UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO AT SCARBOROUGH

New Ways of Work - MGTC19

ASSIGNMENT #1 - Fall 2008

INSTRUCTIONS

You are required to write an essay, offering your analysis of the evidence, either supporting or refuting one of the statements below.

You must collect empirical evidence. Use whatever social, economic, financial and demographic data you feel may be relevant. The Report must use academic and professional literature, as well as statistical data, to provide a brief, but articulately reasoned analysis of the statement, offering your conclusions.

TOPICS (choose 1)

The phenomenon known as “downsizing” (i.e. the laying-off of hundreds of thousands of middle and senior-managers from white collar professional jobs) has attracted much comment and attention over the past decade. However, the scale and impact of “downsizing” has been greatly exaggerated. There is little evidence that professional managers face less job security or shorter job tenure than they did a generation ago. True or false?

or

Technological developments of the last quarter of the twentieth century (improved mobile telephony, the evolution of laptop computing, the creation of the internet and the world-wide web, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, etc.) have hastened the existence of the “virtual” organization. As a result, technology is increasingly making the concept of the “office” or the “place of work” irrelevant. True or false?

EXPLANATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

As an upper year course, MGTC19 should evaluate students on their ability to do independent, research-based analysis. This course is predicated upon a set of opinions. The Assignment is designed to test students' ability to do research about the some of the underlying assumptions behind the first two or three lectures of the course content.

The assignment is also relevant to the course in that a research Report, such as this one, is a rather typical consulting assignment. Consultants are often brought into organisations to undertake work because they can bring specialist experience and expertise about an area which is not available in-house.

Alternatively, consultants may be brought in to do work which is outside of the client's main sphere of activity, where the volume of work in a particular area would not justify the salary and overhead costs of a full-time employee.
Continued on the back…..

As a student of Management, it is assumed you have interest in – and knowledge of – recent trends and developments in the world of business and management. It is assumed that you can collect and analyse data with a view toward making decisions. It is finally assumed, particularly if you are graduating this year, that you have an interest in and a knowledge of the employment market for Managers.

HOW THE ASSIGNMENT WILL BE MARKED

The assignment will be marked from the point of view of the Professor as client. There will be both an objective, and a subjective aspect to the evaluation.

First, I am seeking your "expert opinion". The variety and volume of up to date empirical evidence will show that you are taking time and trouble to answer the question carefully. The quality of the evidence will also be evaluated.

Second, you must come to some firm conclusion(s) backed up by the data which you present.

The client is paying you a lot of money, because you are an "expert". Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are expected to be perfect. Presentation is expected to be attractive and professional looking.

SPECIFICATIONS

Due: Week 4, beginning of class, i.e. 11.05 a.m.

Length: Main body of text must not exceed 18 double-spaced pages (excluding exhibits).

Worth: 30% of final grade.

Presentation:

The paper must be bound, with a clear plastic cover.
Your name, student number and e-mail address must be prominently displayed.
The essay must be paginated.
There must be a brief (max. 1 page) Executive Summary.
There must be a Table of Contents
Tables, graphs and charts must be clearly labled. (Ideally they should be in the body of the report, rather than attached as Appendices, for the reader’s convenience.)
The style of references is up to you (footnotes, endnotes, citations are all acceptable). However, all data and borrowed material must be fully referenced, so that the reader can source the original material.

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO AT SCARBOROUGH

New Ways of Work - MGTC19

Fall 2008

ASSIGNMENT #2

INSTRUCTIONS

You are required to write an essay, offering your analysis, either supporting or refuting the statement.

Your Report must draw on the empirical evidence, citing whatever social, economic, financial and demographic data you feel may be relevant. The Report must use academic and professional literature, as well as statistical data, to provide a brief, but articulately reasoned analysis of the above statement, offering your conclusions.

TOPICS (choose 1)

The “consulting” style of work pre-supposes that Managers will take greater responsibility for recognizing opportunities, nurturing potential clients, developing proposals and managing projects. In other words, they will need to become more “entrepreneurial” in their approach to developing their careers.

Have North American workers (specifically), and North American society (generally), become more entrepreneurial? Examine the evidence with respect to self-employment, new business creation, and attitudes toward employment and careers.

EXPLANATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

As an upper year course, MGTC19 should evaluate students on their ability to do independent, research-based analysis. This course is predicated upon an opinion. The Assignment is designed to test students' ability to do research about the some of the underlying assumptions behind the first two or three lectures of the course content.

The assignment is also relevant to the course in that a research Report, such as this one, is a rather typical consulting assignment. Consultants are often brought into organisations to undertake work because they can bring specialist experience and expertise about an area which is not available in-house.

Alternatively, consultants may be brought in to do work which is outside of the client's main sphere of activity, where the volume of work in a particular area would not justify the salary and overhead costs of a full-time employee.

In this Assignment, we can assume that the organization commissioning your Report has neither the dedicated resources, nor your intimate knowledge of the employment market for graduating students.

HOW THE ASSIGNMENT WILL BE MARKED

The assignment will be marked from the point of view of the client. This means that there will be both an objective, and a subjective aspect to the evaluation. The client is therefore seeking your "expert opinion".

The client is paying you a lot of money, because you are an "expert". Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are expected to be perfect.

The client has asked you to write a Report. It should be structured and laid out accordingly.

The client has asked you to draw on whatever empirical evidence, citing whatever social, economic, and demographic data you feel may be relevant. The extent to which your client will heed your opinion depends upon the variety, the timeliness, and the relevance of the data that you assemble for your client's consideration.

The client will also expect you to interpret the data.

Finally, the client will expect you to offer your clearly stated conclusions and (if appropriate) any recommendations.

SPECIFICATIONS

Due: Week 8, beginning of class, i.e. 11.05 a.m.

Length: Main body of text must not exceed 16 double-spaced pages (excluding exhibits).

Worth: 30% of final grade.

ASSIGNMENT #3

"How Do Consultants Market Themselves?"

If you aspire to a career in consulting, you must understand some of the processes and disciplines adopted by practising consultants. For the 3rd Assignment, you are required to:

Do primary market research, i.e. establish contact with, and interview consultants about: what they do, and how they do it.

INSTRUCTIONS

Form a group of three (3) people. As soon as you have formed your group, notify me of the names of the group members, in writing by e-mail.

ASSIGNMENT #3

Investigative Report on the Marketing Practices of Consultants

Identify a minimum of four (4) firms or individuals who make their living providing professional/ consulting services. If you interview more, your work will have greater credibility with the reader. These may include management consultants, personnel consultants (head hunters), training consultants, consulting engineers or any other individual who fits the description of consultant offered in this course.

It is assumed that you understand the various activities encompassed by the term "marketing", but broadly these will include product or service planning, identification of market niche or target markets, promotion including publicity and selling, business generation, product or service pricing, contract negotiation, client care and liaison, service delivery, project evaluation and feedback, invoicing, collection, and prospecting for more.

Arrange to interview your subjects on their "marketing" processes and practices. Compare and contrast their practices with the material in any assigned or recommended readings on the subject, and with any statements that you may have heard in class either from the course lecturer or from guest speakers.

SPECIFICATIONS

Notify Professor of group members (3) by e-mail before class week 8 - 2%

Notify Professor of identity of minimum 4 interview subjects, by e-mail before class week 10 - 5%

Final Report: In week 12, in class.

Report Length: Must not exceed 25 double-spaced pages (excluding exhibits).

Final Report Worth: 33% of final mark

HOW THE 3rd ASSIGNMENT WILL BE MARKED

The assignment is to be submitted as a Report, it must be structured and organised as such. The Report should be clearly structured and easy to read. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are expected to be perfect.

The Report will be marked from the point of view of a client who is seeking insight into the marketing policies and practices of a sample of representatives from an industry. The coherence, quality and organisation of your interviews, and of the questionnaire, aide-memoir or interview script that you use to structure your interviews will reflect the time and effort you put into the assignment.

This Report is not merely an exercise in reportage, you will also be expected to analyse and interpret the information you obtain from your interviews, comparing and contrasting the statements, practices or attitudes of your subjects, the course lecturer, guest speakers and the course text. Draw conclusions, where appropriate.