
When considering this course, you may be wondering why I am studying management in a leadership program. I asked the same question and quickly learned that, for the leader and their team to function well, the organization must be managed efficiently.
This course is intense! There is a substantial amount of writing, including annotated bibliographies and a literary review. This is a great course to distinguish between those who are genuinely committed to a program like this and those who may only be half-hearted. It is a good time to re-evaluate your own goals before you get much further in the program.
Remember, if you ever feel that you could benefit from a unique group coaching program, please visit here.
Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive foundation in the critical role of management in modern organizations. Topics include management processes, planning and decision-making, organizing and motivating individuals and groups, and effective communication.
Rationale
Evaluating management concepts from a biblical perspective is essential for making effective decisions. The most effective decisions managers can make are those that are biblically sound. Therefore, these decisions will have long-term benefits and far-reaching implications. In our world of constant change, the role of management is crucial in helping people reach their full potential. The ability to choose the best course of action that both inspires motivation and creates synergy is critical for managers to facilitate organizational sustainability and growth.
Course Assignments
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete 2 Discussions in this course. The student will post one thread of at least 500 words. The student must then post two replies of at least 250 words. For each thread, the student must support their assertions with at least two citations to peer-reviewed journal articles. Each reply must also incorporate at least 1 citation to peer-reviewed journal articles.
The initial threads and replies should also be supported through biblical integration. This assignment will make use of current APA formatting standards.
Motivation Theory Assignment
Since motivation is a significant determinant of a person’s persistence toward achieving a goal, it is essential to examine how managers can use motivation to attain organizational objectives. This Motivation Theory Assignment requires the student to select and explore one of 3 motivational theories in detail: Expectancy, Equity, or Goal-Setting Theory.
Then, the student will evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen theory according to peer-reviewed literature and biblical principles. This paper will cite from at least five (5) peer-reviewed journals published within the last five years in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, and it will make use of current APA formatting.
Decision-Making Assignment
Successful managerial decision-making is often complex because managers attempt to analyze options and make determinations to select the best course of action in response to opportunities and threats. The student will compare two decision-making techniques and apply the one that is most effective in solving a specific problem within an organization or industry, drawing on personal experience, media, or literature.
This paper will cite from at least five (5) peer-reviewed journals published within the last five years in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, and it will make use of current APA formatting.
Team Management Assignment
Effective teams apply practical team management concepts. Managers are tasked with producing high-performing teams through synergy. In this Team Management Assignment, the student will evaluate the effectiveness of 2 team management concepts in producing synergistic performance.
This paper will cite from at least five (5) peer-reviewed journals published within the last five years in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, and it will make use of current APA formatting.
Research Paper: Annotated Bibliography Assignment
In this Annotated Bibliography assignment, students discover and evaluate the most current and credible sources of scholarly Christian and secular literature in contemporary organizational management. The paper must include at least 10 bibliographies from secular and Christian articles published within the last five years (that have not been used previously in the course) from which the student will create his or her annotations. Each annotation will include the purpose of the study, the method used, key findings of the study, and the student’s critique of the study in terms of its contribution to the body of knowledge.
The literature chosen for each annotation will discuss at least one of the following: evaluate the practical application of primary management concepts, analyze the similarities and differences between various management theories, recommend strategic management solutions to complex situations, and integrate biblical principles to attain optimal management performance. This assignment will be structured according to current APA formatting standards. The provided topic for this assignment is “How to Manage a Diverse Work Team.”
Research Paper: Abridged Literature Review Assignment
The purpose of this review is to integrate and synthesize scholarly Christian and secular literature on the student’s topic. Based on a review of the syllabus, Course Description, and Learning Outcomes, the student will write an abridged literature review based on the provided topic, “How to Manage a Diverse Work Team.” This literature review will describe, contrast, and critique the significant findings and key theories on the subject, as well as identify the most controversial questions.
The review will also evaluate the practical application of primary management concepts to the topic and recommend strategic management solutions as new thoughts are generated as a result of the student’s research. This literature review must cite from at least twenty (20) Christian, secular, and scholarly articles published within the last five years, be at least 1500 words, and make use of current APA formatting.
Research Paper: Personal SWOT Analysis Assignment
This assignment will help students to develop an inside-out, principle-centered approach to management by self-reflection. A personal assessment of managerial strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats via a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis will be conducted, and strategies for self-improvement via TOWS Matrix will be developed. The student will evaluate his/her management factors (principles, traits, skills, or practices) that are critical to their managerial effectiveness.
This paper must include at least three (3) references from scholarly articles published within the last five years in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, and it will make use of current APA formatting.
What You Should Know about BMAL 703
My advice is to learn as much as you can about Kotter’s Change Theory and his 8-step program. It will be helpful here and in the future. I would also suggest that you develop a firm grasp of team building, strategic management, and decision-making.
Remember what I said about starting to write your papers with your (eventual) project and research questions in mind. Know that you will have to work with one (just one) organization for your project, and this course is an excellent introduction to this concept.
Additionally, I have observed many students put all their eggs in one basket and assume throughout their entire program that they will use the organization where they work for their project. There are many ways that this can backfire.
- You could get fired, reassigned, or relocated before the project phase begins.
- Your organization is too small.
- Your organization does not agree to work with you
- Your organization does not have a leadership “problem.”
- And many, many, others.
Bottom Line
The post outlines a management course within a leadership program, emphasizing the importance of efficient management for effective team function. It highlights the course’s rigorous nature, involving substantial writing assignments such as annotated bibliographies and literature reviews, which urge students to assess their commitment and goals.
The course covers critical management concepts, planning, decision-making, team motivation, and communication, evaluated through a biblical lens.
The post also advises students to familiarize themselves with Kotter’s Change Theory. It emphasizes the need for well-defined project ideas, cautioning against relying on one organization for practical projects due to potential unforeseen circumstances. Lastly, it encourages following the author’s previous blog posts for additional guidance throughout the program.
This blog has been found most useful by students reading it in order. I wrote a post a week to chronicle my time in the entire program, and for the most part, they are tagged by course. For example, here is BMAL 703. I have included a lot of my papers as PDFs. Feel free to use them as a guide.
If you ever feel that you could benefit from a unique group coaching program, please visit here.
Courses in the Program
DSL Program Orientation: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 700)
Leadership Theory: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 702)
Managing the Contemporary Organization: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 703)
Leading Organizational Change: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 704)
Understanding the Organization: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 710)
Risk Management Process and Practice: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 714)
Research Theory and Planning: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 716)
Leveraging Data for Decision Making: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 720)
Leading Effective Teams: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 727)
Ethical Leadership: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 770)
DRP Research Concept: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 785)
Doctoral Research Project I: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 887)
Doctoral Research Project II: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 888)
Doctoral Research Project III: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 889)
Doctoral Research Project IV: Doctor of Strategic Leadership Liberty University (BMAL 890)
Case Study Research Methods and Literature Review (BUSI 830)
Suggested Materials
Literature Review in Six Easy Steps
Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches
Qualitative Research from Start to Finish
Publication Manual (OFFICIAL) 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association
The Craft of Research, Fifth Edition
Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary)
Let’s Connect…
Oh, if you are on Twitter, I highly encourage you to follow the hashtags, #AcademicChatter and #AcademicTwitterboth are great threads with advice, motivation, and a very supportive community and if you wouldn’t mind, give me a follow at @robertforto and send me a tweet letting me know you found my blog helpful!
Support the Blog
By clicking and possibly purchasing something from the items below, I receive a small commission from Amazon. A little can go a long way; thank you very much for your support. Even if something here doesn’t fit your needs, by clicking on one of the links and going to Amazon, and buying something else through the site on that visit helps the blog too. It is called an “affiliate link,” which means just that, a click is a few cents in my pocket without any upcharge to you for your items.
If you are feeling REALLY generous or if you want to support in some other way, you can always shoot a buck or two on PayPal at live@dogworksradio.com