1. 1. Kiechel (2012) opens his article with a summary of an address given by Henry R. Towne in 1886. Kiechel explains that this address “heralded a new reality” by arguing for Management to be (a) studied as a science that could be improved, and (b) recognized as rooted in economics. Taking into account the history of Management that you now know, have these two “realities” changed considering the modern work environment? Be sure to cite evidence from the article and other resources (from this and/or other modules) to support your response.
2. 2. Outline (bullet points are fine) each of Goffee & Jones’ (2013) six virtues (e.g., let people be themselves; unleash the flow of information; etc.) that “the best company on earth” would have. For each, consider roadblocks a company may run into when trying to implement the virtue. Then, comment on any virtues you believe to be missing from the list. Be sure to cite evidence from the article and other resources (from this and/or other modules) to support your response.
3. 3. Grant’s (2018) podcast presents us with different examples of what the workplace might be like without bosses. Specifically, he first shares examples of independent workers, those people who have left the traditional workplace to be their own boss and work for themselves. Grant then shares examples of companies (e.g., Morning Star) that have flattened their organizational structures to the extreme such that self-management is prevalent. Evaluate your professional career goals against these potentials for self-management. In other words, is self-management attractive to you, and/or do you have the discipline to self-manage? What are the conditions that make self-management successful, and even if self-management was attained, what are its advantages and disadvantages? Be sure to cite evidence from the podcast and other resources (from this and/or other modules) to support your response.
4. 4. Goffee & Jones (2013) state the following: “Organizations need structure. Markets and enterprises need rules. As successful entrepreneurial businesses grow, they often come to believe that new, complicated processes will undermine their culture.” Juxtapose this comment with Grant’s (2018) podcast theme of flattening organizational structures and getting rid of bosses. Discuss where the authors differ in their arguments, and where they actually parallel one another. Be sure to cite evidence from the article and podcast as well as other resources (from this and/or other modules) to support your response.
5. 5. To what extent do you “buy in” to the concept of organizational culture really being the experience that managers build for employees? Be sure to cite evidence from resources (from this and/or other modules) to support your response.