大家好！

今天很高兴能在这里和大家见面！

Glyndwr Jones

Senior Lecturer Department of Strategic Management &

Leadership (SML) Waikato Management School University of Waikato Hamilton New Zealand

R.A.WRead, Analyze and Write:

How to write good assignments

The Purpose

To provide students with the tools to write good essays

To give students the opportunity to apply the tools and develop their writing skills

Some advice

Start as soon as you get the assignment. Good writing takes lots of time, effort and

practice. Read the marking schedule attached to the

paper outline before you start writing. Ask yourself; have I met the criteria set out in the Marking Schedule?

Seek help from your tutor early. You cannot expect a warm welcome the day before the essay is due!

Step one. Read and understand the question

For example:

Critically discuss the value of Vroom’s Expectancy theory of motivation for a line-manager

Circle the key words in the question

Critically discuss the value of Vroom’s

Theory of motivation for a line-manager.

(cont)

Highlight Key Words

Vroom’s Theory of motivation

Vroom’s Theory of motivation

Concept of Value

Concept of Value

Line- Manager

Line- Manager

Step two. Think about the question

What am I being asked?What is this questioner getting at?What aspects of the topic am I going to

explore?What is my ‘angle’ or line of argument?

Big hint!

What is the lecturer really looking for?

He wants you to be critical To be questioning Do not assume anything, that is that the lecturer

knows about Vroom Do not simply describe everything Reach your own conclusion based on your

research.

Analyzing the question

Use a questioning approach

What?Why?How?Where?When?Implications?For whom?

(cont)

e.g

What is Vroom’s theory? Why is it important? When is it used? Where is it used? How does it work? What are the implications of using a

‘contingency’ approach? For whom?

Step three: Analysis time

Searching for information

Search online for information using the data-bases.

Do not ‘cut and paste’ ; Turnitin.com plagarism software.

(cont)

You have identified relevant sources (journal articles, papers etc) on Vroom’s theory of motivation.

Now you have to decide:What direction or angle are you going to

take? What are the main issues you are going to

discuss?

Step four. Writing time

Introducing your topic

The reader needs to have a clear sense of where you are taking him or her

You need a short opening paragraph which ‘sets the scene’ and gets your reader interested

Your Introductory Paragraph: An Example

Peter Drucker claims that ‘the management of employee performance is the most critical role of any manager.’(Drucker l997). As the job of managing has become more complicated, so too has the task of assessing individual performance. Traditional methods of appraising employee performance have been found wanting leading to a search for more effective, comprehensive and sophisticated methods. One approach that attracted considerable attention in the HRM literature in the l990s was 360 degree performance appraisal. This essay examines this approach to assessing and developing employee performance.

(cont)

Your second paragraph ‘maps out’ the route you are going to take, clearly ‘sign-posting’ your direction.

Each ‘sign-post’ will appear in your essay as a paragraph theme.

The reader should recognize the ‘sign-post’ at the start of your discussion of the theme.

Paragraph Two: Your Road Map and ‘Sign-Posts’: An Example

e.g. ‘This essay examines the value of Vroom’s theory of motivation for a line manager. It does this by briefly discussing the core elements of Vroom’s model. The essay then reviews the research on Vroom’s model identifying its strengths and weaknesses. It then goes on to discuss the implications of the model for practicing managers, in particular as a basis for Pay-for-Performance. Finally, an example of an application of Vroom’s model is examined.’

Developing your themes

Each paragraph should:

Deal with one separate theme or issue Be a specific link to theory or concepts Begin with a topic sentence that defines the

issue to be discussed e.g. ‘However in practice it is often difficult to

operate a Pay for Performance system because…’

Make your writing flow . .

Write fluent paragraph starters

In relationship to …. Firstly …. Another issue …. Conversely … On the other hand …. Consequently ….

Summarize

When you have reached the end of a discussion on a theme e.g. research on the application of Vroom’s model, ‘pull it together’, summarize before moving on to your next theme.

If you do not have a plan or structure for your essay, you will not know what theme to discuss next!

A summary is not a conclusion. That comes later.

(cont)

An example

In summary, 360 degree performance appraisal arose as a response to the limitations of traditional approaches to performance appraisal. It sets out to get feedback on an employee’s performance ‘from all points of the compass.’

The essay now goes on to look at the research on 360 degree performance appraisal.’

Your conclusion

A conclusion is NOT simply the end of your essay; it is where you tell the reader what conclusion you have reached, where you now stand on the issue

It is where you make your position clear.

It is where you show whether you agree, disagree or are undecided by the evidence you have considered.

The final touches

Spell Check and proof read your assignment Give your draft essay to a friend or member of

your family. Can he or she understand without asking ‘What do you mean here?’

If you have to keep clarifying, ask why? Then make the changes

Put your essay aside for a few days, then read it again & make any changes.

The chances are you will spot errors.

The complete process

Read, analyse and understand the questionUse the questioning method Search for informationDecide on your angle and themesWrite your essay following the structure you have developed.

cont.

Your essay structure will include:

An introduction and ‘sign-posting’ paragraph The body of your discussion Arguments for and against Summaries Conclusion Reference list Appendix

APA REFERENCING

IN TEXT REFERENCING e.g.

Brown (1998) and Mullins (1999) both conclude that there is little consensus about the definition of ‘organisational culture’.

In text referencing

APA REFERENCING

Secondary citation

A popular definition of organisational culture is offered by Bower (as cited in Deal & Kennedy, 1982) who states that it is “the way things are done around here” (p.4).

“secondary” citation

APA REFERENCING

Direct quote

A popular definition of organisational culture is offered by Bower (as cited in Deal & Kennedy, 1982) who states that it is “the way things are done around here” (p.4).

Page number only required for

direct quotes

APA REFERENCING

Direct Quote

Leadership, “the process of influencing people and providing an environment for them to achieve team or organizational objectives.” (McShane & Travaglione, 2003, p. 466)

Direct quote is NOT to be paraphrased

APA REFERENCING

Two author citation

Robbins and Barnwell (1998) uncover a central theme that encompasses both extremes of organizational culture discussed: that organizational culture refers to ………

Two author citation used as part of the narrative text: note that “and” is spelled

out here

APA REFERENCING

Two author citation

In this essay, it is argued that the management of organizational culture is an essential, yet difficult task confronting mangers (Davidson & Griffin, 2000).

Two authors linked by “&” when citation is NOT part of the text

APA REFERENCING

Two author citation

Innovative cultures has less formalized rules and procedures, with power and decision making shared throughout the organization (Heck & Marcoulides, 1996, as cited in Detert, Mauriel & Schroeder, 2000).

“Secondary” citation; here the student read Detert et al. who spoke about Heck & Macoulides; note Detert et al. appear

in the reference list

APA REFERENCING

Two author citation

Guy (1990, as cited in Sims & Keon, 1999) suggests that the ethical judgements of employees reflect the norms of the organization.

“Secondary” citation used as part of the

text

APA REFERENCING

Multiple citationsThis creates a common understanding among members as to what the organization is, and guides its members on how they should behave by defining appropriate attitudes and behaviours (Detert, Maurial & Schroeder, 2000;Mallinger & Rizescu, 2001; Mullins, 1999; Robbins & Barnewell, 1998).

Multiple citations (several different sources saying the same thing); ordered

alphabetically by first author’s name

APA REFERENCING

Multiple citations

There are a number of ways in which new members might learn the organization’s unique culture (Robbins, Bergman, Stagg, & Coulter, 2000).

If 3, 4 or 5 authors, all authors names in first

citation, thereafter first author only “et al.” e.g., Robbins

et al, 2000

APA REFERENCING

Multiple citationsThese involve a variety of socialisation methods, both formal and informal, which is how new members collectively learn behaviours and concepts that make up the organization’s culture (Brown, 1998; Wood et al., 2000)

Wood et al. for all citations as this source has 6 or more authors

APA REFERENCING

Multiple citations

Several authors (e.g., Brown, 1998; Robbins & Barnwell, 1998) recognize formal methods of socialization, such as induction and training, as the best opportunity managers have to directly influence the new members perception of the organizations culture.

Two author citation – cite

BOTH authors EVERY time

REFERENCE LIST

Alphabetical order

Mullins, L. J. (1999). Management and organisational behaviour (5th ed.). London: Financial Times Pitman.

Robbins, S. P., & Barnwell, N. (1998). Organisational theory: Concepts and cases (3rd ed.).

All references listed in

alphabetical order by first author’s

name

REFERENCE LIST

Book, second edition, one author

Brown, A. D. (1998). Organisational Culture (2nd ed.). Great Britain: Financial

Times Pitman.

Indent from the second line onwards with all

references

REFERENCE LIST

Book

Deal, T. E., & Kennedy, A. A. (1982). Corporate cultures: The rites and rituals of corporate life. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Book, two authors

REFERENCE LIST

Online journal article, multiple authors

Detert, J. R., Mauriel, J. J., & Schroeder, R. G. (2000). A framework for linking culture and improvement initiatives in organizations. The Academy of Management Review, 25, 850-863. Abstract retrieved April 2, 2001 from ABI-Inform (Proquest) database.

Abstract (summary only)

REFERENCE LIST

Journal article, full text

Johnson, G. (2000). Strategy through a cultural lens: Learning from managers’ experience. Management Learning, 31, 403-426.

REFERENCE LIST

Credible websites

Baxley, D. J. (1996, March). Change management: The cultural formula for success. Enterprise Engineering. Retrieved March 19, 2001, from http://www.c3i.osd.mil/bpr/bprcd/5315.htm

REFERENCE LIST

Online Journals

Hendrickson, L., & Tuttle, D. (1997). Dynamic management of the environmental enterprise: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Organizational Change Management,10(4), 855-862. Retrieved September 7, 2001 from Emerald database.

REFERENCE LIST

Nonperiodical documents on the Internet

GVU's 8th WWW user survey. (n.d.). Retrieved August 8, 2000, from

http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/usersurveys/survey1997-10/

Stand-alone document, no author

identified, no date

If no author, begin reference with title of

document

Warning: dangerous habits!

Simply describing everything in your essay

Simply describing what is already in your text. Worse, cutting and pasting from the text.

Getting sidetracked into discussing all theories of motivation instead of Vroom’s.

Some past OB assignment questions

‘Organizational behaviour is just applied commonsense.’ Critically discuss this statement drawing on research evidence.

‘ It is not possible to motivate an individual.’ Critically discuss the arguments for and against this statement drawing on appropriate literature.

‘Organization culture is not capable of being managed.’’ Critically discuss this statement drawing on appropriate research.