BIP2Tips3/25/14

C200ManagingOrganizationsandLeadingPeopleTipsDocument
ForTaskOneyouwillwriteapaperonanorganizationwithwhichyouhavehadpersonalexperience.
YouwillfirstdescribethechosenorganizationandthenperformaSWOTanalysisonthatorganization.
Youwillanalyzetheorganizationsleadershipandmakerecommendationsforimprovement.
ForTaskTwoyouhavetheopportunitytoanalysisofyourownleadershippractices.Related,youwill
developaminimumoftwoSMART(specific,measurable,attainable,resultsoriented,andtimebound)
goalsrelatedtoyourownleadershipskilldevelopment.

TASKONE:ORGANIZATIONANDLEADERANALYSIS
OrganizationDescription
A1.Describetheorganizationanditsobjective(s)
Beginbythinkingaboutanorganizationyouhaveexperiencewithandideally,anorganizationwhere
youhaveeitherhaddirectaccesstoaleaderorhavebeenabletoobservealeader.Thisorganization
canbeanonprofit,forprofit,oraFortune100business.Inordertocompletethistask,youmay
furtherrefinethegroupinwhichyouwillconducttheanalysisasadepartmentordivisionwithinthe
organization.
Next,describetheorganizationyouwillbeanalyzing.Provideanoverviewoftheorganization,abrief
historyortheorganization,andincludetheobjectivesoftheorganization.Ifyouareanalyzingasub
setwithinanorganization,youstillwanttobeginwithanoverviewofthelargerorganizationpriorto
describingtheteam,department,division,etc.Finally,itisrecommendedthatyouincludeabrief
descriptionoftheorganizationsculture.
Atip:Weencourageyoutoreadthroughtheentiretaskinstructionspriortoidentifyingan
organizationandleadertostudy.
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed3pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
A2.Describeatleastthreeleadershippracticesoftheprimaryleader
Whencompletingthissection,itisimportanttodemonstratethatyoucanapplywhatyouhave
learnedinthiscoursespecifictoprovidinganinformeddescriptionoftheleadershippractices.A
leadershippracticeisacombinationofleadershipresponsibility,theperformanceofthe
responsibility,anditsuniquevaluetotheorganization.Youwanttoavoidgenericdescriptionssuch
asbeingagoodcommunicatorandinsteadprovideillustrationsofactuallyleadershipfunctionsin
whichyourleaderperformsdaily,weeklyorroutinely.Singleeventsisnotapractice.
Forexample,OneleadershipresponsibilityoftheCEOistoprovidestrategicleadershiptothe
organization.IntheperformanceofthisresponsibilitytheCEOshapedtheformationofthe
organizationsvisionandmission,whilefacilitatingstrategyformulationandstrategy
implementation.Thevalueofstrategicleadershipisdeterminingtheorganizationsdirectionby
effectivelymanagingtheorganizationsresourcesinpursuitoftheorganizationsvision.(Thisisjusta
smalldraftoftheleadershippracticenarrative.Yourerequiredtogofurtherindepthillustratinghow
theindividualperformstheleadershipresponsibilityandthevalueitprovidestotheorganization.
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Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed3pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
A3.Discusshowthecurrentleadershiphasaffectedtheorganizationalculture
Aleadersvaluesandbeliefsshapethecultureofanorganization.InsectionA1youbrieflydescribed
thecultureoftheorganization.Inthissection,youwillwanttofurtherdescribethecultureofthe
organization.Whentryingtodescribetheculture,thinkaboutthefollowing:

Howimportantisthevisionandmissionoftheorganizationinthedaytodayoperations?
Howisthestaffmanaged?
Howaredecisionsmadeandproblemssolved?Istheprocesscollaborativeormore
individuallydriven?
Istheorganizationhierarchicalorflat?Arejobtitlesimportant?
Isthereinternallanguageusedandunderstoodonlybetheemployees?
Whenitcomestoperformance,whatismostvalued?
Howwouldyoudescribethework/lifebalanceandmoodoftheorganization?
Whatarethecommonstoriestoldandwhatisthemeaningbehindthestories?
Whydoemployeesstayattheorganization?

Onceyouhavedescribedthecultureoftheorganization,discusshowthecurrentleadershiphas
directlyaffectedtheorganizationalculture.Youmayalsospeaktotherolepastfoundersorleaders
hadonshapingtheculture.
Thebigdealisthatyoucreateadirectrelationshipbetweentheleadersvaluesandbeliefsandthe
cultureoftheorganization.Provideexamplestosupportyouranalysis.
Thissectionshouldnotexceed2pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPAguidelines.

SWOTAnalysis
B1.Evaluateatleasttwostrengthsoftheorganization
Thissectionofthetaskasksyoutobestrategicanddemonstrateanunderstandingofthe
circumstances,forces,events,andissuesthataffectorganizationalperformance.Chapter8inyour
EtextprovidesadetaileddescriptionofaSWOTanalysisandprovidesexamplesofsourcesto
conductyouranalysis.
Discusstwostrengthsoftheorganization.Thesemustbeinternalcharacteristicsthatdirectly
supporttheachievementoftheorganizationalgoals.Foreachstrength,describethecharacteristicin
detailandincludethepositiveimpactontheorganization.
Whenassessingthestrengths,thinkaboutthevariousfunctionssuchasfinance,marketing,research
anddevelopment,andsoforth.Towhatextentarethefunctionswithintheorganizationpositioned
tosupportthestrategicgoalsoftheorganization?Youmayalsowanttoaskyourselfifthestructure
oftheorganizationsupportsoptimalperformance,arethemanagersandleaderscompetent,are
thereeffectiveprocessesinplacetoevaluateperformanceanddeveloptalent,etc.Basedonyour
understandingoftheseareas,youcandeterminethestrengthsoftheorganization.
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed1page.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
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guidelines.

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B2.Evaluateatleasttwoweaknessesoftheorganization
Discusstwoweaknessoftheorganization.Theseshouldbeinternalcharacteristicsthatdirectly
inhibittheachievementoftheorganizationalgoals.Foreachweakness,describetheconcernin
detailandincludethenegativeimpactontheorganization.
SimilartoB1,arethereparticularfunctions,processes,orpracticesthatarenegativelyimpactingthe
organizationsabilitytoachievethestrategicgoals?
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed1page.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
B3.Evaluateatleasttwoopportunitiesoftheorganization
Discusstwocharacteristicsoftheexternalenvironmentthathavethepotentialtohelpthe
organizationachieveitsstrategicgoals.Describeeachopportunityindetailandincludehoweachwill
supporttheperformanceoftheorganization.
Inordertorespondtothissection,chapter3inyouretextisagoodresource.Chapter3discusses
theexternalorganizationalenvironmentwhichincludescompetitors,resources,technology,andthe
economicconditionsaffectingtheorganization.Weencourageyoutorefertochapter3when
identifyingtheopportunitiesandthreats(sectionB4)oftheorganization.Remembertodescribe
eachopportunityandthreat(sectionB4)andincludetheimpactontheorganization.

Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed1page.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
B4.Evaluateatleasttwothreatsoftheorganization
Discusstwocharacteristicsoftheexternalenvironmentthathavethepotentialtobeathreattothe
organizationachievingitsstrategicgoals.Describeeachthreatindetailandincludehowthethreat
couldnegativelyimpacttheperformanceoftheorganization.
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed1page.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.

LeadershipEvaluation
C1.Evaluateatleastthreestrengthsofyourchosenleader
Thissectionofthetaskrequiresscholarlyresearch.Beginbyselectingonescholarlyleadership
theorytoconductyourevaluationofthestrengthsandweaknessesofyourchosenleader.Providea
briefoverviewoftheleadershiptheory.Next,usethetheorytodiscussthreestrengthsofyour
leader.Providespecificexamplestosupporteachstrength.Wealsorecommendthatyouinclude
thepositiveimpactofeachstrengthontheorganization.
Thissectionofthetaskrequiresyouciteandreferenceaminimumofthreescholarlysources.You
mayuseoneormoreofthescholarlyarticlesincludedintheCourseofStudyandavailablethrough
MindTap,however,thisisnotarequirement.
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ThisStrengthssubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriatefollowing
APAguidelines.

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C2.Evaluateatleastthreeweaknessesofyourchosenleader
UsingthesamescholarlyleadershiptheoryfromC1.,discussthreeweaknessesofyourleader.
Similartoabove,thetheoryshouldguideyouranalysis.Includeadetaileddescriptiontheeach
weaknessandtheimpactofontheorganization.Provideexamplestosupportyouranalysis.Include
thenegativeimpactoftheweaknessontheorganization.
ThisWeaknessessubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriate
followingAPAguidelines.
C3.Recommendthreetheorybasedpracticestomaximizethesuccessoftheleader
Reflectingonthestrengthsandweaknessesoftheleaderyouareevaluating,thinkaboutwhatskills
oractionswouldimprovehisorherabilitytoleadtheorganization.Recommendthreetheorybased
practicestoenhancetheleaderseffectivenessandmaximizeperformance.Forthissection,include
thefollowingforeachofyourthreerecommendations:1)Statethetheorybasedpractice,2)Include
whyyouarerecommendingthepractice,and3)Discusstheexpectedoutcomeoncethepracticeis
putintoaction.
Thisrecommendationsubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriate
followingAPAguidelines.
C4.Includeatleastthreescholarlysourcestosupportyourchosenleaderspractices
IncludeAPAcitationsthroughouteachsubsectionandareferencespageattheendofyourpaper.
ForguidanceonAPAformatting,pleasecontacttheCenterforWritingExcellence
(writingcenter@wgu.edu).

D.CitationsandReferencePage
YourpaperisrequiredtoincludeintextcitationsandareferencepagefollowingAPAguidelines.The
CenterforWritingExcellenceisaresourcetohelpwithformatting.

FinalThought
Itisimportanttoplanforhowyouwillorganizeandformatthisdocument.Weencourageyouto
createacoverpage,tableofcontents,andusesubheadersthroughout.Thisshouldbea
professionalpaperthatrepresentsyourcompetence.Refertothegradingrubricforevaluation
standards.Finally,yourcoursementorteamisheretosupportyouthroughoutthiscourse.

ImportantResources
ManagingPeopleandLeadingOrganizationsemail:ManagingOrgsLeadPeople@wgu.edu
TheCenterforWritingExcellence:WritingCenterHomePage
TheStudentSuccessCenter:StudentSuccessCenterHomePage
WGULibrary:WGULibraryHomePage
WellConnectCounselingServices:18776853269
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BIP2Tips3/25/14

TASKTWO:YOURLEADERSHIPPRACTICESANALYSIS
YourLeadershipStyleandPractices
A1.andA1a.CompleteandreflectontheSevenHabitsProfile
Thissectionisallaboutyou!Youwillhavetheopportunitytoreflectonyourleadershipstyleand
practices.YourfirststepistotaketheSevenHabitsProfile.Toaccesstheprofile,openTaskstream,
inthelowerleftcornerafterthetaskinstructionsyouwanttoopentheattachedfile.

Afteryouhavecompletedtheprofile,saveyourresults.YouwilluploadacompletedSevenHabits
ProfileintoTaskstreamwhenyousubmityourfinalpaper.
Reflectonwhattheresultsmightindicateaboutyourleadershipstyle.Youmustreflectona
minimumofsixoftheninecategoricalresults.Bedescriptiveandprovideexamples.
Thissubsectionshouldnotexceed3pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPA
guidelines.
A2.Evaluateyourleadershippracticesusingascholarlyleadershiptheory
AnoteaboutthissectionofyourpapersimilartosectionCintaskone,youwillevaluateyour
strengthsandweaknessesusingascholarlyleadershiptheory.However,thetheoryyouuseforthis
sectionneedstobedifferentfromtheoneyouusedintaskone.
A2a.Evaluateatleastthreestrengthsyoudemonstrateasaleader
Usingtheprinciplesoftheleadershiptheoryyouselectedforthisselfevaluation,identifythree
strengthsyoudemonstrateasaleader.Bespecific,provideexamples,andincludetheresultsofyour
leadershippractices.
ThisStrengthssubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriatefollowing
APAguidelines.
A2b.Evaluateatleastthreeweaknessesyoudemonstrateasaleader
Weallhaveroomforimprovement.Inthissection,discussatleastthreeareasforimprovement
specifictoyourleadershippractices.Remembertobaseyourassessmentinpartontheleadership
theoryyouselectedforthissection.Bespecific,provideexamples,andincludetheimpactofyour
weaknesses.
ThisWeaknessessubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriate
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followingAPAguidelines.

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A2c.Recommendthreetheorybasedchangesthatyoucouldmaketomaximizeyoursuccess
Nowthatyouhavereflectedonyourcurrentleadershippractices,itistimetolookforwardandplan
foryourdevelopmentasaleader.Inthissectionyouwillrecommendthreespecificactions,
behaviors,orpracticesthatwouldhelpyoumaximizeyoursuccessinmanagingorganizationsand
leadingpeopleinthefuture.Ideally,yourrecommendationswilladdressyouridentifiedleadership
weaknesses.Foreachrecommendationincludethefollowing;1)therecommendationand
supportingtheory,2)theperformancegaptherecommendationwilladdress,and3)theexpected
outcomeofputtingtherecommendationintoaction.
Theserecommendationsneedtobetheorybased.
ThisRecommendationsubsectionshouldnotexceed2pages.Includecitationswhenappropriate
followingAPAguidelines.
A2d.DiscusstwoshorttermSMARTgoalsthatwillhelpimproveyourleadershippractice
Congratulations!YouareclosetocompletingtheBIP2performancetask!Inthisfinalstep,youwill
setSMARTgoalsforyourself.Goalsettingisacriticalskillandhelpsbreakdownalargerinitiative
intomanageableaccomplishmentswhilestayingaccountableandimprovingperformance.
Beginbyidentifyingtwoskills,behaviors,orpracticesyouwouldliketomasterinthenextmonthor
so.NowitistimetotakethosetwogoalsandapplytheSMARTcriteria.Thesegoalsmustbe
leadershipdevelopmentgoals

Specific:Goalsshouldbeprecise.Forexample,Iwillrunfourdaysaweek.
Measurable:Ameasurementneedstobeincludedtoassesstheextenttowhichthegoalis
accomplished.Forexample,Iwillrunfor30minutesatatimefourdaysaweek.

Attainable(Achievable):Goalsshouldberealistic,challenging,andattainable.
Relevant:Goalsshouldfocusontheendresult.Statewhatresultscanrealisticallybeachieved,
givenavailableresources.TheyshouldstartwithTofollowingbyverbscomplete,acquire,increase,
decrease,etc.

Timebound:Goalsspecifytargetdatesfordurationandcompletion.Periodicityisrequired.
Forexample,OneleadershipskillIseektodevelopismymentoringskill.ItiscriticalIbecomea
bettermentortomystafftofacilitatetheirprofessionaldevelopment.Todevelopmymentorship
skill,Iwillmeetwithaseniorleaderoftheorganizationonceaweekforanhouroverthecourseof
sixteenweeksformentorshiptraining.Iwillalsotaskafourweektrainingcourseinmentorship
fromoforganizationsskillsofttrainingdatabase.(Pleasenoteyoumustprovideaminimumoftwo
actionsforeachsmartgoal).
Thisexampleisspecific,measurable,attainable,resultsoriented,andtimebound.Thisgoalismore
likelytoyieldsuccessthanagenericgoalsuchasIwillgotocollegetodevelopleadershipskills.
NowitisyourturntocreatetwogoalsthatmeettheSMARTcriteria.Important:Includewhyyou
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aresettingeachgoal,howthegoalislinkedtoyourleadershipdevelopment,andwhatyouhopeto
accomplishasaresultofachievingthegoals.
Thissectionshouldnotexceed2pages.IncludecitationswhenappropriatefollowingAPAguidelines.

CitationsandReferencePage
YourpaperisrequiredtoincludeintextcitationsandareferencepagefollowingAPAguidelines.The
CenterforWritingExcellenceisaresourcetohelpwithformatting.

FinalThought
Itisimportanttoplanforhowyouwillorganizeandformatthisdocument.Weencourageyouto
createacoverpage,tableofcontents,andusesubheadersthroughout.Thisshouldbea
professionalpaperthatrepresentsyourcompetence.Refertothegradingrubricforevaluation
standards.Finally,yourcoursementorteamisheretosupportyouthroughoutthiscourse.

ImportantResources
ManagingPeopleandLeadingOrganizationsemail:ManagingOrgsLeadPeople@wgu.edu
TheCenterforWritingExcellence:WritingCenterHomePage
TheStudentSuccessCenter:StudentSuccessCenterHomePage
WGULibrary:WGULibraryHomePage
WellConnectCounselingServices:18776853269

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