPETENCIES / Naming Elephants
& (NDYS)
8 / 10/15
TKI / Naming Elephants
& (NDYS) / Research specifics around TKI and use the results of your TKI to write your essay, reflect and refer.
9 / 10/22
CONFLICT
MANAGEMENT & TEAMS / Naming Elephants
& (NDYS) / MY CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STYLE ESSAY DUE *
10 / 10/29
FIRO-B
Team Dynamics / Naming Elephants
Completed / Please have Naming Elephants completed by this date
11 / 11/5
Industry Work Group Time
12 / 11/12
GUEST SPEAKER
Naming Elephants / Now Discover Your
Strength Completed / LEADER ASPIRATION PAPER OR
NEW LEADER 100 PLAN DUE
13 / 11/19
NOW DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS
14 / 11/26
Interview Tips and Techniques
15 / 12/3
CAREER PANEL INTERVIEWING / PANEL INTERVIEWING
16 / 12/8 ? – FINALS WEEK
CAREER PANEL
INTERVIEWING / PANEL INTERVIEWING

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS & EVALUATION

It might be a good idea to create your own spreadsheet in order to keep your own point totals throughout the course semester. Please don’t wait until the end of the semester to worry about your totals.

Class Attendance and Participation / 100 Points
Present, engaged, participating in the exercises?
Completion of Assessments
MBTI
FIRO-B
TKI
CISS
Now Discover Your Strengths / 100 points
You will receive 20 points for each assessment you complete. There will be a 5-10 point deduction for each assessment you complete late.
Current Events / 100 points ^
5 @ 20 points per submission
*See Guidelines
Reflection Essays *
1. Self Efficacy
2. Emotional Intelligence
3. Conflict Style / 300 Points*
*See Guidelines
100 Per Essay
So What?
[Self Awareness Essay]
In place of Current Events you select the completion of an additional essay. / 100 Points ^
LEADER ASPIRATION PAPER (LAP) OR NEW LEADER 100 DAY PLAN / 200 Points*
Graded on 100 point scale then multiplied by 2.
CAREER PANEL
INTERVIEWING / 200 Points
Graded on 100 point scale then multiplied by 2
Total Points / 1000 Points
Total Points / Percentage / GRADE
900 – 1000 / 90 – 100 / A
899 – 800 / 80 – 89 / B
799 - 700 / 70 – 79 / C
699 – 600 / 60 – 69 / D
599 - 500 / 59 – 0 / F

** SPECIAL NOTE: ALL COORESPONDANCE WILL BE DONE USING YOU UTA EMAIL ADDRESS SO PLEASE ACTIVATE IT AND CHECK PRIOR TO EACH CLASS.

^ You have the option to turn in 5 Current Events or write an additional essay.

POINT BREAKDOWN

1)  ATTENDANCE / PARTICIPATION (100 POINTS) Satisfactory attendance and completion of exercises and assignments are critical to success in this class. As classes are interactive, excessive absences will result in lack of participation and failure to learn from the interactions and discussions. Attendance will be taken each class meeting and considered in the final calculation of the student’s grade. Individuals must be present for the entire period to receive full credit for that session. Leaving at break or before class ends may result in a forfeiting the participation points for that day. If you miss class it will be your responsibility to contact me or one of your classmates to find out what you missed. It will also be your responsibility to maintain your own point TOTAL throughout the course.

2)  COMPLETION OF ASSESSMENTS (100 POINTS) – Follow the guidelines as outline in the handout for each assessment by the due date. The MBTI, FIRO-B and TKI are all taken through CPP online website, CISS is taken through a separate website and the Now Discover Your Strengths code is located within the book. Please see separate Assessment Guidelines handout. Invariably technology will fail you, so my advice to you is to not wait until the last minute to take these assessments. Taking the assessments late or requiring the Assessment Center to take extra steps to get you your report may result in point deduction for your assessment point totals. This is a main part to the course so please complete these assessments before schedule if possible, don’t delay, or at a minimum be on time! J

3)  CURRENT EVENTS (100 POINTS): Please bring a periodical or newspaper on at least 5 of the 16 weeks. Please attempt to correlates and/or demonstrate some aspect of that week’s topic. These will be discussed at the beginning of class. It is not a good idea to wait until the last 5 weeks to cram all your current events into the last 5 weeks. Please see additional guidelines.

4)  REFLECTION ESSAYS (300 POINTS) – Please see separate handout for Reflection Essay Guidelines

5)  LEADER ASPIRATION PAPER (LAP) (200 POINTS) – You can complete this paper OR complete #6 The New Leader 100 – Day Action Plan Challenge. See separate section for guidelines on LAP.

6)  THE NEW LEADER 100 – DAY ACTION PLAN CHALLENGE (200 POINTS) – You can complete this paper OR complete #5, Leader Aspiration Paper. See separate section for guidelines on New Leader 100 – Day Action Plan.

7)  CAREER PANEL INTERVIEW ASSIMILATION (200 POINTS) – At the end of the semester you will work in teams and will conduct your own team panel interview simulation. Specific instructions will follow.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

It is the policy of the University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.

“Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such act.” (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2., Subdivision 3.22).

BOMB THREAT POLICY

Effective April 8, 1996, the College of Business Administration has adopted a policy to deal with the classroom disruption caused by bomb threats in the building.

1. Section 22.07 of the Texas Criminal Law Statues governs terrorists threats and classifies bomb threats as Class A misdemeanors. Section 12.21 of the Texas Criminal Law Statues states that a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000, a jail term of not more than one year, OR, both such a fine and confinement.

2. If anyone is tempted to call in a bomb threat, be aware that UTA will soon have technology to trace phone calls.

3. Every effort will be made to avoid canceling presentation/tests caused by bomb threats to the Business Building. Unannounced alternate sites will be available. If a student who has a class with a scheduled test or presentation arrives and the building has been closed due to a bomb threat, the student should immediately check for the alternate class site notice which will be posted on/near the main doors on the south side of the Business Building. If the bomb threat is received while the class is in session, your instructor will ask you to leave the building and reconvene at another location.

4. Students who provide the information leading to the successful prosecution of anyone making a bomb threat will receive one semester’s free parking in the Maverick Garage across from the Business Building. UTA’s Crimestoppers will provide a reward to anyone providing information leading to an arrest. To make an anonymous report, call 817-272-5245.

DISAPPEARING STUDENTS:

I fully understand that life happens and that there may be circumstances that require you to miss class. However, please understand that I consider it your responsibility to connect with me and/or one of your classmates to find out what you missed while you were absent. If you are a member of a team member, be responsible and connect with your team as well, it is not my responsibility to do that on your behalf. Missing more than two classes (one during the Summer) or missing class during one of the assessment interpretations may affect your overall grade for the course, so please stay connected! It is also imperative that you keep your academic advisor informed of your status should you choose to drop the class. It is your responsibility to be aware of UTA policies regarding the dates and procedures regarding dropping the course.

DIABILITY POLICY

If you require accommodations for a disability, please consult with me at the beginning of the semester. Faculty members are required by law to provide “reasonable accommodation” to students with disabilities, so please provide me with your documentation authorizing the specific accommodation.

DROP POLICIES

It is the student’s responsibility to complete the course or withdraw from the course in accordance with University Regulations. Students are strongly encouraged to verify their grade status before dropping a course after the first withdrawal date. It also the student’s responsibility to determine whether it is a good idea to drop the class. A student who drops after the first withdrawal date may receive an “F” in the course if the student is failing at the time the course is dropped.

TUITION PAYMENT

Students who have not paid by the census date and are dropped from non-payment cannot receive a grade for the course under any circumstances. A student dropped for non-payment who continues to attend the course will not receive a grade. Emergency loans are available to help students pay tuition and fees. Students can apply for emergency loans by going to the Emergency Tuition Loan Distribution at the E.H. University Center (near the southwest entrance).

CLASS DISRUPTIONS

Because this class is highly interactive, please refrain from using your laptops, Blackberrys and cell phones during class. Ignoring this request may result in a point deduction in your participation grade. If an emergency requires you to have a cell phone or pager turned on during class, please clear this with me before class. Otherwise, please turn off all laptops, cell phones and pagers once class begins. This will help all of us stay focused on the discussion in class. Thank you.