Draft Syllabus: MGT 4923.001 (CRN 12551)fall 2016

Leading Organizations and Making Decisions

Class Hours:TR2:30p.m. – 3:45p.m., BB 3.04.06

Office Hours: TR:1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., BB 4.04.29

Dr. Wilson’s Web site:

(Last clarifying editing update: Oct. 18, 2016)

NOTE:Only online version of this schedule is current. Both PC and Mac users should use Mozilla Firefoxbrowser to access UTSA Web sites and Blackboard. Access Blackboard at . In instances of conflicting information with other documents, the provisions of this syllabus take precedence.

Table of Contents & Important Contacts

Professor’s Welcome…………………………………………………2

University Services & Policies

Description/Prerequisites/Goals

Required/Course Materials

Computer Software & Hardware …………………………………………………3

Study Resources

Technical Support…………………………………………………4

Course Guidelines & Policies…………………………………………………5

Assignments & Exams

Extra Credit…………………………………………………8

Grading & Attendance Policies…………………………………………………9

Frequently Asked Questions…………………………………………………13

Link to Weekly Class Schedule

COURSE TEAM / EMAIL ADDRESSES / PHONE / OFFICE HOURS
Professor / BB 4.04.29
Dr. Bennie Wilson / Blackboard message or email
  • Documented emergency absence
  • Point deductions
/ Blackboard or Email Message preferred / MW: 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
And by appointment
Teaching Assistant / BB 4.04.29
Blackboard Learn message or email
  • Quizzes, exams
  • Miscellaneous points
/ Message
preferred / MW: 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
And by appointment
McGraw-Hill Text and Connect
Angie Foster
Publisher Rep. /
  • Questions regarding Connect

WELCOME TO THIS COURSE: This course will challenge your time-management skills, meaning you will have to do planning regarding completing assignments before their deadlines, particularly the onlineConnectchapter quizzes and LearnSmart adaptive exercises. Effective time management and meeting deadlines promptly are valued and critical skills both in this course and in the real world of work.

This is an experiential course. Students will learn from discussions, readings, presentations, cases, and applications, and will apply their learning to events they experience outside of class. The course focuses on managing self, others, goals, and processes. Students will develop leadership and management capabilities that are ethically sound, globally aware, and environmentally sustainable.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:MGT4923. Leading Organizations and Making Decisions. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours. Prerequisites: MGT 3003 and MGT 3013 with a grade of “C-” or better and a declared major in the College of Business or department or instructor approval. This is an advanced course focusing on traditional and contemporary perspectives on leadership. Because the leader is a decision maker, individual and organizational issues surrounding effective decision-making are addressed in detail.

COURSE ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL GOALS:

  • Global And Civic Responsibility: Students will be able to identify and define social, ethical, environmental and economic challenges at local, national and international levels. Students will also be able to integrate knowledge and skills in addressing these issues. Via readings and case analysis, students, will see how issues that exist within organizations are influenced by other factors occurring at a local, national, and international level.
  • Intellectual Innovation and Creativity: Students will be able to demonstrate their resourcefulness and originality in addressing extemporaneous problems. Students will face problems to solve throughout the semester, specifically in the form of case analysis and integration of ideas across readings.
  • Synthesis: Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines incorporating learning from both classroom and non-classroom settings in the completion of complex and comprehensive tasks. Students will integrate ideas from various sources to solve problems, explain positions, etc.
  • Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate the ability, via both written and spoken word, to effectively present, critique, and defend ideas in a cogent, persuasive manner. The majority of the assessment in this course will be in the form of written and verbal analysis. Exams will be essay based, and several written assignments are due. As part of their grade, students will engage in oral discussion of a case analysis, submitting a written analysis of the case.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

  • Text: Manning, George & Curtis, Kent (2014). The Art of Leadership (5th Edition). McGraw-Hill.
  • Bookstore: Price ($145). You can purchase your all-digital offer in the bookstore, to include the Connect access code with option to purchase loose-leaf upgrade for $25.00. (ISBN – 9781260047240)
  • Online: Price ($110). You can purchase a downloadable eBook with the Connect access code with option to purchasea loose leaf upgrade for $25.00 by following the linked purchasing instructions at “How to Access Your Create e-Book”and searching ISBN -9781308878942.
  • Connect Registration Instructions for all options listed above:
  • Sign into your school's Blackboard.

•Go to your instructor's course.

  • Click on the "McGraw-Hill" link or “Content” folder on the left navigational menu.
  • Below "My Connect Section,” click Go to My Connect Section or click on the first McGraw-Hill assignment.
  • Using your student email address, follow the on-screen instructions to register.
  • When prompted, enter your Connect Registration access code (packaged with your text), select “Buy Online” to purchase Connect Plus, or you can “Courtesy Access” if you don’t have an access code. See print screen below.
  • Complete the registration form, click “Submit.”
  • An access code to “Connect,” an online (via the course Blackboard site) study learning management system required for access to the e-Text and LearnSmart adaptive study system required for this course.
  • Approximately 20 copies of ParScore test form number X-101864-PAR-L(50 questions per side), to be used for completing examinations and for recording class attendance.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE & HARDWARE: The primary software requirement for accessing UTSA networks is Microsoft Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. If you use a MAC computer, you must be able to produce documents that are compatible with Microsoft Office 2010 or 2013. (NOTE: Do not submit documents as zip files or files that are not compatible with Microsoft Office 2010 or 2013, e.g., Google docs, etc.)

STUDYRESOURCES:

  • Study and Learning Assistance
  • Tomás Rivera Center (TRC):Learning Assistance Services for Undergraduate Students at the TRC provides one-on-one Academic Coaching, which can assist with many educational concerns, such as time management, overcoming procrastination, reading strategies, note taking, and study skills. To schedule an Academic Coaching appointment at either the Main Campus or the Downtown Campus, call 210.458.4694 or email t the TRC website ( and the UTSA LearnAssist Facebook page for more information on any of these services
  • McGraw-Hill Connect:This interactive eLearning and assignment program is available at the course Blackboard site, located at the links on the left side of each Blackboard page. It provides many extensivestudy and evaluation tools to assist your success in reading and understanding chapter materials in the text. These include practice chapter pre- and post-quizzes, simulation exercises, etc.In addition, this program is required to access Connect-basedquizzes and writing assignment.
  • Register on Blackboard for Connect by accessing the Connect tab at the course Blackboard site. You must register for Connectvia Blackboard only using an access code purchased at the Campus Bookstore via Connect. (NOTE:Access and register Connect only at the course Blackboard site—do not register for Connect via a McGraw-Hill web link.)
  • Connect also includes access to:

LearnSmart “SmartBook”:

LearnSmart “Achieve”: Improves writing editing skills and empowers students to put responsible writing into practice. It is an adaptive learning system to help students learn faster, study more efficiently, and retain more knowledge. It pinpoints concepts the student does not understand and maps out a personalized study plan. Based on students’ self-diagnoses of their proficiency, it provides students with a series of adaptive questions. This provides students with a personalized one-on-one tutor experience.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT:Follow the following instructionsimmediately if you believe there has been a systemic network outage affecting your access to Blackboardor McGraw-Hill Connect.

  • If Unable to Access Blackboard: First, access the UTSA Office of Information Technology (OIT) public alert web page at which has a history of Blackboard outages and what time they occurred. Notify me if you believe a Blackboard outage affected you.

Second, if no outages occurred, and you still cannot access Blackboard, email OIT Tech Support at and provide the following information:

  • Your name, email address, banner ID/Username
  • Details of your problem
  • Phone number where you can be contacted
  • Your course and section number, and the name of your professor
  • Your computer’s operating system & version number, e.g. Mac OSX, Windows 7, Windows XP, etc.
  • The name and version of internet browser in which you are using blackboard, e.g., Safari version 5.1.2, Internet Explorer version 8, Mozilla Firefox version 12, etc.
  • If you used a UTSA-owned computer, provide your computer’s inventory/asset number
  • If Unable to Access Connect Quiz: Phone or email McGraw-Hill technical support. Be sure to inform them that you registered on Connectvia Blackboard, not via the McGraw-Hill Web site.
  • Call Tech support at (800) 331-5094 during below times (Central Daylight Time):
  • Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
  • Monday thru Thursday: 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
  • Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  • Email Tech support by accessing
  • Complete “Your Information” on the form.
  • Select Connect under “Product Name.”
  • Click “Submit Question”

Tell them the specifics of your problem and the date and time of your issue.

Ask if there was a systemic Connect systems outage, and the date/times thereof.

Record the incident reference number they provide you.

Ask them to notify your professor of their findings at his/her email address.

  • Whether or not McGraw-Hill tech support is able to resolve the issue, contact our McGraw-Hill representative, Angie Foster, at , and provide her the technical support reference number and the user ID and password you use to access Blackboard.
  • Important Notes Regarding Online Assignment Connectivity:
  • Computer systems are notoriously subject to unforeseen and uncontrollable situations that may cause them to crash. Failure to complete online assignments on time due to the following unfortunate events will not be a basis for deadline extensions or “do overs” of Blackboard orConnect based assignments.
  • Do not use Wi-Fi connections for online assignments—use only hardwired computers such as those in UTSA computer labs, the library, and elsewhere on campus. AirRowdyand other wireless connections--particularly those serving apartment complexes, dormitories, and other high-volume areas--are prone to disconnecting unexpectedly.
  • Whether or not you use a hard-wired computer, there are serious hazards involved in waiting until near the deadline time to complete online assignments. Risky high-volume times to complete assignments that might experience connection issues will not be a basis for a “do-over.” Accordingly:

Systems problems with Blackboard and/or Connect that prohibit online access and/or creates outages after 12:00 noon on the assignment deadline date are consideredthe result of system overload created by an inordinate number of students attempting to access these assignments at the end of the deadline date. You attempt to complete online assignments during this period at your own risk.

Bad weather such as electrical storms and the like that may result in computer disruptions.

At the risk of causing quizzes to terminate prematurely, do not attempt accessing Connect-based content while connected to the assessment. Also, do not set your computer to “time-out” during a level of inactivity that may “time-out” the quiz.

COURSE GUIDELINES & POLICIES:

  • Professional Behavior: Please be respectful of each other at all times. Be on time; be good listeners.
  • Delinquent Fees: The University drops students from class if they are delinquent in paying University fees (tuition, fines, etc.) by the end of the 20th day of classes (see class schedule). These students cannot attend classes and cannot submit course assignments— in hard copy or online, either in advance or retroactively--during the time dropped from classes, even if eventually the student pays his/her fees.

ASSIGNMENTS & EXAMINATIONS

Summary of Regular Assignments / Max.
Points / Deadlines
Chapter Quizzes via Connect (”Quiz 1,” etc.) / 100 / See below chart
Connect LearnSmart Adaptive Exercises (“LS 1,” etc.) / 100 / See below chart
Exam 1 (Chap. 1 -5 ) / 150 / Sep. 15
Exam 2 (Chap. 6 – 9) / 150 / Oct. 4
LinkedIn Assignment / 100 / Oct. 30
Exam 3 (Chap. 10 – 15) / 150 / Nov. 1
Self-Assessments via Connect (“Self-Assessments”) / 100 / Dec. 4
Final (Chap. 16 - 20) / 150 / Dec. 15
12:30 pm – 2:00 p.m.
Total [excluding extra-credit points] / 1000
Absent from, arriving late, or leaving class early / -10 ea.
  • Connect Chapter Quizzes: You may access each Connect quiz at any time, starting with the first day of the semester, until its “deadline.” Once you start a quiz, you have until the time limit to complete it—there are no “do-overs” or extensions.” When you reach the time limit, the quiz stops and Connect grades the questions you answered. After the deadline passes, you may re-access the quiz site for feedback on how you did on each quiz question.
  • There are 11 quizzes for a total of 100 points; see the below schedule for quiz points, time limits, and deadlines.
  • Connect generates quiz questions randomly. You may access each quiz any time between when its “available” and its “deadline.” Once you start a quiz, you have until the time limit to complete it—there are no “do-overs” or “extensions.” After the deadline passes, you may re-access the quiz site for feedback on how you did on each quiz question.
  • Before attempting to access each Connect assignment, click on Check My Computerto see if your computer meets the requirements for Connect. If not compatible for listed reasons, correct the issue and troubleshoot again. If compatible, click “Connect Quizzes & Writing Assignment” at your Blackboard site, to access the assignment.
  • Access Connect chapter quizzes through the Blackboard Connect Quizzes link. They are available from the start of the semester, and there are no extensions under any circumstances unless the McGraw-Hill tech support staff certifies to the professor that there was a systemic Connect outage during the time you attempted to access a particular quiz consistent with the provisions of this syllabus.

ConnectChapter Quiz Schedule
Chapter / Possible Points / Time Limit (Minutes) / Quiz Available / Quiz Deadline (or Earlier)
1 / 5 / 20 / Jan. 11 / Aug. 29
2/3 / 10 / 40 / Jan. 11 / Sep. 5
4/5 / 10 / 40 / Jan. 11 / Sep. 12
6/7 / 10 / 40 / Jan. 11 / Sep. 21
8/9 / 10 / 40 / Jan. 11 / Sep. 28
10/11 / 10 / 40 / Jan. 11 / Oct. 12
12/13 / 10 / 40 / Jan. 11 / Oct. 19
14/15 / 10 / 40 / Jan. 11 / Oct. 26
16/17 / 10 / 40 / Jan. 11 / Nov. 7
18/19 / 10.75 / 43 / Jan. 11 / Nov. 14
20 / 4.25 / 17 / Jan. 11 / Nov. 16
  • LearnSmart (LS) Schedule: An adaptive reading experience designed to change the way students read and learn. It creates a personalized reading experience by highlighting the most important concepts a student needs to learn at that moment in time. The student’s text reading continuously adapts by highlighting content based on what the student does and does not know. This ensures that the focus is on the content he or she needs to learn, while simultaneously promoting long-term retention of material. The following chart summarizes the LearnSmart due dates:

LearnSmart(LS) Schedule
(By Deadline Dates)
LS Chapter / Points / Available / LS Deadline (or Earlier)
1 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Aug. 29
2 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Aug. 31
3 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Sep. 5
4 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Sep. 7
5 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Sep. 12
6 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Sep. 19
7 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Sep. 21
8 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Sep. 26
9 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Sep. 28
10 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Oct. 10
11 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Oct. 12
12 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Oct. 17
13 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Oct. 19
14 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Oct. 24
15 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Oct. 26
16 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Nov. 2
17 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Nov. 7
18 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Nov. 9
19 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Nov. 14
20 / 5 / Aug. 23 / Nov. 16
  • In-Class Examinations: There are four non-comprehensive, in-class exams (including the final exam), each consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions from the publisher’s test bank, with each question worth 3 points, for a total of 150 points for each exam.. See the above assignments chart and the class schedule for the exam dates and the chapters they cover.
  • Self-Assessments:It seems easy to evaluate and form opinions regarding others; however, personal opinions about oneself have little objectivity or validity. To get “another view” of how others may view you and to help you learn what your personal and professional strengths and weaknesses might be, you will complete 25 self-assessments via Connect, all of which are on or before Dec. 4.
  • Access them through the Blackboard Connect Self-Assessment link. Each of the 25 fully completed assessment is worth 4 points. The points will be posted to your Blackboard grade center when you complete all of each self-assessment, or on Dec. 4 at 11:59 p.m.
  • When completing each self-assessment, please click “Save” and then “Exit.”
  • LinkedIn Assignment:Create a LinkedIn account and develop a professional profile, including a professional photo. The following components must be complete:
  • Summary, education, experience, and skills.
  • Join at least two groups.
  • Connect on LinkedIn with at least five other people and the College of Business Center for Student Professional Development (CSPD).
  • Keep in mind that this a professional site and must be created in that fashion.
  • If you have any questions, do your RESEARCH, if you still need guidance, please do not hesitate to ask Chris.
  • Submit the hyperlink of your LinkedIn profile on Blackboard assignment column

Refer to the following resources in preparing your LinkedIn account:LinkedIn Presentation,LinkedIn Resources, and the LinkedIn grading rubric.

EXTRA CREDIT (EC) POINTS:You have the opportunity to earn extra-credit points, using the following guidelines:

  • If you volunteer to undertake an extra-credit event, and for non-emergency reasons (1) you withdraw your volunteer status, (2) you are late for the event, or (3) you otherwise do not meet the conditions for appropriately completing the event; the number of extra-credit points for the event is deducted from your points. This is to help ensure that you meet the commitments for which you volunteer and for which, as a result, you have a responsibility to meet—just as is expected in the real world of work.
  • If you attend extra-credit events that conflict with your MGT 4923 class, you cannot earn the associated extra-credit points.
  • You are responsible for keeping track of the extra-credit points you earn. If you desire to challenge the number of extra-credit points recorded for you, then you must list in writing the extra-credit events you attended for that extra-credit category (EC-Lec, EC-Misc, etc.) you attended, and the name, date, and time of the events.

Extra-credit (EC) Items (Blackboard Learn label) / Extra-
credit Points / Due Not Later Than
Guest Lectures, workshops, seminars, etc., annotated on the course schedule as “extra credit”(“EC-Lec_____”)(1) / 5 (each) / Nov. 28
Miscellaneous Points (3) (“EC-Misc _____”) / As earned / Nov. 28

(1) Guest Lectures, etc. If available, lectures, conferences, panels, meetings, workshops, or seminars annotated on the course schedule as extra credit. I will add these to the class schedule as they become available. Attendance slips or sign-in sheets will certify attendance at extra-credit symposia, lectures, or conferences. Guest lectures conducted in and/or during your normally scheduled MGT 4923 class do not earn extra credit for you. Only the event sponsors can provide me completed attendance slips or attendance rosters. (EC-Lec ____)