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SENSEMAKING AND THE STRUCTURAL FRAME

SENSEMAKING AND THE STRUCTURAL FRAME

 

Assignment Overview

 

In the Module 1 Case, you will write Chapter 1 of your thesis-style paper – relating to the Structural Frame. Using specific examples of “structure” as defined by Bolman and Deal, you will use the Structural Frame as a lens through which you will analyze the effectiveness of the Walt Disney Company.

 

Begin the Module 1 Case by visiting the Walt Disney Company website:

 

The Walt Disney Company. (2014). Retrieved on May 8, 2014 from http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/                                                          

 

Additional Case-related resources

 

The following resources should be helpful to you in your analysis of the Case. Chapter 6 of Bryman’s book relates (somewhat ominously) to “control and surveillance” activities at Disney:

 

Bryman, A. (2004). The Disneyization of society. London: Sage Publications. Retrieved from Ebrary.

 

Structure implies logistics. Certainly, the artful and skillful deployment of technology will often create useful intelligence – even competitive advantage. And so…is Mickey watching? Read “Big Mickey is Watching”:

 

Palmeri, C., & Faries, B. (2014). Big Mickey is watching. Bloomberg Businessweek, (4370), 22-23. Retrieved from EBSCO – Business Source Complete.

 

Case Assignment

 

After you have reviewed the contents of the Walt Disney Company website, completed the readings provided at the Background page of Module 1, and performed additional research from the library and the internet, write a 6-7 page paper in which you do the following:

 

 Using the following assumptions of the Structural Frame, complete an in-depth assessment of the Walt Disney Company:

 

Organizations exist to achieve established goals and objectives.

 

Organizations increase efficiency and enhance performance through specialization and a clear division of labor.

 

Appropriate forms of coordination and control ensure that diverse efforts of individuals and units mesh.

 

Organizations work best when rationality prevails over personal preferences and extraneous pressures.

 

Structures must be designed to fit an organization’s circumstances (including its goals, technology, workforce, and environment).

 

Problems and performance gaps arise from structural deficiencies and can be remedied through analysis and restructuring.

 

Keys to the Assignment

 

The key aspects of this assignment that are to be covered in your 6-7 page paper include the following:

 

Describe the organizational design used by the Walt Disney Company. Is Disney’s structure more or less effective as it relates to the company’s ability to accomplish its stated purpose (vision, mission)? Explain.

 

Using Bolman and Deal’s Structural Frame, analyze two or three structural characteristics of the Walt Disney Company. Because you cannot cover all structural characteristics in a short paper, you will need to be selective; therefore, choose two or three characteristics that are of particular interest to you. These might include the Walt Disney Company’s strategic plans, more specific goals and objectives, or the company’s policies and procedures. Alternatively, you might select technology or some component of Disney’s external environment (e.g., competition, legal, political, or social environments).

 

For each structural characteristic that you have included in your Case, discuss the extent to which that structural characteristic has been effective or ineffective relative to assisting Disney attain its stated purpose. Defend your answer in the context of the six (6) assumptions given above (how well do the structural characteristics you’ve identified above ascribe to these assumptions, if at all?).

 

Having had applied the Structural Frame to the Walt Disney Company, is there anything that you would you do differently? Conclude Chapter 1 of your paper by giving recommendations as to what Disney should do differently, and explain why.

 

The background readings will not give you all the answers to the Case. Therefore, you will need to perform some research in the library, and use a minimum of 3-4 scholarly sources from the library to support and justify your understanding of the case.

 

Your paper must demonstrate evidence of critical thinking (if you need tips on critical thinking, http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/college-and-university-students/799 is an excellent resource). Don’t simply restate facts – instead, be sure to interpret the facts you have accumulated from your research.

 

Remember that the Module 1 Case will serve as Chapter 1 of your session-long thesis-style paper.

 

Assignment Expectations

 

Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

 

Assignment-Driven Criteria: Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

 

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 paper well-written (clear, developed logically, and well-organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers?  Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

 

Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy): Does the paper demonstrate effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used in paper 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 referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text 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 end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?     

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 1 SLP

 

SENSEMAKING AND THE STRUCTURAL FRAME

 

SLP Overview

 

In the Module 1 SLP, you will write a 3- to 4-page paper in which you will apply the Structural Frame to the organization in which you are currently employed (or in which you have worked previously).

 

Overview of the LED599 SLP Sequence 

 

Before we begin the Module 1 SLP, two very important and related points should be emphasized, as they are fundamental to an understanding of the Module 1 SLP:

 

All four frames can be used to assess any given organization, because all organizations have structural, human resources, political, and symbolic characteristics; and

 

Different leaders use lenses – or frames – through which they view their organizations. Certain leaders will tend to use one frame predominantly, while others tend to be more balanced, choosing one of the frames depending on the circumstances. The important point here is that there is no “right” frame through which a leader should or must view any given organization or any particular set of organizational circumstances. At the same time, it is helpful for a leader to understand which frame (or frames) he/she is actively using. It is also critical that leaders be aware that there are four frames – not one – and that the use of others may be beneficial to effective sensemaking as well (importantly, this helps leaders to better avoid organizational “blind spots”).   

 

Assignment

 

The Module 1 SLP requires that you write a 3- to 4-page paper, in which you address the following:

 

After you briefly describe the organization in which you presently work – or in which you have previously worked – apply the Structural Frame to the organization, analyzing the effectiveness of two or three structural characteristics you have identified. 

 

Keys to the Assignment

 

The key aspects of this assignment that should be covered in your paper include the following (note there are two parts to this SLP):

 

Part 1:

 

In a minimum of two pages:

 

Briefly describe your organization – name, what it does, size (number of employees, annual revenue, relative market share, etc.);

 

Describe the organizational design of your chosen organization. Is it effective? Why or why not?

 

Choose 2 or 3 structural characteristics of your organization (e.g., strategic planning process, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, rules, budgets and other allocation of resources, etc.); and

 

Discuss the relative effectiveness of the structural characteristics you have identified. If you were CEO of your company, what (if anything) might you do differently? Why would you make any changes you suggest?

 

Part 2:

 

Complete the Leadership Orientations Questionnaire, and score your results.

 

In a minimum of two pages:

 

Report your scores for each of the Four Frames.

 

After you have completed an in-depth self-assessment of your scores, discuss how your scores inform your personal leadership style. For instance, what do your scores (high and low) collectively suggest about your leadership tendencies and about the ways in which you personally make sense of organizational events?Might your low scores indicate areas in which you may have leadership “blind spots”?

 

SLP Assignment Expectations

 

Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

 

Assignment-Driven Criteria: Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

 

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 paper well-written (clear, developed logically, and well-organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers?  Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

 

Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy): Does the paper demonstrate effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used in paper 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 referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text 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 end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 2 Case

 

THE HUMAN RESOURCES FRAME

 

Assignment Overview

 

In the Module 2 Case, you will write Chapter 2 of your thesis-style paper – relating to the Human Resources Frame. Using specific examples of “human resources” or “human relations” as they are defined by Bolman and Deal, you will use the Human Resources Frame as a lens through which you will analyze the effectiveness of the Walt Disney Company.

 

Begin the Module 2 Case by visiting the Walt Disney Company website:

 

The Walt Disney Company. (2014). Retrieved on May 8, 2014 from http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/

 

Then, read the following:

 

So just how does Mickey make magic? The following article discusses how Disney’s excellent employee performance is recognized. Note the section entitled “Disney Recognition 101”:

 

Ligos, M. (2009). How Mickey makes magic. Successful Promotions, 42(5), 44-47. Retrieved from EBSCO – Business Source Complete.

 

Case Assignment

 

After you have reviewed the contents of the Walt Disney Company website, completed the readings provided at the Background page of Module 1, and performed additional research from the library and on the internet, write a 6- to 7-page paper in which you do the following:

 

 Using the following assumptions of the Human Resources Frame, complete an in-depth assessment of the Walt Disney Company:

 

Organizations exist to serve human needs rather than the reverse.

 

People and organizations need each other. Organizations need ideas, energy, and talent; people need careers, salaries, and opportunities.

 

When the fit between individual and system is poor, one or both suffer. Individuals are exploited or exploit the organization—or both become victims.

 

A good fit benefits both. Individuals find meaningful and satisfying work, and organizations get the talent and energy they need to succeed.

 

Keys to the Assignment

 

The key aspects of this assignment that are to be covered in your 6- to 7-page paper include the following:

 

Describe Walt Disney’s approach to human resources. Is Disney’s overall approach to human resources more or less effective relative to its ability to help the organization accomplish its stated purpose (vision, mission)? Explain.

 

Using Bolman and Deal’s Human Resources Frame, analyze two or three human resources/ human relations characteristics of the Walt Disney Company. Because you cannot cover all characteristics that are related to human resources/ relations in a short paper, you will need to be selective; therefore, choose two or three characteristics that are of particular interest to you. These might include, for example the Walt Disney Company’s benefits design, its employee orientation/training programs, or its employee evaluation systems.

 

For each of the human resources characteristics that you have included in your Case, discuss the extent to which that characteristic has been effective or ineffective relative to helping Disney to attain its stated purpose. Defend your answer in the context of the four (4) assumptions given above (how well do the  two or three human resources/ relations characteristics you’ve identified ascribe to these assumptions – if at all)?

 

Having had applied the Human Resources Frame to the Walt Disney Company, is there anything that you would you do differently? Conclude Chapter 3 of your paper by giving recommendations as to what you believe Disney should do, and explain why.

 

The background readings will not give you all the answers to the Case. Therefore, you are expected to perform some research in the library, using a minimum of 3-4 scholarly sources from the library to support and justify your understanding of the case.

 

Your paper must demonstrate evidence of critical thinking (if you need tips on critical thinking, http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/college-and-university-students/799 is an excellent resource). Please do not restate facts – instead, be sure to interpret the facts you have accumulated from your research.

 

Remember that the Module 3 Case will serve as Chapter 3 of your session-long thesis-style paper.

 

Assignment Expectations

 

Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

 

Assignment-Driven Criteria: Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

 

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 paper well-written (clear, developed logically, and well-organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers?  Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

 

Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy): Does the paper demonstrate effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used in paper 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 referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text 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 end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 2 SLP

 

THE HUMAN RESOURCES FRAME

 

SLP Overview

 

In the Module 2 SLP, you will write a 3- to 4-page paper in which you will apply the Human Resources Frame to the organization in which you are currently employed (or in which you have worked previously).

 

Assignment

 

The Module 2 SLP requires that you write a 3- to 4-page paper, in which you address the following:

 

After giving a brief description of the organization in which you presently work – or in which you have previously worked – apply the Human Resources Frame to the organization, analyzing the effectiveness of two or three human resources/ human relations characteristics you have identified. 

 

Keys to the Assignment

 

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

 

Briefly describe your organization – name, what it does, size (number of employees, annual revenue, relative market share, etc.);

 

Choose 2 or 3 human resources activities within your organization (e.g., recruitment, evaluation, development, training, etc.); and

 

Using Bolman and Deal’s Human Resources Frame as a lens, discuss the relative effectiveness of the human resources characteristics you have selected. If you were CEO of your company, what (if anything) might you do differently? Why would you make the changes you suggest?

 

SLP Assignment Expectations

 

 Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

 

Assignment-Driven Criteria: Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

 

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 paper well-written (clear, developed logically, and well-organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers?  Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

 

Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy): Does the paper demonstrate effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used in paper 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 referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text 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 end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 3 Case

 

THE POLITICAL FRAME

 

Assignment Overview

 

In the Module 3 Case, you will write Chapter 3 of your thesis-style paper – relating to the Political Frame. Using specific examples of “politics” (i.e., the “jungle”) as defined by Bolman and Deal, you will use the Political Frame as a lens through which you will analyze the downfall of Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner.

 

Begin the Module 3 Case by visiting the Walt Disney Company website:

 

The Walt Disney Company. (2014). Retrieved on May 8, 2014 from http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/

 

The following articles provide a good starting point concerning former CEO Eisner’s tenure with the Walt Disney Company:

 

White, D. (2005, Oct 01). When Mickey finally turned on his master. Michael Eisner’s reign at Disney is over. Dominic White reports. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved from Proquest.

 

Consider Michael Karpeles’ article relating to politics in the Disney boardroom:

 

Karpeles, M. D. (2005). Boardroom lessons from the Disney/Ovitz case. Corporate Board, 26(155), 6-10. Retrieved on June 10, 2014 from EBSCO – Business Source Complete.

 

Finally, read the following case study:

 

Forbes, W., & Watson, R. (n.d.). Destructive corporate leadership and board loyalty bias: A case study of Michael Eisner’s long tenure at Disney Corporation. City University London. Retrieved on June 10, 2014 from http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/56372/2A_Forbes.pdf

 

Case Assignment

 

After you have reviewed the contents of the Walt Disney Company website, completed the above readings and those provided at the Background page of Module 3, and performed additional research from the library and the internet, write a 6- to 7-page paper in which you do the following:

 

Using the following five assumptions of the Political Frame, complete an in-depth assessment of the Walt Disney Company:

 

Organizations are coalitions of diverse individuals and interest groups.

 

There are enduring differences among coalition members in values, beliefs, information, interests, and perceptions of reality.

 

Most important decisions involve allocating scarce resources—who gets what.

 

Scarce resources and enduring differences make conflict central to organizational dynamics and underline power as the most important asset.

 

Goals and decisions emerge from bargaining, negotiation, and jockeying for position among competing stakeholders.

 

Keys to the Assignment

 

The key aspects of this assignment that are to be covered in your 6- to 7-page paper include the following:

 

Using Bolman and Deal’s Political Frame, analyze the political behaviors surrounding the departure of Disney CEO Michael Eisner. Specifically, address the following:

 

Briefly identify and discuss the key political forces that led to Eisner’s downfall.

 

How does the “Jungle” metaphor apply to the Eisner case?

 

Describe the coalitions that formed at Disney. Then, identify those salient interests that caused the division between coalitions, and how these differences were ultimately resolved.

 

Discuss the Eisner case study in the context of two or three of Bolman and Deal’s Political Frame assumptions included above. How do the assumptions you’ve chosen inform what happened in the Michael Eisner case? 

 

Briefly comment on the significance of the “Toxic Triangle” (see Figure 1 of Forbes & Watson’s case study about Eisner’s departure), and discuss how this model informs the Eisner case study.

 

The background readings will not give you all the answers to the Case. Therefore, you are required to perform some research in the library, and use a minimum of 3-4 scholarly sources from the library to support and justify your understanding of the case.

 

Your paper must demonstrate evidence of critical thinking (if you need tips on critical thinking, http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/college-and-university-students/799 is an excellent resource). Don’t simply restate facts – instead, be sure to interpret the facts you have accumulated from your research.

 

Remember that the Module 4 Case will also serve as Chapter 4 of your session-long thesis-style paper.

 

Assignment Expectations

 

 Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

 

Assignment-Driven Criteria: Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

 

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 paper well-written (clear, developed logically, and well-organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers?  Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

 

Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy): Does the paper demonstrate effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used in paper 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 referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text 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 end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 3 SLP

 

THE POLITICAL FRAME

 

SLP Overview

 

In the Module 3 SLP, you will write a 3- to 4-page paper in which you will apply the Political Frame to the organization in which you are currently employed (or in which you have worked previously).

 

Assignment

 

The Module 3 SLP requires that you write a 3- to 4-page paper, in which you address the following:

 

After giving a brief description of the organization in which you presently work (or in which you have previously worked), apply the Political Frame to 2-3 examples of political behaviors that are presently occurring – or have occurred – within your organization.

 

Keys to the Assignment

 

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

 

Briefly describe your organization – name, what it does, size (number of employees, annual revenue, relative market share, etc.);

 

Choose 2 or 3 examples of political activities within your organization. These might include, e.g., networking and coalition building, informal communications, bargaining and negotiation (for power or for resources), etc. etc.

 

Using Bolman and Deal’s Political Frame as a lens, discuss the relative impact of the political characteristics or events you have identified (do the political behaviors you have cited have negligible impact on the organization as a whole, or are do they have more significant impact instead?).

 

What are the consequences and outcomes of the political behaviors you have identified? Are they positive or negative, good or bad for the company for the short-term? For the longer run (decisions that benefit the short-term are often in conflict with longer-term outcomes, and vice-versa)? Explain.

 

SLP Assignment Expectations

 

Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

 

Assignment-Driven Criteria: Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

 

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 paper well-written (clear, developed logically, and well-organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers?  Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

 

Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy): Does the paper demonstrate effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used in paper 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 referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text 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 end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 4 Case

 

THE SYMBOLIC FRAME

 

Case Assignment

 

After you have reviewed the contents of the Walt Disney Company website, read the materials included at the Background page of Module 4, and performed additional research from the library and the internet, write a 6- to 7-page paper in which you do the following:

 

Using the following five assumptions of the Symbolic Frame, complete an in-depth assessment of the Walt Disney Company:

 

What is most important is not what happens but what it means.

 

Activity and meaning are loosely coupled; events have multiple meanings because people interpret experience differently.

 

In the face of widespread uncertainty and ambiguity, people create symbols to resolve confusion, increase predictability, find direction, and anchor hope and faith.

 

Many events and processes are more important for what is expressed than what is produced. They form a cultural tapestry of secular myths, heroes and heroines, rituals, ceremonies, and stories that help people find purpose and passion in their personal and work lives.

 

Culture is the glue that holds an organization together and unites people around shared values and beliefs.

 

Keys to the Assignment

 

The key aspects of this assignment that are to be covered in your 6- to 7-page paper include the following:

 

Briefly describe the theory underpinning Bolman and Deal’s Symbolic Frame, discussing its usefulness in organizational analysis, and its utility in our understanding of organizations.

 

Using Bolman and Deal’s Symbolic Frame, choose 3-4 examples of symbolic characteristics of the Walt Disney Company (you may choose some aspect of the organization’s culture – e.g., artifacts, stories, values, belief systems, etc). Then, examine your chosen examples using the above assumptions of Bolman and Deal’s Symbolic Frame.

 

Of the 3-4 examples you have discussed above, which do you believe is the most salient mechanism or process by which the Walt Disney Company creates meaning for its members? Is this mechanism or process made explicit or tacit (or both) for Disney’s members?

 

What conclusions can you draw from your use of the Symbolic Frame as it is applied to the Walt Disney Company? In other words, what have you learned about the company? How is use of the Symbolic lens helpful relative to informing outsiders as it concerns the organization’s approach to leadership?

 

In the final section of Chapter 4, conclude by commenting on which of the Four Frames (or combination of frames) you believe is most useful to our evaluation and understanding of the Walt Disney Company. Explain.

 

The background readings will not give you all the answers to the Case. Therefore, you are required to perform some research in the library, and use a minimum of 3-4 scholarly sources from the library to support and justify your understanding of the case.

 

Your paper must demonstrate evidence of critical thinking (if you need tips on critical thinking, http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/college-and-university-students/799 is an excellent resource). Don’t simply restate facts – instead, be sure to interpret the facts you have accumulated from your research.

 

Remember that the Module 4 Case also serves as Chapter 4 of your session-long thesis-style paper. Therefore, when your Case is complete, compile your final thesis-style paper in accord with the following requirements:

 

Use of proper APA Style of formatting, referencing, and writing is required.

 

The final thesis-style paper requires the following: Title Page, Table of Contents, and References. See the APA Sample Paper and other use of APA Style at the Purdue OWL: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20090212013008_560.pdf

 

The final paper will consist of four (4) chapters (Modules 1-4 Case).

 

The body of the final paper must be a minimum of 20-25 pages in length (not including title page, references, etc.).

 

Assignment Expectations

 

Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

 

Assignment-Driven Criteria: Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

 

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 paper well-written (clear, developed logically, and well-organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers?  Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

 

Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy): Does the paper demonstrate effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used in paper 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 referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text 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 end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 4 SLP

 

THE SYMBOLIC FRAME

 

SLP Overview

 

In the Module 4 SLP, you will write a 3- to 4-page paper in which you will apply the Symbolic Frame to the organization in which you are currently employed (or in which you have worked previously).

 

Assignment

 

The Module 4 SLP requires that you write a 3- to 4-page paper, in which you address the following:

 

After giving a brief description of the organization in which you presently work – or in which you have previously worked – apply the Symbolic Frame to the organization, analyzing the ways in which two or three symbolic characteristics you have identified provide meaning for your organization’s members. 

 

Keys to the Assignment

 

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

 

Briefly describe your organization – name, what it does, size (number of employees, annual revenue, relative market share, etc.);

 

Choose 2 or 3 examples of the Symbolic Frame (value, beliefs, rituals, stories, heroes, etc.), and assess how they create meaning for the organization’s members.

 

Which of the examples you have provided do you believe has the greatest influence on the organization-at-large? Why?

 

SLP Assignment Expectations

 

Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

 

Assignment-Driven Criteria: Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?

 

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 paper well-written (clear, developed logically, and well-organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers?  Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?

 

Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy): Does the paper demonstrate effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality sources? Do additional sources used in paper 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 referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text 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 end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 1 Discussion

 

University of Missouri (A) – Structural Frame

 

Using the Structural Frame, choose a specific characteristic of the case – e.g., committees, budgets, strategy, etc., and explain in-depth how the Structural Frame informs the circumstances of the University of Missouri case.

 

From a structural perspective, is there anything you would have done differently? Explain, incorporating at least 1 or 2 assumptions of the Structural Frame into your response.

 

Remember to perform some outside research, to properly cite your sources, and to demonstrate evidence of critical thinking in your response.

 

Before the end of Module 1, be sure that you have responded to a minimum of two of your classmates’ postings. Remember that the Discussions are an assignment – they equate to a full 20% of your final grade; consequently, they require a minimum of 20% of the total effort you put forth into the overall course. In this context, the Discussions require additional research on your part, critical thinking, and graduate-level presentation (grammar, spelling, proper citation, etc.).

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 2 Discussion

 

University of Missouri (A) – Human Resources Frame

 

Using the Human Resources Frame, choose a specific human relations characteristic of the case – and explain in-depth how the Human Resources Frame informs the circumstances of the University of Missouri case.

 

From a human resources perspective, is there anything you would do differently? Explain, incorporating at least 1 or 2 assumptions of the Human Resources/ Relations Frame in your response)?

 

Remember to perform some outside research, to properly cite your sources, and to demonstrate evidence of critical thinking in your response. 

 

Before the end of Module 2, be sure that you have responded to a minimum of two of your classmates’ postings. Remember that the Discussions are an assignment – they equate to a full 20% of your final grade; consequently, they require a minimum of 20% of the total effort you put forth into the overall course. In this context, the Discussions require additional research on your part, critical thinking, and graduate-level presentation (grammar, spelling, proper citation, etc.).

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 3 Discussion

 

University of Missouri (A) – Political Frame

 

Using the Political Frame, choose a specific political issue raised in this case (politics seems to dominate here, does it not?) – and explain in-depth how the Political Frame informs the circumstances of the University of Missouri case. 

 

Bearing in mind Bolman and Deal’s definition of “politics” as one that is not necessarily negative – but is one that is intended to vie for scarce resources instead – is there anything you would have done differently from a political perspective (be sure to incorporate a minimum of 1 or 2 assumptions of the Political Frame in your response)? Explain.

 

Remember to perform some outside research, to properly cite your sources, and to demonstrate evidence of critical thinking in your response. 

 

Before the end of Module 3, be sure that you have responded to a minimum of two of your classmates’ postings. Remember that the Discussions are an assignment – they equate to a full 20% of your final grade; consequently, they require a minimum of 20% of the total effort you put forth into the overall course. In this context, the Discussions require additional research on your part, critical thinking, and graduate-level presentation (grammar, spelling, proper citation, etc.).

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 4 Discussion

 

University of Missouri (A) – Symbolic Frame

 

Using the Symbolic Frame, choose some symbol – or some other situation in which organizational meaning was at issue – in the University of Missouri case, and discuss in-depth how the Symbolic Frame can be used to inform our understanding of the University of Missouri case.

 

How significant of a role do you believe symbolism played in the University of Missouri case study. Be sure that you incorporate 1 or 2 assumptions of the Symbolic Frame in your response.

 

Remember to perform some outside research, to properly cite your sources, and to demonstrate evidence of critical thinking in your response.

 

Before the end of Module 4, be sure that you have responded to a minimum of two of your classmates’ postings. Remember that the Discussions are an assignment – they equate to a full 20% of your final grade; consequently, they require a minimum of 20% of the total effort you put forth into the overall course. In this context, the Discussions require additional research on your part, critical thinking, and graduate-level presentation (grammar, spelling, proper citation, etc.).

 

 

 

LED599 MSL Integrative Project

 

Module 4 Reflection Discussion

 

University of Missouri (A) – Course Reflection

 

Let’s end the capstone course with the following:

 

Throughout the course, we’ve applied the Four Frames to the University of Missouri (A) case.

 

Recognizing that all four frames are useful as a lens for evaluating organizations, do you believe that any one of the four frames is more informative relative to our understanding of the University of Missouri case? If so, which frame (or frames), and why?

 

What are the most relevant concepts you have learned in this course? In the MSL program? After responding to the Reflective Discussion questions above, please complete an anonymous Course Evaluation Survey. Instructors are not able to view course evaluation reports until after the grade submission period is over. Thank you for your feedback.

 

 

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