Module 1 - Case Managing Individual Behavior Assignment Overview The cases in this class follow an experiential approach. This means you will reflect on your own experience in an organization and then apply the concepts from the module materials to think critically about these experiences and understand them better. The structure of the course and the assignments follow Kolb’s model of the adult learning process, which is discussed on the Module 1 Home page . [If you skipped the Module 1--Home page, you should read it now before you attempt to go any further.] Case Assignment Think about an experience you have had where you felt extremely motivated. Then, in a 4- page paper, analyze this experience according to the Kolb format below. Each subtitle represents a different section of the paper.  You can use the subtitles as headings. Introduction: Discuss the topic of the paper and how you will approach it. It is best to write this section after you have written the rest of the paper. Concrete Experience: Begin with a specific situation/event. Describe the experience where you felt extremely motivated.  Be objective and focus on just the facts:  who, what, where, when, and how – similar to how a newspaper article is written -- as if you were composing a newspaper article. Reflective Observation: Reflect upon that experience from the multiple perspectives of other people involved or affected in the experience. Step back from the situation, look at the experience from your own viewpoint, and the viewpoints of all other parties involved or affected. You want to look at the circumstances surrounding the experience from every relevant perspective. Why was the experience motivating to you?  What did others do that increased your motivation?  Was the situation (or would the situation) also be motivating to others? (Note: Your discussion of theories and models from your module materials belongs in the following section.) Abstract Conceptualization: Use critical thinking skills in order to understand and interpret the experience at a deeper, more generalizable level. Interpret and understand the events you have described by drawing on the concepts, theories, and models in the background material from this module.  What behavior patterns can you identify in yourself and others that are similar to the ones described in the material on motivation, values, and/or goals?  How do these concepts and principles explain why you were motivated?  What general principles of motivation can you derive from this analysis?  Be sure to cite all references to concepts, ideas, and quotes you use that come from any outside source. Be sure to apply at least three concepts, theories, and/or models and cite all references to concepts, ideas, and/or quotes that you use from any outside source.  [This Abstract Conceptualization section is the “heart” of your paper.  Using critical thinking skills, provide a clear, specific discussion on the logic, theories ...

1. Module 1 - Case
Managing Individual Behavior
Assignment Overview
The cases in this class follow an experiential approach. This
means you will reflect on your own experience in an
organization and then apply the concepts from the module
materials to
think critically
about these experiences and understand them better. The
structure of the course and the assignments follow Kolb’s model
of the adult learning process, which is discussed on the
Module 1 Home page
. [If you skipped the Module 1--Home page, you should read it
now before you attempt to go any further.]
Case Assignment
Think about an experience you have had where you felt
extremely motivated. Then, in a 4- page paper, analyze this
experience according to the Kolb format below. Each subtitle
represents a different section of the paper. You can use the
subtitles as headings.
Introduction:
Discuss the topic of the paper and how you will approach it. It
is best to write this section after you have written the rest of the
paper.
Concrete Experience:
Begin with a specific situation/event. Describe the experience
where you felt extremely motivated. Be objective and focus on
just the facts: who, what, where, when, and how – similar to

2. how a newspaper article is written -- as if you were composing
a newspaper article.
Reflective Observation:
Reflect upon that experience from the multiple perspectives of
other people involved or affected in the experience. Step back
from the situation, look at the experience from your own
viewpoint,
and
the viewpoints of all other parties involved or affected. You
want to look at the circumstances surrounding the experience
from every relevant perspective. Why was the experience
motivating to you? What did others do that increased your
motivation? Was the situation (or would the situation) also be
motivating to others? (Note: Your discussion of theories and
models from your module materials belongs in the following
section.)
Abstract Conceptualization:
Use critical thinking skills in order to understand and interpret
the experience at a deeper, more generalizable level. Interpret
and understand the events you have described by drawing on the
concepts, theories, and models in the background material from
this module. What behavior patterns can you identify in
yourself and others that are similar to the ones described in the
material on motivation, values, and/or goals? How do these
concepts and principles explain
why
you were motivated? What general principles of motivation can
you derive from this analysis? Be sure to cite all references to
concepts, ideas, and quotes you use that come from any outside
source. Be sure to apply
at least
three concepts, theories, and/or models and cite all references
to concepts, ideas, and/or quotes that you use from any outside
source.

3. [This Abstract Conceptualization section is the “heart” of your
paper. Using critical thinking skills, provide a clear, specific
discussion on the logic, theories, and models and how they
apply to your experience.]
Active Experimentation:
Identify ways to respond to the next occurrence of a similar
experience. How are you going to put what you have learned to
use? How will you use this knowledge to motivate yourself and
others? What actions will you take to create a work
environment that is motivating?
Conclusion:
Sum up the main points of your analysis and the key learnings
you are taking from it.
Reference List:
List all references that you have cited in the paper using APA
formatting. References include materials from the required
background readings as well as any outside Internet or library
sources you used in researching and writing your paper. If you
have APA questions, refer to the optional listings on the
Background page.
Assignment Expectations
Your paper will be evaluated using the criteria as stated in the
Case rubric. The following is a review of the rubric criteria:
·
Assignment-Driven:
Does the paper fully address all aspects of the assignment? Is
the assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound
logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

4. ·
Critical Thinking:
Does the paper demonstrate graduate-level analysis, in which
information derived from multiple sources, expert opinions, and
assumptions has been critically evaluated and synthesized in the
formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does the paper
address the topic with sufficient depth of discussion and
analysis?
·
Business Writing:
Is the essay logical, well organized and well written? Are the
grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-
level work? Are section headings included? Are paraphrasing
and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding, or
is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use
of direct quotations?
·
Effective Use of Information
: Does the submission demonstrate that the student has read,
understood and can apply the background materials for the
module? If required, has the student demonstrated effective
research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality
(library?) sources? Do additional sources used provide strong
support for conclusions drawn, and do they help in shaping the
overall paper?
·
Citing Sources:
Does the student demonstrate understanding of APA Style of

5. referencing, by inclusion of proper citations (for paraphrased
text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have all sources
(e.g., references used from the Background page, the assignment
readings, and outside research) been included, and are these
properly cited? Have all sources cited in the paper been
included on the References page?
·
Timeliness:
Has the assignment been submitted to TLC (Trident’s learning
management system) on or before the module’s due date?
HERE ARE THE SOURCES TO USE FOR THE PAPER
Managing Individual Behavior
MANAGING INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
Note: All Background and Module Home materials are required
unless designated as optional or general reference.
Module 1 focuses on the principles of individual behavior so
that you can learn to manage people effectively. We are
concerned here not only with managing subordinates, but also
managing relationships with peers and developing effective
relationships with superiors. It is best if you approach this
module in three distinct sections. Start with values, attitudes,
and perception. The second section will cover motivation and
the third section will cover goal setting and job design as tools
to maintain motivation.
Values, Attitudes, and Perceptions

6. Often we assume that the way we perceive and experience the
world is the same way other people do. This assumption is false
and can lead to ineffective leader and manager behaviors.
Understanding how attitudes and perceptions influence
individual behavior and performance at work is important to
organizational study. Read the following chapter for a thorough
treatment of how personality, values, perceptions, and attitudes
affect work behaviors.
Carpenter, M., Bauer, T., & Erdogan, B. (2012). Personality,
attitudes and work behaviors. In
Management Principles.
Retrieved from
http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/management-principles-
v1.1/s06-personality-attitudes-and-work.html
Many people believe that a happy worker is a productive
worker, but research tells us that people can be highly satisfied
with their jobs and still not get much done! Nevertheless,
organizations have reasons to care about employees' satisfaction
with their jobs. The following reading is an excellent
explanation of the job satisfaction model and why it is
important to maintaining a highly productive workforce.
Redmond, B.F. & Bower, C.P. (2015). Job satisfaction. In
Work Attitudes and Job Motivation
. Retrieved from
https://wikispaces.psu.edu/display/PSYCH484/11.+Job+Satisfac
tion
Motivation and Job Design
With a variety of values, perceptions, and attitudes, people are
not motivated by the same things. The following reading

7. summarizes key theories to help you understand what motivates
you and those around you. Be sure to watch the 4-minute video
at the start of the article.
Motivation and motivation theory (2015). In
Reference for Business: Encyclopedia of Business
(2
nd
ed.) Retrieved from
http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Mar-
No/Motivation-and-Motivation-Theory.html
Learn about the importance of job design in creating and
maintaining a work environment that employees will find
motivating. See the following talk on the Job Characteristics
Model of Motivation:
Theories of Motivation: The Job Characteristics Model (2015).
Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUWsFHQsbh0
Goal Setting
Since the 1960s, management scholars have touted the
effectiveness of setting high, but achievable, goals in attaining
high levels of performance from employees. The following
article reviews goal-setting theory and how to put it into
practice.
Locke’s goal-setting theory: Setting meaningful, challenging
goals. (2015). MindTools: Essential Skills for an Excellent
Career. Retrieved from
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_87.htm

8. Once we understand the power and potential of goal-setting, it
is easy to overdo it. Here is a cautionary tale from the
Harvard Business Review
:
High goals often improve performance, but they also exacerbate
unethical behavior: In one research exercise, the participants
given the hardest math problems were 84% likelier to cheat than
other participants, on average. The researchers—David T.
Welsh, of the University of Washington, and Lisa D. Ordóñez,
of the University of Arizona—say that demanding tasks deplete
people's self-regulatory resources over time, and that managers
should be aware of the negative organizational consequences of
consecutive rigorous goals.
Source: Stat Watch (2014).
Harvard Business Review
, 92(6), 28
Optional Reading
Early Management Theorists
To gain an understanding of the evolution of management
thinking from an historical perspective, see this excellent
article:
Wertheim, E.G. (2012) Historical Background of Organizational
Behavior. Scribd. Retrieved from
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6926402/Historical-Background-of-
Organizational-Behavior
The following paper is an overview of four important areas of

9. management theory: Frederick Taylor's Scientific Management,
Elton Mayo's Hawthorne Works experiments and the human
relations movement, Max Weber's idealized bureaucracy, and
Henri Fayol's views on administration. It will provide a general
description of each of these management theories together with
observations on the environment in which these theories were
applied and the successes that they achieved.
Kerns, D. (n.d.). An overview of management theory.
http://www.kernsanalysis.com/sjsu/ise250/history.htm
Management by Objectives (MBO)
1000ventures.com’s e-coach site has a thorough discussion on
MBO including hotlinks throughout the discussion for further
information. Also on this site are links to case studies, venture
financing, and managing.
Management by Objectives (MBO). (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/mgmt_mbo_main.
html
Ethical Values in Business
The Society for Business Ethics’ homepage includes the
organization’s mission statement, newsletter, annual meeting,
ethics links, and access to its journal
,
Business Ethics Quarterly
.
Society for Business Ethics (2015) Retrieved from
http://sbeonline.org/

10. Governing Corporations
Corporate Governance serves as a discussion forum and network
for shareholders and stakeholders who believe active
participation by concerned shareholders in governing
corporations will enhance their ability to create wealth. The site
provides news, Internet links, and a small reference library
supported by purchases through Amazon.com.
Corporate Governance (2015) Retrieved from
http://www.corpgov.net/
General References
The following site is full of useful articles and information on
675 different topics, including leadership, motivation,
interpersonal skills supervision, and many more. Be sure to
bookmark this site as it will be useful to you throughout the
course and many others in the MBA, MSHRM, and MSL
curriculum.
Free Management Library (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://managementhelp.org/
Berry's online glossary of business terms (retrieved
from www.bplans.com) is a useful reference.
Berry, T. (n.d.) Business terms glossary. BPlans. Retrieved
from
http://managementhelp.org/
APA Formatting
APA guide

11. – In-text citations and end referencing. (2015).
Trident University International.
If you need additional guidance on the use of APA Style in the
proper formatting of papers, visit the Purdue OWL
w
ebsite:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20090212013008_560.
pdf.
You also may find the following YouTube video helpful:
APA Formatting: The Basics. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdAfIqRt60c&list=PL8F43A
67F38DE3D5D
.