Module 4 Journal

This week you will begin your journal activity. You will journal each week for the remainder of the course. The journal topics will include what you have learned each week about the Principles of Management. For example, we began by exploring the concept of management and the role it plays in running a modern organization. The history and development of management theory and practice were outlined and for each succeeding school of management thought. We also learned about the five functions of management and the role of ethics and social responsibility in business. All this was discussed in the weekly activities, such a Discussions, Assessments, Readings, etc.

In your readings of Chapters 1 - 4, you learned about the levels of management, management roles and the managerial skills. In Week 1, we also asked you to think about the role of planning and strategy in management, so your thoughts on these subjects should be considered.

In your journaling, you are to think about the concepts and key phrases learned during the first two weeks. Listed below are some thought provoking questions to stimulate your thinking. They are there to help you focus on the concepts and management tools you have studied. Use these questions and journal thoughts that you have already formulated on the material covered up to this point in the course. (If you do not have direct experience in any of these areas you can use situations that you have been told about or observed).

For example:

1. What management skills do you now possess, and which skills do you need to study and understand?
2. What school of management is your organization currently using? Do you think a change needs to be made? If so, which school of management should your organization use, and why?
3. As you think about the managers you know in your company or others, how would you rate them on the five (5) functions of management? How would you rate yourself on these functions?
4. What is your company's mission statement? Does your company publish its short and long term goals? How does your job contribute to achieving these goals?
5. The organizing function of management-what do you think would be your view on organizing a new company? Or a company that you have just acquired?

Directions:

1. Choose two of the questions listed above and record your personal reflections (at least 1-2 paragraphs) in your journal for future use. Try to choose questions that you have a strong opinion on, or where your opinion has changed as a result of this week's activities. As the course moves along you will see that the journal will evolve into a cohesive philosophy of management which you will use to complete this course and also use in your role as a manager.