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Introduction
This week’s topic involves implementation of business policy and strategy. This represents the action steps taken to produce the business results desired by the organization’s vision and mission statement. This involves defining specific goals through including stakeholders into the decision-making process, obtaining ‘buy-in’ by the groups affected by the proposed changes, and developing staff skills. The development of staff skills is important in that it improves the effectiveness of implementation teams by assuring adequate staff skills are aligned with the tasks required.
Reading Assignment
There are number of resources for this week. Strategic Management will provide an overview, while Change Management provides guidance in obtaining acceptance of change. Training Skills provides specific guidance in training employees. An important part of matching skills to tasks (as well as effective training) is an understanding of personality types. The theory of personality types also provides a basis for a related topic – learning styles. There are many articles about personality types available. The student should conduct their own research and explore these resources. There is a very brief summary provided in this learning module about the Myers-Briggs model. Please use this as background guide and perform your own research.
Strategic Management, by N. Ritson, pages 29-40. Available directly from the course homepage.
Training Skills, by E. Garner, pages 11-46. Available directly from the course homepage.
Change Management, by O. Passenheim, pages 31-48. Available directly from the course homepage.
Theory and Applications of the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory, by W. R. Allman, pages 1-6 Available as a free download directly from the course homepage.
Discussion Assignment
Present a proposal for a project that you would like to be the project leader of (a real project or a conceptualized one) and describe how you would organize a project team. In your description, indicate how many team members you would need. What kinds of talents and/or skills would your team need? Describe how you would align their individual talents and skills to their assigned project tasks. What problems or obstacles do you anticipate facing? How do you plan to deal with those problems?
You are encouraged to research outside sources and, of course, cite them. Do not, however, quote sources word-for-word, but rather, respond to the Discussion Forum Question in your own words.
Written Assignment
After reading the assigned reading and other available information carefully, prepare a two page (double-spaced) essay describing any two (2) personality types and any three (3) learning styles.
Cite references to material that you use in preparing the essay.
Learning Journal
The Learning Journal is a space where you should reflect upon what was learned during the week and how it applies to your daily life and will help you with your life (career) goals. For this week’s reflection, please write an essay of complete and well composed paragraphs (200 word minimum for the entire essay) where you identify your own personality type (as you perceive it) and learning style.
