Purposes:

• To develop skills in applying principles of organizational behavior to solve problems that are likely to be encountered by the HR specialist.
• To demonstrate ability to analyze SPSS data files and report findings.
• To gain insight into how group dynamics affect attempts at problem solving
• To experience and assess the effects of group dynamics (such as leadership, cooperation, competition) on motivation and satisfaction.
• To gain experience in writing a report and presenting team findings to management. see Case Report

Each Team will write ONE  10 to 12 page Case Report of the findings for of the each of the three case studies.  It will be submitted to the instructor the same day for Team A's CASE presentation (Class Presentation). The Case report must include a one page executive summary and a narrative which consists of the following sections: (described in more detail below: Guidelines for Writing Case Report)

I Executive summary -
II Description of the case scenario
III Problem statement
IV. Results of SPSS data analysis -
V Analysis (using course content and SPSS data file provided) -
VI Proposed solutions
VII Decision -
VIII Predicted consequences of the decision
IX Conclusion -

Team Report assessment: Each member will contribute to the Team Report. One grade will be assigned for each team member.

Each of the Teams will be assigned a case the week prior to the initial face to face team  meeting. Thereafter, Teams will discuss on online using the Webboard assigned for the class.

After reading the case assigned, Teams will meet online to Organize. In this meeting the group will:

1. Decide  how the Team will be conducted (management style)

2. Decide on who will be the team leader or facilitator.

The  facilitator may wish to lead in a democratic or autocratic style, assign another member to lead, permit a leader to emerge, or permit the Team to be leaderless.
(see bottom of page for Vroom and Yetton decision strategies)

3.Define the unique role for each team member such that they are interdependent with regard to the theoretical perspective taken (satisfaction, motivation, leadership)

4. Define the problem in general terms. The goal(s) should be established, with an identification of obstacles to be overcome.

5. Determine a strategy for arriving at a solution. Cooperative, competitive, anarchy. And most important, a strategy for constructing the Team Report.

6. Decide how decisions will be made to incorporate individual contributions. Consensus, majority, leader decision.

7. Establish a timeline for postings to the Webboard to insure deadlines are met.

On line discussions:

Following the strategy agreed upon by the Team in the initial session, Team members will communicate online using the WebTyco to Discuss the problem(s) and Decide on the solution(s) to implement. To ensure that members' roles are clearly understood, and that all participate,  each member must submit a posting to the team on the WebTyco team Study Group to facilitate discussion of the case before the decisions are finalized. 

Class Presentation:

On the assigned date, for each case, Team A will Present an oral summary of the final written report (for instructor) to the class for discussion. Your team is encouraged to use visual enhancements such as PowerPoint for the presentation.

Guidelines for Case Report writing*.

I Executive summary - One page description summarizing the report (much like an expanded abstract). Be sure to include the recommendations.
    (be sure to include the recommendations)

II Description of the case scenario (brief) -no more than two pages, to provide the information essential for understanding the nature of the problem and      should include only details directly relevant to the case.

III Problem statement - this is a critical aspect since the problem definition will determine the course of how solutions will be generated. This section MUST CONTAIN LITERATURE RELEVANT TO THE CASE, to include references from scientific journals, including I/O journals such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel, Organizational Behavior, etc..

IV. Results of SPSS data analysis - Statistical analyses from the SPSS data file for the case should be incorporated in the Results section. NOTE:  Figures and Tables should be imported into the MS Word Report in the APA format available in SPSS.

V Analysis (using course content and SPSS data file provided) - The analysis must incorporate the theories, relevant findings from the readings and other literature that bear on the problem.

VI Proposed solutions -solutions should follow from the analysis section, and thus reflect the ideas and findings from the analysis.

VII Decision - describe the decision, and why it was chosen over the other alternatives.

VIII Predicted consequences of the decision - describe both the strengths and weakness of the decision, and offer recommendations and conclusions.

IX Conclusion -summarize and conclude.

* Use APA style for citing references

(see also: Group Information from Toronto on Group Dynamics/ teamwork on these links below:)

How to manage groups
Being a valuable team member
Running effective team meetings
Groups that work

Vroom, V. H. & Yetton, P.W. (1973) Leadership and Decision Making University of Pittsburgh Press

CII "You share the problem with your subordinates as a group, obtaining their collective ideas and suggestions. then you make the decision, which may or may not reflect your subordinates' influence."

GII "You share the problem with your subordinates as a group. Together you generate and evaluate alternatives and attempt to reach agreement (consensus) on a solution. Your role is much like that of chairman (sic). You do not try to influence the group to adopt "your" solution, and you are willing to accept and implement any solution which has the support of the group."