MGT 501 Module 4 Case

Assignment

Read the background material on organizational culture (see the first link), and then read the article by Rosenthal and Masarech (2003) on high performance cultures. If you wish you can supplement your reading with items from the Optional Reading list or other outside reading you find useful. Then, based on the Rosenthal and Masarech (2003) article, you are asked to write a 4- pages critique in which you will relate to the points below:

Explain in your own words what is the meaning of focusing on performance and/or focusing on culture, and how focusing on either one can be translated into organizations acts (or in other words, what organizations that focus on performance or culture actually do).

Describe the organization in which you are currently employed (or were employed in the past) and decide in which of the four quadrants that are represented in Exhibit 3 your organization resides. Explain what makes you think so.

Exhibit 4 presents 5 steps for shaping a high performance culture. Use these steps to explain how your organization (the one you described earlier) can improve its success by adopting each of these steps. If your organization already adopts such steps please explain how it does so.

Keys to the Assignment

The key aspects of this assignment that should be covered in your paper include:

Define organizational culture and explain what focusing on performance and/or culture mean, and how it shows in the organization.

Decide in which of the four quadrants (of Exhibit 3) your organization resides. Explain why.

Explain how your organization can improve its success by adopting each of the 5 steps that are presented in Exhibit 4.

Assignment Expectations

Your paper will be evaluated on the following seven (7) points:

Precision - Does the paper address the question(s) or task(s)?

Clarity - Is the writing clear and the concepts articulated properly? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of response to the questions, or are excessive use of quotations how thoughts are conveyed?

Breadth - Is the full breadth of the subject, i.e., the keys to the assignment, addressed?

Depth - Does the paper address the topic in sufficient depth, and include the background readings and other background resources as references?

Organization - Is the paper written well? Does the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate to graduate level work? Are headings included in all papers greater than 2 pages?

Referencing (citations and references) - Does the paper use citations and quotation marks where appropriate? Are the references from the background readings and assignment used and properly cited? Are all references listed in the bibliography used and referred to via citation?

Critical thinking - Is the subject thought about critically, i.e., accurately, logically, relevantly, and precisely?