Main Content
Syllabus
MGMT 401: Contemporary Issues in Management (3)
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.Advanced treatment of topics of current managerial significance
Prerequisites: MGMT 321, MGMT 331, or MGMT 326
Course Description
This course is an advanced treatment of current management issues and how they impact business operations. Much of this course will be based on the writings of contemporary management visionaries.
Learning Objectives
Upon the conclusion of this course, you should be able to do the following things:
- Use and apply management vocabulary properly.
- Analyze deeper issues that impact management, such as
- culture,
- strategy,
- leadership,
- power,
- motivation,
- teamwork, and
- ethics.
- Explain the characteristics of effective and ineffective management.
- Apply theoretical concepts to real-world situations.
- Explore management as a potential career option.
- Analyze contemporary business publications for quality and usefulness.
Course Structure
Lessons in this course will address the following topics:
- introductory material,
- historical perspectives,
- leadership,
- distributed teams,
- social media,
- decision-making,
- organizational culture and behavior,
- corporate social responsibility,
- ethics,
- motivation,
- disruptive innovation,
- diversity,
- crisis management, and
- change management as a business strategy.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments.
Note that all dates reflect North American eastern time (ET). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live. All lesson assignments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the last day of the lesson time frames indicated below unless otherwise stated.
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Grades
| Assignment | Percentage |
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| Discussions (13 @ 30 points each), 390 total points | 57% |
| Simulation Results, 60 points | 9% |
| Strategy Prep Deck, 90 points | 13% |
| Strategy Review Presentation, 90 points | 13% |
| Peer Evaluation, 30 points | 4% |
| Simulation Participation, 30 points | 4% |
| Total: 690 | 100% |
Letter grades will be based on the following scale.
| Numerical value | Letter grade |
|---|---|
| 93 and above | A |
| 90–92.99 | A- |
| 87–89.99 | B+ |
| 83–86.99 | B |
| 80–82.99 | B- |
| 77–79.99 | C+ |
| 70–76.99 | C |
| 60–69.99 | D |
| below 60 | F |
Assignments
The categories below provide guidelines for each type of assignment in this course. Please be sure to review these descriptions, along with the associated grading rubrics, carefully.
Discussions (390 points)
Discussion will be conducted in a post-first format. This means that you will not be able to view others' posts until you have shared your own original response. All initial entries should be posted no later than 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of the lesson week. You must reply to at least two colleagues by no later than 11:59 p.m. (ET) Sunday in a manner that extends the discussion. Your initial post should respond to all discussion prompts and questions listed.
Cesim Business Simulation Performance (200 points)
You and up to four additional students will form a team that will compete with other teams in the class in a business simulation activity. Your team will be managing a manufacturing company with international operations. The simulation offers an engaging, team-oriented approach to implementing the concepts you are learning in the class. There are two practice rounds that you will complete individually before the team-based simulation begins. Your team will play seven rounds. Only a small portion of your course grade will come from the simulation results. Additional simulation-related assignments include a strategy development slide deck, peer review of your teammates, participation in the simulation, and a video presentation reviewing your team’s strategy and overall performance.
Simulation Strategy Development Presentation (90 points)
As a team, you will develop a brief presentation slide deck that summarizes your strategy for approaching the simulation. The assignment instructions detail the content and number of slides. The purpose of this assignment is twofold. First, it provides an opportunity to engage with your teammates and give some thought as to how you plan to tackle the simulation. Second, it provides a sort of contract as to how your team will work together logistically and ensure that each team member contributes.
Simulation Strategy Review Presentation (90 points)
As a team, you will develop and deliver a video recorded presentation that analyzes your performance and critically assess the strategies that you used, and how they evolved, during the simulation. The assignment instructions detail the exact requirements for this assignment.
Simulation Peer Evaluation (30 points)
The simulation peer evaluation is completed within the simulation platform. Here, you will have an opportunity to evaluate the contributions and efforts of your team members. All evaluations are confidential and the reviewer name is not shared with the review recipient.
Simulation Participation (30 points)
To promote team engagement and participation, the simulation automatically records your engagement and completion of simulation-related activities. No specific action is required of you for this assignment. The score is generated automatically by the simulation software.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Note: Various tutoring websites offer you the opportunity to download answers to everything from accounting problems to quiz questions at little to no cost. Full papers can also be downloaded to submit in place of your own work. Use of these materials, or “ghosting,” is considered cheating and an academic integrity violation. Similarly, uploading exams, course materials, or your own work to one of these sites is considered an academic integrity violation.
Using online services that complete assignments for you is considered an academic integrity violation. Giving your Penn State Access ID and password to someone else to do your work is against University Policy AD-20 and is an academic integrity violation; sanctions will be given for these violations.
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Policies
Late Policy
Late Assignments will not be accepted. It is your responsibility to contact the instructor prior to the due date of an assignment if you are aware of extenuating circumstances that will impact your ability to meet a deadline. The instructor will determine if alternative arrangements may be made.
Blank or Erroneous Assignment Submissions
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have uploaded the correct document to each assignment prior to the assignment due date. Please check your assignment submission immediately after uploading a file in Canvas to ensure that it contains content and is the correct file. If you notice an error, such as a blank or incorrect file, you must resubmit the assignment before the assignment due date. Similarly, you are responsible for ensuring that discussion forum initial posts are not blank and that any website URL submissions (such as links to documents, video recordings, etc.) have the correct sharing settings enabled so that they can be viewed by recipients. Any blank or erroneous submissions that you have not resubmitted by the assignment due date will receive a zero for the assignment.
Veterans and Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Privacy Notice
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.