MGMT 1110: Introduction to Management

Spring 2015/2016
Department of Management
School of Business and Management
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

Office:

Mr Alan (WAN
Guoguang)
Instructor

Mr Peter YIP
Instructional Assistant

LSK rm5027

LSK rm5018

Phone:

23587892

Email:

iasawan@ust.hk

Office
hours:

Mondays (by appointment

only)

peteryip@ust.hk

Course Website
https://canvas.ust.hk/

Class Meetings
Lectures: Mondays 13:30pm-16:20pm; Room 1003

Brief Course Description

Good management is essential for organizations in the pursuit of a successful
future. Management is about people. Managers manage people. This is an
introductory course to knowledge about how to manage. What does it take an
organization to outperform its rivals? What makes people effective at their jobs?
What makes work enjoyable?
Those are all fundamental questions that
management studies will help answer. Building on the framework of planningorganizing-leading-controlling (POLC), this course investigates topics such as
organizational culture, corporate strategy, organizational structure, managerial
ethics, leadership and organizational controls. The course is designed from a
practitioners (i.e. a practicing managers) perspectives, thus blending management
concepts with real life management situations. In doing this, interactive class
activities will be conducted including videos and case discussions.

Course Objectives

To inform provide descriptions of important concepts and practices of modern

management
To instruct demonstrate how you can apply and take actions on management
ideas discussed
To inspire to be both a thinker and doer. In addition to thinking about the
issues, you must be a doer. Management is not only about theories and
framework. An effective manager and leader requires timely and appropriate
management (POLC) actions

Learning Outcomes (MGMT 1110)

On completion of the course, you should be able to:

explain major concepts and theories in management

apply concepts and theories in management to real-life management issues

in organizations

appreciate the challenges managers face and how, as future managers and
leaders, you can successfully meet these challenges

Learning Outcomes (MGMT learning goals)1

On completion of the course, you should be able to:

improve skills in becoming critical and creative thinkers

approach problems from alternative perspectives
solve problems using appropriate analytical techniques
defend reasoned solutions to business problems

understand the core business functions and integrate these functions to solve
business problems
connect different functional areas to formulate integrate solutions
decide how one functional areas impacts the other

have in-depth grasp of organizational behavior

demonstrate substantial knowledge and understanding of managing people,
organizational processes and strategic directions

become effective communicators in oral and written English

produce quality analysis and communicate ideas persuasively to inform and
convince others through group project

Based on MGMT Program Learning Goals and Objectives (re-edited on July 15, 2008)

Course Materials

Recommended textbook: Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. (2015). Essentials of

Contemporary Management (6th global edition). Boston, MA: McGrawHill/Irwin.

Additional materials will be distributed on the course website or in class.

Lectures are an integral component of the course. Many activities such as

discussions and videos are held in lectures. This is where the doer part of
management is practiced. In addition, it is a platform for you to raise
questions and to deliberate the concepts covered in textbooks.

Our Respective Responsibilities

Instructor responsibilities are:

To provide you with relevant course materials

To share with you management issues in real-world settings

To stimulate meaningful discussions and learning experiences

To provide prompt attention to your needs and comments

To provide constructive feedback throughout the course

To evaluate your performance in a transparent and fair manner

To treat you with respect

To make the class as fun and interesting as possible

Your responsibilities are:

To adequately prepare for classes

To complete your assignments in a professional manner. No plagiarism

To
uphold
the
HKUST
Academic
Honor
Code
(http://www.ust.hk/vpaao/integrity)

To share your knowledge with fellow classmates in class and outside class

Not to free-ride in group work

To practice business etiquettes (e.g. punctuality, attentiveness, integrity,

honesty)

To provide me with periodic feedback throughout the course

To treat your classmates with respect

Course Evaluation
I. Individual Work
1. Examination 1
2. Examination 2
3. Class Attendance
4. Class Participation
Individual Subtotal

35.0%
25.0%
5.0%
10.0%
75.0%

II. Group Work

4a. Group Project: Written Report
4b. Group Project: Presentation
Group Subtotal
Total

15.0%
10.0%
25.0%
100%

Late assignments will be penalized 10 points per every 24-hours period after the
due time. Written assignments that exceed the specified page limits will not be
entertained.
On the due date of the written report, you should:
One representative of your group to email soft copy of group written
assignment to Peter (peteryip@ust.hk) before 17:00 May 13th.
On the cover sheet of your assignment, you must mark clearly your group
number, names and email addresses of all your group members.
On the due date of your project oral presentation, you should:
Hand in one hard copy of your presentation material at the beginning of your
lecture session.
Email your final soft copy to Peter (peteryip@ust.hk) no later than 12:00 pm on
the date of your presentation. You will not be allowed to upload a revised
version.
Distribution of course grades will be based on the following school guidelines:
Grade
A+, A, AB+, B, BC+, C, CD

Percentage
10-20%
25-40%
35-45%
5-10%

0-5%

Course Evaluation Details

1.
2.

Examination 1 (35%) March 24th (time and venue TBD)

Examination 2 (25%) TBD (time and venue TBD)

The two examinations are non-cumulative, i.e. Exam 1 covers the first half of the
course and Exam 2 covers the second half.
Kindly note the scheduled examination dates indicate in the syllabus. There will be
no make-up exams except due to extraordinary circumstances beyond your control
(e.g. medical emergencies). Appropriate supporting document (e.g. documents
issued by a registered medical practitioner) is required for the consideration for a
make-up exam. It is your responsibility to notify the lecturer no later than the end
time of the scheduled exam time slot. Your failure to notify the lecturer will
adversely impact the lecturers decision. The lecturer holds the absolute discretion
whether or not to grant the make-up exam. The make-up exam, if granted on a
very unusual circumstance, will consist of case and short questions only.
3.
Class Attendence and Participation (15.0%)
Your attendance and active participation is a very important part of your learning
process. Your participation grade will reflect your level of engagement and quality
in the following activities:

Active participation in class.

Performance in class activities.

Participation in class discussions is important as it enhances the experience

sharing and story-telling are that are essential components of this course. Punctual
attendance is highly recommended.
4a.
4b.

Group Project Written Paper (15%)

Group Project Presentation (10%)

You will be assigned a company and will be required to analyze that company as if
youre the management team. You will write an analysis of management issues
based on provided articles.
In the paper, you should (1) describe the management issues presented in the
clippings, (2) identify the managerial challenges, problems and / or opportunities
presented in the clippings, (3) analyze the issues with relevant theories and
concepts you learnt from the course, and (4) discuss implications based on your
analysis, such as your recommended next course of action or potential
consequences emerged from the identified issues.

You will form your own groups of five people. Each group will prepare a maximum of
five-page analysis (12pt, Times New Roman, 1.5 lines-spaced), not counting the
cover page and reference list.

Towards the end of the term, your group will give an 8-minute presentation to the
class based on your written analysis. There should be no less than 2 presenters
from each group. At the end of each presentation, there will be a 2-minute question
and answer session. The entire class will vote for the best presentation of the day
at the end of the lecture. The group with most votes in their respective lecture
session will receive 10 bonus points for their group project presentation score.

Indicative Course Schedule

Sessio
n
1.

Date

Topic

Readings

February 3

Welcome!
Introduction and
overview of
syllabus

Syllabus

Management
process today
History of
management
Changes in
management
practice
Building
competitive
advantages
Managing global
environment (I)
Managing global
environment (II)
Planning &
strategy (I)
Planning &
strategy (II)
Planning &
strategy (III)
International
expansion
Organization
structure(I)
Organization
structure(II)
Organization
control
Review for
strategy
Middle Exam

Ch1

2.
3.

February 17

4.
5.

February 24

6.
7.

March 2

8.
9.

March 9

10.
11.

March 16

12.
13.

March 23

14.
15.

March 24

16.
17.

April 6

No class,
advisory for
group project,
by
appointment
only

18.
19.

April 13

Values,
Attitudes,
Emotions, and
Culture
Managing Ethics
and Diversity.
Motivation (I)
Motivation (II)
Managerial
leadership (I)
Managerial
leadership (II)
Review for ob
Group
project
presentation (I)

20.
21.
22.
23.

April 20
April 27

24.
25.

May 4

26.
27.

TBD

Ch1

Task Due

Index card with

photo

Ch6
Ch4

Group formed (list)

Ch4
Ch5, Ch6
Ch5, Ch6
Ch5, Ch6
Ch6
Ch7 Ch8
Ch7 Ch8
Ch13 Ch14

Strategy
material

Ch2

Ch3
Ch9
Ch9
Ch10
Ch10
Presentation (oral)

Group
project
presentation (II)

Presentation (oral)

Final Exam

OB material