Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration

College of Health and Human Services

CaliforniaStateUniversity, Sacramento

RPTA 105 – Management in Recreation, Parks & Tourism

Assignment #3:Job & Interviews | Social Networking

Description:

This assignment contains two distinct parts. The first will pull from the organizational chart you made during the last assignment, and the second will take you past what the textbook teaches and into the world of Facebook, Twitter and the Internet. (Please make sure your group identifies all of the sections of the assignment that are required to turn in. Turning in sections late may result in a reduction of points.)

Requirements for “Jobs Interviews”:
Managers must hire and fire people. They have to know how to put out appropriate job announcements so that they get an qualified applicant pool. This will help you prepare for that responsibility.

  1. This assignments relates mainly toChapters14 and 15 of the Van der Smissen (all references are for the 2nd edition)
  2. Your agency is growing! How exciting. Now you need to hire two new people. First, you want to hire a new person at themanagement/supervisory level. Write a job description/announcement for a designated position based on the information on job descriptions given in Chapter 14 (also read pp. 444-446 on Job Analysis). Go pick up a job announcement if you want a look at one. I would suggest exploring online for a management type position from an agency of your type.
  3. Develop a set of interview questions for the position you described. (Remember, some things are illegal to ask – see the handout. Also, you should probably plan to ask about ten questions, but have approximately fifteen or so to choose from. This gives you some flexibility.)
  4. Growth is a wonderful a thing, and you also need to hire a part-time/seasonal, front line employee. Write a job announcement/description for this position. Again, find an example if you need to follow something already presented. Don’t forget to give the dates of this type of job. (See Chapter 15 for information on Part-Time and Seasonal Employees.)
  5. Develop a set of interview questions for this position. (Hint: They shouldn’t be the same as for a management position.)
  6. Now think about placing these announcements. Give a listing of possible locations for placing job information. Think of what’s appropriate for your type of agency and also keep in mind that you want to gather a wide range of applicants.
  7. Don’t forget to consider things like BFOQs (should these positions require those). (This is not a separate piece to turn in, but something that should be considered for your interview questions and job announcements for both positions.)

Requirements for “Social Networking”:

MySpace, Facebook, Survey Monkey, Twitter. Blogs. Names that all of you are probably more than familiar with. The old saying that “Rekkies aren’t Techies”, or the “rec vs. tech” argument, are both pathetically out of date – although you’ll still hear plenty of people try to use those excuses for their inability to embrace the web and technology. Not in my class! It’s time to get creative and think of how your agency can use these new types of communities. Will they help promote? Help attract employees? Create contests and attract sponsors? Help answer customer questions? It’s up to you.

  1. Read the online articles about Twitter and Best Buy. (Online articles because nowhere in your text is the term MySpace mentioned, much less Facebook, Survey Monkey or Twitter.)Now, decide how your agency can creatively use one of these online (usually free) resources. The emphasis on “creatively.” Yes, anyone can make a MySpace and just have it there, but how can you use social networking to drive business and/or save you money and/or make your customers happy and/or anything else? Hmmmmmm, is social networking itself a form of recreation? You don’t have to try and use all of these. Just select the one or two that you think will serve you best, and tell me in a one to two page essay how you will use this and integrate it into your organization. (Find examples of what you’re talking about online? Print off those pages or save the URLs – one part of your presentation will ask you about incorporating technology, and your PowerPoint can show examples you find in the real world. Of course, if you’re so creative that no one else is doing it yet – that’s fine too. Just take RPTA 180 so you’ll know how to copyright it. =)
  2. By this point, everyone in your group should have some method of storing the portions of the assignments. Flash drive, whatever. Each group member (that is an RPTA major) needs to have her/his own copy of all group assignments. You will need this for your portfolio for RPTA 101.
  3. Have fun!

**The group leader for this assignment (the manager) must also submit a managerial report (see website) within one week of completing this assignment. Please note that it is the responsibility of the manager to make sure each group member (employee) is clear on her role within the group. We know that poor management can lead to poor employee performance. It is the responsibility of each group member to make sure she understands what her responsibilities are. Each employee will be given a numerical evaluation by the manager that will be factored into your final grade.

Grading:

This assignment is designed to reinforce class discussions and text material through written expression. The Mission Leisure assignment will be graded on your ability to:

  1. Think independently, creatively, and critically
  2. Develop connections between class discussions, text material, and personal experience
  3. Analyze, apply, and synthesize information
  4. Thoughtfulness - ability to reflect and provide personal insight
  5. Put together a well-organized, neat appearing document based on the above requirements

Due Date: Please see assignment schedule