MO 300 Winter 2010

Description of Group Project

WRITTEN REPORT DUE
Tuesday, April 13, in class

Option A. Organizational Diagnosis: Fieldwork

Your group will access and study a local organization (either a small firm or non-profit, or a department/subunit of
a larger organization) and conduct a fieldwork project investigating some aspect of this organization that connects
with themes in the course such as, for example, the organization’s culture, the structure and functioning of groups
within the organization, its reward systems, or its relation to its local or national environment.

Your group will gather first-person data from people in a variety of positions in the organization (from executives
to regular employees) as well as other stakeholders (e.g., existing or potential customers, suppliers, competitors,
etc...). You will need to visit the organization on-site, attend meetings and/or corporate events (if feasible).
Additionally, you’ll need to obtain and study archival materials that describe the organization and the
organizational phenomena that are the focus of your project. These materials might come from the organization as
well as other outside sources (e.g., the press, analysts, consultants, etc...).

Key Project Components

1. Description/overview of the company and the dimension on which you are focusing
2. Description of your inquiry (data collection procedures)
3. Findings (from research); analysis of organizational phenomenon under consideration
4. Recommendations for improvements or, if successful, analysis of why

Your “deliverable” will be a report that you will give to the class. Your class presentation will be made as if the
students were the top executives/managers in your firm. You will need to distribute an “Executive Summary” in
advance of your presentation so that your fellow students can question you about your analysis.

Option B. Issue Analysis: Archival and limited field work (if possible)

Your group will choose an issue connected to the themes in the course and of importance to multiple
organizations; this issue may be inspired by something in the headlines of the business press or something in your
own experience. You will need to examine the nature of this issue and analyze in detail how 3-5 diverse companies
have addressed and/or experienced the issue. Based on your research, you will describe different approaches to
and outcomes of the issue in question at the different organizations under consideration. The issue you choose
might be, for example, one related to the organization’s culture; the structure and functioning of groups within the
organization; its reward systems; or its relation to its local or national environment.

Key Project Components

1. Description/overview of the issue under investigation

2. Description of your inquiry and “mini” case studies of benchmarked companies
3. Findings (from research); analysis of differences across companies studied in the approach to and/or
experience of the issue; recommendations if you think there is a problem to be solved at one or more of the companies.

Your “deliverable” will be a report comprised of these components. Your class presentation will convey the most
important aspects of each of these components. You will need to distribute an “Executive Summary” in advance of
your presentation so that your fellow students can question you about your analysis.
The aims of this project are (1) to enrich and deepen your understanding of organizational behavior; (2) to provide
you with an opportunity to apply what you have learned throughout the course; (3) to assess your ability to define
and analyze an organizational problem and recommend actions, and (4) to help you develop interpersonal and
teamwork skills.

The final grade for this project is based on a written report and upon an in-class presentation. The written
report may be up to 10 pages in length (double-spaced, 12-point times-roman font, 1-inch margins on all
sides). The group project will be evaluated according to quality of analysis, appropriate use of course
concepts, logic and substantiation of conclusions, and clarity and appeal of your class presentation.

You should draw on material covered in the course. A range of concepts from the course can be used
effectively to diagnose your organization and suggest recommendations. Your group should construct
what you collectively determine to be the best way of analysis and recommended plan of action based on
available data and relevant ideas from the course and the business scandal you choose. You should draw
on publicly available resources such as annual reports, newspaper articles, the Internet, and electronic
databases.

Be sure to include with your report a cover page, which is exempt from the page limit. The cover page
should include team members’ names, your instructor’s name, your section number, and your section’s
time. Don’t bother with fancy covers or binding; just staple the report together.

Paper Format:
The attached annotated outline (exhibit 1) should give you an idea of the main points to include in your
report. You should include an executive summary in your written report (for an idea of what an executive
summary looks like, see attached sample, exhibit 2).

How the paper is written is integral to a good finished product. In addition, appropriate headings and
subheadings can make your report much easier to follow.

Some suggestions on process (exhibit 3) may be useful in planning and managing the project. To help you
develop your report and presentation, our guidelines for evaluating the written report are also included
(exhibit 4).

Group Project Assignment Page 2

MO 300 Exhibit 1
Group Project Written Report: Annotated Outline
Cover Page Include a title, your names, section number, and section time. Also indicate to
whom (and where) the original report document should be returned when graded
after the end of the term.
P. 1 An executive summary is a concise overview of what you did, what you found
Executive and/or recommend, and what it means. It should not exceed one page in length. An
Summary executive summary should function as a "stand-alone" document: it should be
intelligible to the reader without his or her having to read the rest of the report, and
it should convey the most important points you have to make. Devices that enhance
the readability of executive summaries include bullet points, headings, and
(judicious) underlining or bold-face for key words. Many people prefer to write the
summary last. This has the virtue of capturing the paper as it is, after it has stopped
evolving. It raises the risk, however, that the very first page the reader sees is the
one written in the greatest haste and weariness. Plan accordingly.
P. 2 Describe the organization, its management and problems, and the purpose of your
Introduction work. Note that you will have to condense your thoughts to a level of detail allowed
by the space. If you have a main theme or point, this would be a good place to
introduce it.
P. 3 Provide a summary of the company and/or management issue you are analyzing.
Summary of This should be no longer than one full page in length and should set the stage for
Management Issue your analysis and recommendations. You will want to limit your discussion in this
section only to the facts of what occurred, saving your description of why they
occurred for the analysis section.
P. 4-6 This section will mostly deal with your assessment of the management issue. Some
Analysis questions you may want to think about include: What organizational structures and
processes are involved in this issue? What aspects of human nature and human
motivation are involved in this issue? How do different firms deal with this issue?
What can be learned from these differences? In your analysis section, it is OK to
anticipate your recommendations a bit.
P. 7-9 It’s helpful to present your points in as focused a manner as possible here. To
Recommendations summarize your recommendations, you may use a table, bullet points, diagram, or
any other approach that works for you – but it all must fit within the page limits. Be
sure to cover key aspects of your recommendations, such as "current situation,"
"goals," "diagnosis" and "recommended actions"; you may also want to indicate
which are short-term and which are long-term recommendations. In addition, you
should explain practical and theoretical rationales behind your recommendations.
P. 10 One page (or less), possibly including: review, thoughts on the limitations of your
Conclusion study, encouragement for your client, and whatever key ideas you want the reader
to come away with.
P. 11 Attach a one-page description of your group process. It should include an analysis
Appendix: of strengths and weaknesses in your process. What went well? What would you do
Group Process differently, and why? (Changing the group's members is not an option!) Taking
"Lessons Learned" notes on your meetings and other interactions could assist in developing this. Your
experiences during the “understanding groups” section of the course should be
useful here.
Bibliography List the sources for the data you use in your report. Please select a standard
bibliographic format and use it consistently.

Group Project Assignment Page 3

MO 300 Exhibit 2

Sample Executive Summary

This report highlights our comprehensive analysis of the Nuclear Tubing Room at American
Radiatronics Corporation (ARC). The Tube Room has recently witnessed beneficial
transformational change in the areas of output, labor efficiency, cost cutting measures, and group
cooperation, but it continues to strive to maintain its relative position in an increasingly
competitive market. We identified three major problems and offer five recommended solutions
in the present report.

In the course of our research, we identified three major problems related to the Nuclear Tubing
room:

• Workers’ inability to communicate problems and concerns with each other.

• Strained inter-department relations among foreman and production workers, at both a formal
and informal level, preventing maximum efficiency.
• Potential difficulties in maintaining current production and group relations in the event of
Langley’s probable promotion.

We recommend that one short term and four long-term measures be undertaken in order to
ensure ARC’s future prosperity:

Short Term:
1. Stage a mass meeting to highlight department interdependencies and prepare for change
Long Term:
2. Implement two monthly meetings to provide forums for voicing concerns
3. Start a company newsletter and quarterly social events to forge inter-departmental bonds
4. Elicit Langley’s input in pre-planning for possible restructuring
5. Develop formal production and testing procedures for Tube Room processes

This strategy will allow ARC to capitalize on the strengths of the Tube Room, while trying to
enhance Tube Room and inter-department relations. We are confident that the recommendations
outlined in this report will help American Radiatronics maintain its competitive market position.

Group Project Assignment Page 4

MO 300 Exhibit 3

Planning and Managing the Group Project: Some Suggestions to Consider

At every meeting:
• assign someone to coordinate the meeting (think about doing this in advance) and to
keep the team on track and aware of time during the meeting; this role should rotate
from meeting to meeting
• agree on a rough agenda and duration of the meeting (possibly in advance)
• at the end of the meeting, be sure that assignments for the next meeting are clear
• at the end of the meeting, discuss what you liked and disliked (feedback)
• if anyone is absent, assign someone to call that person and give an update
• schedule your next meeting

At the first meeting:

• get to know each other (what strengths and weaknesses do you each bring to the
group? what are your respective tendencies for how you communicate and work?)
• discuss individual goals for this project (what do you want to learn? what are your
preferences for such logistical issues as frequency and timing of meetings?)
• make sure that each group member reads and analyzes the case individually prior to
meeting for a discussion of the case
• develop some aims and practical guidelines for making sure that every member is
able (1) to be heard and (2) to make a valuable contribution to the group throughout
the duration of the project
• plan the agenda for the rest of the meetings (starting with the suggestions presented in
this document, develop a plan for the key steps in your project)
• schedule the rest of the meetings (don't forget to allow a little cushion)

In subsequent meetings, you may want to:

• discuss your individual analyses—identify problems/issues—get them all out
• discuss course concepts, theoretical perspectives, and models that might help
identify/prioritize issues
• consider course topics from later in the semester that may be relevant to your
analysis; if necessary, read ahead in the coursepack
• prioritize problems/issues
• examine and discuss how your group is functioning as a unit

Group Project Assignment Page 5

MO 300 Exhibit 4

Group Project Evaluation Guidelines

The criteria we will use to assess the reports are as follows:

I. Quality of Analysis

Prioritization of Issues
is there a focus on the key issues? does the report explain how these were determined?

Appropriate Use of Theory and Concepts from the MO 300 Course

are appropriate ideas and theories used to identify the key issues? are they explained?

Use of Data and Evidence

are examples and specific facts used to support key points? are they relevant, clear, and
concise?

II. Quality of Recommendations

Validity of Recommendations
are the recommendations realistic? creative? practical? are they grounded in data from
the case? are there short-term and long-term recommendations? have you prioritized
them? do you consider the process for implementation of the recommendations?

Appropriate Use of Theory and Concepts from the MO 300 Course

are appropriate ideas and theories used? are they explained?

Persuasiveness
overall, does this seem to be a sound way to address the situation? do the
recommendations follow logically from the analysis?

(continued on next page)

Group Project Assignment Page 6

MO 300 Group Project Written Report Evaluation Guidelines (Cont.) Exhibit 4 (Cont.)

III. Quality of Presentation

Executive Summary
does it make the reader want to read further? does it provide an accurate sense of the
content? is it well structured, smooth, consistent, and complete?

Group Process Appendix

is description concrete and specific? is it accurate and candid? are recommendations
actionable?

Writing and Formatting

is the final report clean on details (spelling, format, bibliography etc.)?
is the report well organized? is the prose clear and logically cohesive?

Group Project Assignment Page 7