MGT600 WK2, Chat A

1. MGT600WK2, Chat A Note: Next chat will be about Library Resources

2. General Announcements • Well, after the first assignments everyone has a better feeling for the expectations, right? • Remember that on our Chat 2B we have a chat exclusively dedicated to Library resources. • More information will be posted on the announcements board.

3. So maybe we can start this week's chat with some general observations from last week's assignments? • Here are some numbered observations I prepared based on overall observations, so please don’t feel offended: it’s just a list of common issues that need be addressed so everyone can improve their assignments.

4. Using Supporting Sources • Even after repeated announcements and even examples, there were still assignments without any academic citations or references whatsoever. • The expectations state a minimal of 3 scholarly sources (not popular sources). • Remember that this is an expectation of this course, and it’s related to academic credibility and to APA skills. All assignments are expected to contain extensive use of scholarly citations and references, not popular literature.

5. APA formatting is still not widely understood… • APA is very detailed. It’s very important that you look at every single detail (periods, italics, etc.) in every single format. Most of the errors observed are in the details. • The best way to describe issues pertaining APA formatting is to use Figure 5.1 (pg 306) to in the APA Manual (5th ed). • This sample paper contains circled numbers that refer to the numbered sections in the publication manual.

6. Anatomy of a textbook APA citation: a wrong way… No use of first names Excessive use of caps Double spacing Incorrect font Book titles in italics Bazerman, Max (2006). Judgment in Managerial Decision Making (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Colon, not semi-colon Indentation 5 spaces No use of superscript No use of Inc. Excessive caps

7. Anatomy of a journal article extracted from a database Incorrect format Rojas, R. (2006). The trials and tribulations of learning APA formatting: A graduate student’s perspective. Journal of Online Business Education, 26(3), 43-49. Retrieved March 25, 2006, from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=1&did=1008502751&SrchMode= 1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD& TS=1143471295&clientId=65562

8. Anatomy of a journal article extracted from a database No first names Cap to begin subtitle Rojas, R. (2006). The trials and tribulations of learning APA formatting: A graduate student’s perspective. Journal of Online Business Education, 26(3), 43-49. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from ABI Global Inform database. Retrieval information Name of database, not the name of the Company Comma!

9. APA • Keep an eye on the details: indentations, double spacing, italics, avoid excessive use of caps in titles, alphabetical ordering or sources, no first names of authors… look at the details (formatting protocol) • Another idea is to use the APA tutorial in the Research Lab. • Citation Machine (beware of disclaimer)

10. DB1 • Loss of perspective: more emphasis on the case that on the analysis of the model • “…are there any discrepancies…?” suggests an analysis, not a YES or NO answer • Minimal of 3 supporting sources • Be careful with web sites

11. Literature review • The ability to seek (a) relevant (b) scholarly literature (no web sites, no magazines or newspapers) that would • Demonstrate the hypothesis as part of the ongoing efforts in the literature… • Illustrate the potential contributions of your research design to the literature. • Skills involved: • Research & Library skills • Recognizing scholarly versus popular literature • Demonstrate research process skills

12. Bullet statements… • There also seems to be a trend in using bullet statements rather than full narratives for assignments. Bullet statements are excellent ways to organize your thoughts, but are inadequate for assignments. • Bullet statements alone lack depth, and leave too much interpretation to the reader. Accordingly, bullet statements do not demonstrate to me that you master the concepts discussed in class. • Please take the time to fully articulate what you mean.

13. Incorrect DB posting • Finally, do not attach or upload your posting to the discussion board, nor place it in the submitted assignments folder. • The correct place is the discussion board and the intention is for everyone to see and comment on your posting. • The attachment function is only for special assignments, not for the regular DB posting.

14. Do all these suggestions and clarifications help? • Remember that these suggestions are skills that will help you throughout all courses in the entire program.

15. Skills survey: Think about the top 3 skills that affected you the most in the composing of your Unit 1 assignments? • Basic computer skills • Classroom navigation skills • Online learning skills • Office 2007 Skills • Graduate or scholarly writing skills • Scholarly databases & Library resources skills • APA formatting skills • Critical Thinking skills • Biases, judgment and decision making skills • Experimental research process skills Please be honest: this information will help me better frame the material and class exercises to help you be successful in the MBA program…

16. Take the time to carefully respond to these three surveys

17. Let’s talk briefly about this week’s assignments today, since the next chat will be about the Library.

18. IP2 Assignment • The IP2 is where you demonstrate your understanding of two more research steps of the Sekaran process. • In other words the IP2 also has two parts: • (a) Using the same hypothesis from your IP1, compose a theoretical framework. • Step 4 of the Sekaran process • (b) Using the same hypothesis from your IP1, compose a scientific research design • Step 6 of the Sekaran process • Notice that we skipped Step 5.

19. Figure 4.1 The research process (Sekaran, 2003) Step 1 Step 3 Step 4 General Observation Theoretical Framework CH4 Literature Review Step 6 Step 7 Step 5 Scientific Research Design Collect data Analysis and Interpretation Generation Of a hypothesis (or hypotheses) Step 2 Purpose of The study Definition Of the Problem CH6 CH 12 Prelim Data Gathering CH5 Research Question Variables Identified Step 8 CH4 The 9th Step Formatting Protocols (APA, 5th ed) CH4 Deduction CH5 Is the Research Question Answered? Research Design Timeline for MGT 600 (by Assignments) IP1 IP2 IP3 Ip4 GP5 Class Starts All steps Steps 4,6 Step 7 Step 8 All steps

20. Part 1:Theoretical framework • How would you characterize the purpose of your study in relation to the literature? • What models from the literature will you be using? • What specifically are the variables and how are the defined? • Continuity & coherency between the parts

21. Part 2: Scientific research design (Step 6) • What is the experiment you will be conducting to demonstrate your hypothesis? • What is the process by which you will test your hypothesis (variables)? • Narrate the details of your approach using the elements that apply from Sekaran (2003).

22. Example hypothesis: Ha: There is a direct relationship between employee motivation and the quality of the working environment • Theoretical framework: • That is the theor(5-8 theories of motivation, 4-5 theories on work environmenty or theories that apply to my experiment?) • Which among the current models in the literature that I will be using for my experiment? (Which ones did you select?) • How exactly am I defining these variables?

23. Example hypothesis: Ha: There is a direct relationship between employee motivation and the quality of the working environment • Scientific research design (Explain the details of the experiment, use Fig. 6.2) • Purpose (exploratory, descriptive or hypothesis testing?) • Type of investigation ( causal, correlation, differentiation, or other?) • Extent of researcher interference (minimal, control, simulation, or other). • Continue analysis with elements in Fig 6.2

24. IP2 Assignment Summary • The IP2 is a single document with 2 sections (or two parts) • (a) Using the same hypothesis from your IP1, compose a theoretical framework. • Step 4 of the Sekaran process • (b) Using the same hypothesis from your IP1, compose a scientific research design • Step 6 of the Sekaran process • Continuity from your IP1 (building up the research design) • APA Formatting of the paper and the supporting sources

25. DB2 The second DB is your opportunity to demonstrate to me how well you master all the concepts related to judgments, biases and perceptions. • Delineate the anatomy of your previous decision (the scenario you already used in your DB1) but frame it differently.

26. The DB2 is an re-framing of your DB1 scenario… Basically, delineate the anatomy of your previous decision, but using a different framework. • Use as many concepts on judgment, perceptions and biases as possible to respond to the DB questions. Show me that you understand the meaning of these concepts and that you know how to apply and overcome these issues in judgment. (Defining the terms) • Also use citations and references from various sources to support your arguments. Remember to go beyond just the textbook when you are supporting your arguments.

27. DB2… • Just remember, for the discussion board and for PowerPoint the only section that I am expecting to see full APA formatting is in the references section. • The discussion board does not accept Microsoft Word formatting commands and that you will have to manually format your references section to comply with APA. • This means that if you cut and paste from your Microsoft Word documents, much of the formatting will not be absorbed into the discussion board, because the discussion board is in HTML.

28. APA Skills Developer