MGT 349 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT -- Spring, 2002
Western Illinois University--Quad Cities
Section R21-Thurs. 6:00-8:30 pm
Terence C. Krell, M.B.A., Ph.D. Office Phone: 762-3999 x 232 (do not leave a message) Home Phone:793-1998
URL: http://www.abc-xyz.com/krell/ * e-mail: tckrell@abc-xyz.com

Office Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 3:30-4:30 pm; 8:30-9:00 pm*
(*after class hours are for the students in that class only); and by appointment

THE COURSE

The purpose of this course is to acquaint you with the theory and principles of modern management and the specifics of the four management functions of planning, leading, organizing, and controlling; as well as decision making and innovation within these functions. The goal is for you to be able to understand and articulate the concepts and vocabulary of management in a practical manner. Since this is an introductory course, the focus is upon your learning the structure and vocabulary of management theory for use in industry and future management courses.

Management is a way of thinking, an orientation toward doing business. It is far more than ordering employees around; it is the critical consideration of all interactions among and between the firm and its environment, its people,
its resources, its parts, and its organization, and how those interactions affect the profitability of the firm. People do not exist independently in organizations, they interact with others and participate in groups. Groups of people, in turn, interact with other groups, and the organization at large. Thus, management consists of dealing appropriately with people and groups as well as things; with emotions as well as numbers; and with compassion as well as control.

The terms and concepts of management, when mastered, create an integrated structure in your mind. It is this structure that constitutes the management orientation that will enable you to be successful. It is therefore necessary not only to learn the terms and concepts of management, but how they relate into an integrated whole.

By the end of this course, I will expect you to be able to:

1. Identify and distinguish the terms and concepts of management.
2. Use properly the terms and concepts of the principles of management.
3. Master the relationship among the terms and concepts of the principles of management.

CLASS FORMAT

Each class lecture will be on the next week's reading assignment: a lecture with discussion will hit the high points, and supplement the material you are about to read. The material must be read by the following session, at which time you will be tested on the material. The purpose of this format is to familiarize you with the structure and logic of the material prior to reading so you will be prepared for the quizzes.

The lectures will often take the form of soliciting answers from students in what is sometimes referred to as "the Socratic method." In such a method, students are expected to use logic, rather than knowledge to answer the questions. Thus, it is expected that students will often answer incorrectly while thinking through the question. There is no penalty for such answers, and students will receive immediate feedback and correction. The purpose is to build the structure and logic of the session's topics. Students are encouraged to politely interrupt the instructor at any time to make a relevant observation or ask a question.

If you experience difficulty connecting your experience to the theory, remember that the responsibility for creatively making this connection lies with you, not the instructor. You are encouraged to meet with the instructor outside of class time to discuss any problems you are having with course content.

GRADING CRITERIA

Grades on individual assignments will be assigned on the basis of demonstrated accomplishment in correctly using the terms and concepts of management . Thus grades may not be consistent with students' backgrounds, level of input effort, or personal goals.

GRADING STANDARDS

95 - Exceptional, innovative, or comprehensively written; 80 - Solid performance to assignment; 70 - Marginal or unbalanced analysis, or poorly written; 60 - Completely off-target, minimal analysis, very poorly written; 0 - Not turned in. At the end of the semester, each grade will be weighted according to the grading plan and an overall percentage computed. Multiply the percentage grade you receive for each individual assignment by the weighted percent of total grade and add the results together to reach a net score. A net score of 90 or above earns an "A", 80 or above a "B", 70 or above a "C"; 60 or above a D. There are no preordained grade quotas, and a modified curve (to raise the average) will be used, which may lower the above grade-required net scores at the sole discretion of the instructor. Overall, solid performance will earn a grade of "B". An "A" will be reserved for outstanding performance. Marginally acceptable work will earn a "C".

GRADING PLAN

Your course grade will be based on the following components and point distribution:
- Weekly Quizzes 50%
- Final Exam 40%
- Class Participation 10%

REQUIRED TEXT

Bartol & Martin, Management, 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill, 1998, and Study Guide for Management

QUIZZES

Once each week at the beginning of class, a quiz will be given. The quiz will cover the reading assignment for that class and the previous class lecture. The quiz may be partly multiple choice, partly matching, partly fill-in or short essay, but will usually consist of mostly multiple choice. Quizzes may contain questions about the cases in the chapter; on such occasions, the inclusion of the case will be announced.

PLEASE NOTE: LECTURES ARE TO INTRODUCE AND SUPPLEMENT, NOT REPLACE, READING ASSIGNMENTS. QUIZ QUESTIONS MAY BE DRAWN FROM EITHER SOURCE. MATERIAL IN THE BOOK MAY NOT BE COVERED IN THE LECTURE. EACH QUIZ WILL HAVE ONE DETAILED QUESTION ABOUT THIS COURSE SYLLABUS.

Each quiz will count for 5% of your grade (20 points). Each quiz will have a point score, and the quiz with the lowest score will be discarded. The scores of the highest ten quizzes will be added to determine your total. The total of all quiz scores will be 50% of your grade. Answer sheets will be returned with grades. Quizzes will not be returned, but may be inspected in my office within two weeks of grading. This policy is to encourage you to meet with me if you are having problems and to direct your studying to the book rather than to previous tests.

FINAL EXAM

The final exam will have the same structure as the weekly quizzes, but will be longer and cover the entire semester's material. The final exam will count for 40% of your grade. The final exam will be held during finals week at the normal class time. The final will take approximately one and one-half hours. STUDENTS WHO HAVE TIME CONFLICTS SHOULD SEE ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. No adjustments will be made after the last class session prior to the final. All adjustments require the consent of the instructor. UNIVERSITY RULES REQUIRE THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY FINALS BE TAKEN OTHER THAN DURING FINALS WEEK.

CLASS ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION IN CLASS DISCUSSION

Since participation in class counts 10% of your grade, each student must significantly contribute to in-class discussion of topics. Each student is expected to be an active participant and to make meaningful comments on topics being discussed. Your class participation grade is something to be earned via consistent, daily contribution to class discussion. You should, therefore, make a conscientious effort to attend class discussions and to be sufficiently prepared to contribute to the discussions. Merely coming to class is not sufficient.

CLASS POLICIES

1. Attendance is required. Three tardies will count for one absence. See me in advance, if you have a problem.

2. Reading in this course is essential for discussion. Reading assignments must be completed on time.

3. You will be expected to come to class, participate in group discussion activities, complete assignments, and pull your own weight in team activities.

4. No make-ups will be allowed. Quizzes may not be taken late. If there is a problem, the fact that you may drop your lowest quiz grade is expected to cover it. (See Quizzes above.) Although your lowest quiz score will be discarded, not taking a quiz at all may adversely affect your participation grade.

5. Requests for a change in your grade on any assignment or part thereof, must be made in writing. Such requests must include a description of the error made and the reason(s) you believe it is an error, and must be made within one week of receiving your grade.

6. The University rules (see the student handbook) on academic honesty and plagiarism apply: In brief, turn in your own work.

7. University regulations prohibit eating, drinking, and smoking in the classroom.

8. Usually I will be available before and after sessions for consultation in office hours. Contact me at the above numbers on other occasions, to make an appointment or to ask a question. I'm usually good about returning calls.

9. It is the intent of the university and the instructor to accomodate those students having special needs. If you wish to make me aware that you have such needs, please so inform me and contact the appropriate university office to have them contact me with your requirements. If you prefer to keep these needs private, that is also your privilege.

This syllabus is subject to change with appropriate notice.