CBAD 301 Coastal Carolina University Role of the Bureaucracy in Business Discussion
Instructions
This posting should be a minimum of one short paragraph and a maximum of two paragraphs. Word totals for this post should be in the 100–200-word range. Whether you agree or disagree, explain why with supporting evidence and concepts from the readings or a related experience. Include a reference, link, or citation when appropriate.
For Discussion
Choose ONE of the following questions to respond to in your initial post.
- In your reading, you studied early scientific management theorists, including Frederick W. Taylor, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, and Henry Gantt. Do you see any of their ideas in modern-day workplaces? Cite examples.
- Why do you think the term “bureaucratic” has negative connotations in today’s business environment? What aspects of bureaucracy do people tend to criticize? Are there any aspects of bureaucracy that you think are important in today’s businesses?
- In the Hawthorne experiments, Elton Mayo discovered that workers performed better when they were “having more fun,” leading him to theorize that workers are motivated more by social dynamics than by economic or environmental factors. How do you think Mayo’s theory is reflected in companies today? Cite examples.
- Which of the current developments in management practice do you think managers need to watch most closely? Why?
Instructions
This posting should be a minimum of one short paragraph and a maximum of two paragraphs. Word totals for this post should be in the 100–200-word range. Whether you agree or disagree, explain why with supporting evidence and concepts from the readings or a related experience. Include a reference, link, or citation when appropriate.
Preparation
This discussion is based on a TED Talk by Simon Sinek, as well as drawing on readings from the Introduction to Management module. Fascinated by leaders with the capacity to inspire and have an impact in the world, Sinek has discovered some remarkable patterns in how these leaders think, act, and communicate. He wrote Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action to explore the idea of the “golden circle,” which is what he calls “a naturally occurring pattern, grounded in the biology of human decision-making, that explains why we are inspired by some people, leaders, messages, and organizations over others.”
Watch Sinek’s TED Talk, below:
A text transcript of the video is available on the Ted website or access the text alternative for “Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action” (opens in new window).
For Discussion
Choose ONE of the following questions to respond to in your initial post.
- Think about the management roles discussed in your reading (leadership, informational, and decision-making). How might Sinek’s assertion that “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it” influence how a manager performs these roles?
- How do you think the four management functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling fit in with the ideas Sinek expresses in his talk? Which function do you think he would say is most important? Why?
- Sinek uses the Wright Brothers and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as examples of people who were successful because they believed deeply in what they were doing and communicated from the “why” portion of his “golden circle.” Can you identify any other examples of this type of leader? Explain your example, and define their “why.”
Instructions
This posting should be a minimum of one short paragraph and a maximum of two paragraphs. Word totals for this post should be in the 100–200-word range. Whether you agree or disagree, explain why with supporting evidence and concepts from the readings or a related experience. Include a reference, link, or citation when appropriate.
Preparation
As you learned in your reading, globalization is complicated. While it creates new opportunities for businesses and workers, it can also hurt local economies, exploit workers, and threaten the environment. Watch the following video for a crash course on how globalization and free trade affect people living in extreme poverty throughout the world.
For Discussion
Choose ONE of the following questions to respond to in your initial post.
- What responsibility do businesses have to develop economies, workers, and the environment when they choose to pursue global strategies? Do you think corporations like Apple, which has a well-developed global supply chain, have done enough to manage the potential negative effects of their globalized operations?
- When businesses enter global markets, what do you think the role of managers should be in minimizing harm to foreign workers and the environment? Address the planning, organizing, leading, and controlling functions in your response.
- As mentioned in the video, the US produces an annual “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.” How effective do you think this is in raising awareness about working conditions in other countries? Do you think pressure from officials, the media, and the public is the best way to prevent companies from doing business with countries that violate international labor standards, or do you think other methods would be more effective?
