BUS520 Strayer University Amazon Inc Leadership and Organization Essay
ASSIGNMENT PREP
COMPANY SELECTION
AND SOURCES
Due Week 3: 60 points
There are three written assignments in the course,inwhich you will use the
same organization to analyze the culture and make recommendations.
Therefore,itis essential you startto think now about your company
selection.
Consider selecting a company you work for, a company a family member or
friend works for, or a civic organization. To ensure your selection sets you
up for success in all three assignments, be sure that your company:
▪ is one you are familiar and can draw on internal processes the public
(outsider) is unaware
▪ has true issues that need to be resolved
▪ allows forrealistic and enforceable solutions forthe organization to
be successful
INSTRUCTIONS
To complete this assignment, use the provided textbox in which you:
1) Identify thecompany that youwanttoresearchforthethreewritten
assignments in thecourse.
2) Describe the organizational issue in your chosen company.
3) Explain why the issue hinders organizational efficiency.
ASSIGNMENT 1
ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES
AND SOLUTIONS
Due Week 4: 240 points
Leaders address issues and propose solutions. As a leader, you’ll need to
stay on top of events that may facilitate or hinder productivity. You must
create and implement solutions to address these issues.
This assignment exposes you to complex modern organizational
challenges. The solutions you devise should reflect yourlearning and
researchoforganizationalandindividualinfluencesintheworkplace.
INSTRUCTIONS
The new CEO has selected your consulting firm to give him/her an analysis
of the organizationalefficiency.
Write a double-spaced 2 to 3 page paper in which you will presentto the CEO
your findings during your research steps. You must propose strategic
solutions in your paper to include the following:
1) Describe the Organization and the Issue to Resolve
• Provide a brief description of the organization you selected.
• Presentthe organizational issue that adversely affected
productivity and that you, the consultant, will review and
resolve.
2) Analyze Current Corporate Culture
• How has the current corporate culture facilitated the
development ofthe currentissue? Research the organization,
digintotheculture, andanalyze howit contributedtothis issue.
Hint: Review the mission and vision statements as well as the
corporate website.
3) Identify Areas of Weakness
• What are the organization’s areas of weakness? Use your
research on organizational behavior approaches to corporate
culture, diversity, teamwork, and motivational strategies.
4) Propose Solutions
• What organizational practices would you modify? What
solutions would you recommend to management? As the
consultant you will identify the suggestions and solutions you
would presentto the organization’s leadership with regard to
modifying currentorganizationalpractices toresolvetheissue.
5) References and Citations
• Provide at least 2 quality resources such as the course
textbook, company website, business websites (CNBC,
Bloomberg, etc.), resources from the Strayer Library, and/or
outside sources. Note: Wikipedia and web-based blogs do not
qualify as credibleresources.
• In-textcitationsarerequiredwhenparaphrasing orquoting
another source.
6) Formatting and WritingStandards
• Formatting and writing standards are part of your grade. Align
your formatting to the Strayer Writing Standards.
*Grading for this assignment will be based on the following criteria and evaluation standards:
POINTS: 240 ASSIGNMENT 1: ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS
Criteria Exemplary
100% – A
Proficient
85% – B
Fair
75% – C
Unacceptable
0% – F
1. Describe the
Organization and
the Issue to
Resolve
Weight: 20%
Fully describes the
organization by providing a
relevant and robust but
concise overview of the
company (e.g. when they
were established, what
service(s) or products they
provide, and other relevant
information). Additionally,
the authorfully describes the
issue he/she has identified;
what he/she knows about it
and how it has impacted the
company.
Sufficiently describes the
organization and provides
details aboutthe company.
The issue is identified and
the author sufficiently
describes what he/she
knows about it and its
impact on the company.
Partially describes the
organization and provides
some details about the
company, but additional
details would improve the
description. The issue and
its impact on the company
are not clearly articulated.
Does not describe the
organization or provide
details about the company.
The issue and its impact on
the company are not
provided.
2. Analyze
Current Corporate
Culture
Weight: 20%
Completely describes the
company’s culture by
detailing how the company
positionsitselffrominternal
and external perspectives.
Draws strong, logical
connections about how the
culture did or could have
supported/facilitated the
challenge. Makes direct
connections and supports
pointswithsourcematerial.
Satisfactorily describes
the company culture by
drawing on and
synthesizing corporate
information about the
company. Makes logical
and realistic connections
that are supported by
source material.
Partially describes the
company’s culture. Lacks
details and/or multiple
sources are not utilized to
provide a well-rounded
perspective. Makes loose
connections that were not
supported by sources or
that were not fully
articulated.
The culture is not
described or the company
is not differentiated
completely from others.
Poses unsupported
connections or
connections are not
included.
3. Identify Areas
of Weakness
Weight 20%
Completely identifies areas
of weakness and provides
strong details with logical
connections and supporting
source material.
Satisfactorily identifies
areas of weakness and
provides valid details
supported by source
material.
Partially identifies areas of
weakness and makes loose
connections between the
weaknesses and supporting
material.
Does not identify areas of
weakness or does not
provide supporting source
material.
4. Propose
Solutions
Weight 25%
Completely describes
modifications to
organizationalpracticesand
provides solutions with
strong connections and
supporting source material.
Logically details how the
solutions will resolve issue.
Satisfactorily describes
modifications to
organizational practices.
Provides solutions that
make some connections
with supporting source
material to indicate how
the solutions will resolve
the issue.
Partially describes
modifications to
organizational practices and
solutions to resolve the
issues. Lacks supporting
details and source material.
Does not describe
modifications to
organizational practices,
or does not identify
solutions that would
resolve the issue. No
source material is
provided.
5. Reference
minimums;
Reference quality
Weight 5%
Meets or exceeds numberof
required references; all
references high quality
choices.
Meets number of
required references;
some references maybe
poor quality choices.
Does not meet the required
number of references; some
references may be poor
quality choices.
No references provided or
allreferencespoorquality
choices.
6. Follows writing
standards;
Meetspage
minimums
Weight 10%
Followed all writing
standards.
Met page minimums.
Followed most writing
standards.
Met page minimums.
Followed few writing
standards.
May not have met page
minimums.
Followed fewtonowriting
standards.
Did not meet page
minimums.
ASSIGNMENT 2
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM PROPOSAL
Due Week 6: 240 points
As you continue your consulting role, the next task is to deliver a
professional development program to the CEO of your chosen organization.
Itis importantthat your program’s proposal be based on your research of
emotional intelligence (EI) and specifically detail how a new incentive
program, based on an EI management approach, will:
▪ foster teamwork,
▪ strengthen interpersonal relationships,
▪ enhance communication,
▪ increase overall performance,and
▪ benefit not only managers but the bottom-line.
INSTRUCTIONS
Create a double-spaced 5 to 7 page proposal that includes the following components:
1) EI and Motivation
• Which ofthe EI building blocks would impact management’s ability to
enhance employee performance and job satisfaction?
• Based on your research on motivational theory, describe how you
would utilize positive or negative reinforcement to influence the
members ofthe organization and resolve the issue. Provide examples
to support yoursolution.
2) EI and Social Skills and Decision Making
• Explain how the core concepts of emotional intelligence would
enhance the social skills and the decision-making efficacy ofthe
management team.
3) Effective Teams
• Describe the core attributes of an effective team and the strategies
youwouldimplementto developteamdynamics thatwill benefitthe
organization.
4) Reward Systems
• Createaneffectiverewardsystemforthisorganization.Determine
the strategies you would incorporate to motivate employees and
influence behavior.
5) References and Citations
• Provide at least 2 quality resources.
• In-textcitationsarerequiredwhenparaphrasing orquotinganother
source.
6) Formatting and WritingStandards
• Formatting and writing standards are part of your grade. Align your
formatting to the Strayer Writing Standards.
*Grading for this assignment will be based on the following criteria and evaluation standards:
POINTS: 240 ASSIGNMENT 2: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROPOSAL
Criteria Exemplary
100% – A
Proficient
85% – B
Fair
75% – C
Unacceptable
0% – F
1. EI and
Motivation
Weight: 20%
Fully describes how
motivation and
reinforcement would be
used to influence members
of the organization to
resolve the issue. Draws
compelling, logical
connectionsbetweentheory
and solution. Examples are
strong and support solution.
Satisfactorily describes
how motivation and
reinforcement would be
used to influence members
of the organization to
resolve the issue. Makes
logical connections
between theory and
solution. Examples support
solution.
Partially describes how
motivation and
reinforcement would be
used to influence members
of the organization to
resolve the issue. Makes
loose connections between
theory and solution.
Examples do not fully
support solution.
The description does not
address how motivation
and reinforcement would
be used to influence
members of the
organizationtoresolvethe
issue. Examples are not
provided.
2. EI and Social
Skills and
Decision Making
Weight: 20%
Fully describes how
motivation and
reinforcement would be
used to influence members
of the organization to
resolve the issue. Draws
compelling, logical
connectionsbetweentheory
and solution. Examples are
strong and support solution.
Satisfactorily describes
how motivation and
reinforcement would be
used to influence
members of the
organization to resolve
the issue. Makes logical
connections between
theory and solution.
Examples support
solution.
Partially explains how core
concepts of emotional
intelligence would enhance
the social skills and the
decision-making efficacy of
the management team.
Loose connections are
made to support the
relationship between EIand
management’s skills.
Application of research is
minimal.
The description does not
explain how the core
concepts of emotional
intelligence would
enhance the social skills
and the decision-making
efficacy of the
management team.
3. Effective
Teams
Weight 25%
Completely describes the
core attributes of an
effective team. Strategies to
develop team dynamics are
strongly articulated and
detailed. Benefits to the
organization are logical and
well supported.
Satisfactorily describes
the core attributes ofan
effective team.
Strategies to develop
team dynamics are
articulated. Benefits to
the organization are
stated. Additional details
and source support
would improve the
description.
Partially describes the core
attributes of an effective
team. Strategies to develop
team dynamics lack details
and source support or are
not fully articulated. Benefits
to the organization are
unclear.
Does not describe the core
attributes of an effective
team or strategies to
develop team dynamics.
Benefits to organization
are not presented.
4. Reward
Systems
Weight 20%
Creates an effective reward
system and articulates wellthoughtout strategies to
motivate employees to
influence behavior. The
connectionbetweenstrategy
and influence is strong and
supported by source
material.
Creates an effective
reward system and
provides motivational
strategies. Details and
source material support
how behavior would be
influenced.
Partially creates an effective
reward system and
articulates some
motivational strategies.
Supporting details are given
but could be expanded to
describe how behavior
would be influenced.
Application of research is
minimal.
Didnotcreateaneffective
reward system or
determine strategies to
motivate employees to
influence behavior.
5. Reference
minimums;
Reference quality
Weight 5%
Meets or exceeds numberof
required references; all
references high quality
choices.
Meets number of
required references;
some references maybe
poor quality choices.
Does not meet the required
number of references; some
references may be poor
quality choices.
No references provided or
allreferencespoorquality
choices.
6. Follows writing
standards;
Meetspage
minimums
Weight 10%
Followed all writing
standards.
Met page minimums.
Followed most writing
standards.
Met page minimums.
Followed few writing
standards.
May not have met page
minimums.
Followed fewtonowriting
standards.
Did not meet page
minimums.
ASSIGNMENT 3
POWER, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
Due Week 9: 240 points
In business, power and politics greatly influence an organizational
culture in turn hinder organizational productivity. In your role as
consultant you observed power and politics influence on the corporate
culture.
INSTRUCTIONS
Create a double-spaced 5 to 7 page report that addresses the following:
1) Influence of Politics andPower
• Explain how politics and power-play may haveinfluenced the
organization’s culture.
2) Sources of Power
• Explore the sources of power and describe how management
could use this influence to benefit your department and improve
organizational performance.
3) Leadership Behavior andCulture
• Make recommendations that support how the study of power
and politics could influence leadership behavior and improve
the organization’s culture.
4) Leadership Influence
• Discuss the importance and complexity ofleadership behavior.
How does it influence organizational structure and
performance?
5) References and Citations
• Provide at least 2 quality resources.
• In-textcitationsarerequiredwhenparaphrasing orquoting
another source.
6) Formatting and WritingStandards
• Formatting and writing standards are part of your grade. Align
your formatting to the Strayer Writing Standards.
*Grading for this assignment will be based on the following criteria and evaluation standards:
POINTS: 240 ASSIGNMENT 3: POWER, POLITICS, AND CULTURE
Criteria Exemplary
100% – A
Proficient
85% – B
Fair
75% – C
Unacceptable
0% – F
1. Influence of
Politics and Power
Weight: 20%
Completely explains how
politics and power-play may
have influenced the
organization’s culture.
Accurately identifies the core
issues and strongly
connects them to the impact
on culture. The explanation
is well-supported by
research.
Satisfactorily explains how
politics and power-play
may have influenced the
organization’s culture.
Identifies some core
issues and connects them
to the impact on the
culture. The explanation
uses research support.
Partially explains how
politics and power-play may
have influenced the
organization’s culture.
Identifies some issues but
does notfully explore them
or make a strong
connection totheirimpact.
Uses littleresearchsupport.
Does not explain how
politics and power-play may
have influenced the
organization’s culture.
2. Sources of
Power
Weight: 20%
Completely identifies the
sources of power and
describes how management
could use this influence to
enhance organizational
performance. Uses relevant
key concepts and makes
valid connections to
enhanced performance that
are well-supported by
research.
Satisfactorily identifies
the sources of power
and describes how
management could use
this influencetoenhance
organizational
performance. Most key
concepts are accurately
identified and there is a
connection to enhanced
performance with
research support.
Partially identifies the
sources of power and
describes how management
could use this influence to
enhance organizational
performance. Not all key
concepts are identified and
there is a loose connection
to performance. There is
little research support.
Does not identify the
sources of power or
describe how
management could use
this influence to enhance
organizational
performance. There is no
reference to research.
3. Leadership
Behavior and
Culture
Weight 25%
Provides excellent
recommendations as to how
the study of power and
politics could influence
leadership behavior and
impact the organization’s
culture. Recommendations
are credible and relevant
with a strong connection to
the impact on culture backed
bywell-supported research.
Satisfactorily
recommends how the
study of power and
politics could influence
leadership behavior and
impact the organization’s
culture. Recommendations are clear and
mostlyrealistic;thereisa
connection to the impact
on culture. Research
support is evident.
Partially recommends how
the study of power and
politics could influence
leadership behavior and
impact the organization’s
culture, but the
recommendations are
unclearorunrealistic.There
is no clear connection to the
impact on culture. There is
littleornoresearchsupport.
Does not recommend how
the study of power and
politics could influence
leadership behavior and
impact the organization’s
culture. There is no
reference to research.
4. Leadership
Influence
Weight 20%
Thoroughly discusses how
the importance and
complexity of leadership
behavior influences
organizational structureand
performance. Relevant key
concepts are presentedwith
strong research support.
Satisfactorily discusses
how the importance and
complexity of leadership
behavior influences
organizational structure
and performance. Most
key concepts are
presented with research
support.
Partially discusses howthe
importanceandcomplexity
of leadership behavior
influences organizational
structure and performance.
Some key concepts are
missing and there is little or
no research support.
Does not discuss how the
importance and
complexity of leadership
behavior influences
organizational structure
and performance. There is
no reference to research.
5. Reference
minimums;
Reference quality
Weight 5%
Meets or exceeds numberof
required references; all
references high quality
choices.
Meets number of
required references;
some references maybe
poor quality choices.
Does not meet the required
number of references; some
references may be poor
quality choices.
No references provided or
allreferencespoorquality
choices.
6. Follows writing
standards;
Meetspage
minimums
Weight 10%
Followed all writing
standards.
Met page minimums.
Followed most writing
standards.
Met page minimums.
Followed few writing
standards.
May not have met page
minimums.
Followed fewtonowriting
standards.
Did not meet page
minimums.