OL 342 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
Organizations across multiple industries have experienced change related to internal and external influences founded upon behavioral theories. Short- and long-
term organizational success requires leaders to distinguish connections between these influences and individual, group, and organizational behaviors.
Organizational behavior reviews the usual suspects that influence organizational performance and sustainability, including, but not limited to, leadership
approach and style, motivational methods and models, internal and external culture, individual behaviors, attitudes, and individual perceptions.
The purpose of this project is to explore these topics from the three specific layers related to organizations: the individual, the group, and the entire
organizational system. The project will be a case study analysis of an organization. The analysis will include exploring the organizational modeling, the leadership
theory used, and the organizational culture of the company in the case study. By examining an organization through the case study, you will better understand
how the different aspects of organizational behavior manifest themselves within a company and how that influences the operations of the company. You will
use this case study for this project: The GM Culture Crisis: What Leaders Must Learn From This Culture Case Study.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
· Analyze organizational shifts in common business practices in the form of structure or design throughout history for their influence on modern
organizational ideals
· Assess internal and external influences to ensure alignment with organizational outcomes
· Analyze behavioral cause and effect in terms of the organizational outcomes in both employee and organizational performance
· Analyze the impact of culture on organizational operations for its influence on leadership styles and motivational theories on behavior within the
organization
· Apply organizational behavior models and decision-making tools used by management in a business organization
Prompt
For this project, you will analyze a real-world case study through the lens of organizational behavior, including at least cultural, diverse, motivational, and
leadership model perspectives. You will identify these key components within the case study, using proper organizational behavior terminology, and discuss the
impacts each appears to have within the organization itself.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Introduction
A. How is the organization described in the case study? What are its key attributes? What are its strengths and weaknesses?
II. Organizational Modeling
A. Describe a current behavioral organizational model used in the case study.
B. Compare the current behavioral organizational model used above to other models used within the industry and also within external related
industries.
C. Explain why there are differences between the organizational model used by the organization in the case study and those used by organizations
in another similar industry. In other words, what are some of the reasons for using these different organizational models?
D. Compare the current impact of culture on current organizational models to the impact culture has had on past organizational models.
E. Explain how the organization is or is not operating within an organizational model unique to its industry.
F. Explain if motivational models have shifted in comparison to the organizational modeling trends.
III. Evaluate Leadership Theory
A. Describe a leadership style used in the case study and why there was a shift in leadership style throughout the case study.
B. Explain the characteristics and decisions of management in the case study that help explain the shift in leadership style.
C. Identify the internal and external influences on the organization that may have caused the shift in leadership style. Be sure to explain your
choices.
D. Describe the relationship between a leadership style used by the organization in the case study and the decision-making process.
IV. Assess Organizational Culture
A. Discuss the internal culture present within the organization. Be sure to utilize terms relative to organizational behavior.
B. Identify specific examples from the case study that demonstrate the internal culture present within the organization.
V. Insights and Conclusions
A. Explain why the leadership style(s) and internal culture of the organization complement each other or do not complement each other.
B. Explain whether or not the changes in leadership style or internal culture of the organization influenced each other.
C. Explain how the leadership styles and internal culture of the organization may have influenced the behavior of the employees within the
organization. You could consider providing specific instances or examples from within the case study to support your response.
Milestone One: Introduction and Organizational Modeling
Milestones
In Module Three, you will write a short paper that addresses Sections I and II of the final project. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Leadership Theory, Organizational Culture, Insights and Conclusions
In Module Five, you will write a short paper that addresses Sections III, IV, and V of the final project. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two
Rubric.
Final Project Submission: Organizational Analysis
In Module Seven, you will complete and submit your final organizational analysis. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric, below.
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Submit assignment as a Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Introduction:
Organization
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
description is an especially
comprehensive overview of the
organization
Describes key attributes,
strengths, and weaknesses of
the organization in the case
study
Describes key attributes,
strengths, and weaknesses of
the organization in the case
study, but description is cursory
or inaccurate
Does not describe key
attributes, strengths, and
weaknesses of the organization
in the case study
5.5
Organizational
Modeling: Current
Organizational Model
[OL-342-05]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
describes the behavioral
organizational model used in a
way that is especially
comprehensive
Describes a current behavioral
organizational model used by
the organization in the case
study
Describes a current behavioral
organizational model used by
the organization in the case
study, but description is cursory
or inaccurate
Does not describe a current
behavioral organizational
model used by the organization
in the case study
6
Organizational
Modeling: Other
Models
[OL-342-05]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
comparison demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
behavioral organizational
models used in the industry of
the organization in the case
study as well as other related
industries
Compares the current
behavioral model used by the
organization to other models
used within the industry and
also external related industries
Compares the current
behavioral model used by the
organization to other models
used within the industry and
also external related industries,
but comparison is cursory or
inappropriate
Does not compare the current
behavioral model used by the
organization to other models
used within the industry and
also external related industries
6
Organizational
Modeling: Differences
[OL-342-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
explanation demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
differences of organizational
modeling in different industries
Explains why there are
differences between the
modeling used by the
organization in the case study
and organizations in another
industry
Explains why there are
differences between the
modeling used by the
organization in the case study
and organizations in another
industry, but explanation is
cursory or inappropriate
Does not explain why there are
differences between the
modeling used by the
organization in the case study
and organizations in another
industry and why they are
different
6
Organizational
Modeling: Culture
[OL-342-04]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
comparison demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
impact of culture on the
development of organizational
models throughout history
Compares the current impact of
culture on current
organizational models in
comparison to the impact
culture has had on past
organizational models
Compares the current impact of
culture on current
organizational models in
comparison to the impact
culture has had on past
organizational models, but
comparison is cursory or
inaccurate
Does not compare the current
impact of culture on current
organizational models in
comparison to the impact
culture has had on past
organizational models
6
Organizational
Modeling: Unique
[OL-342-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
explanation demonstrates keen
insight into the organizational
models used in the industry of
the organization in the case
study
Explains how the organization is
or is not operating within an
organizational model unique to
the industry
Explains how the organization is
or is not operating within an
organizational model unique to
the industry, but explanation is
cursory or inappropriate
Does not explain how the
organization is or is not
operating within an
organizational model unique to
the industry
6
Organizational
Modeling:
Motivational Models
[OL-342-04]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
explanation demonstrates keen
insight into the current state of
organizational modeling and
how motivational models align
or do not align with current
trends
Explains if motivational models
have shifted or have not shifted
in comparison to the
organizational modeling trends
Explains if motivational models
have shifted or have not shifted
in comparison to the
organizational modeling trends,
but explanation is cursory or
inappropriate
Does not explain if motivational
models have shifted or have
not shifted in comparison to the
organizational modeling trends
6
Evaluate Leadership
Theory: Leadership
Style
[OL-342-04]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
description demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of
leadership styles and why they
can change
Describes a leadership style
used in the case study and why
there was a shift in leadership
style throughout the case study
Describes a leadership style
used in the case study and why
there was a shift in leadership
style throughout the case
study, but explanation is
cursory
Does not describe a leadership
style used in the case study and
why there was a shift in
leadership style throughout the
case study
6
Evaluate Leadership
Theory:
Characteristics and
Decisions
[OL-342-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
explanation demonstrates keen
insight into how the behaviors
of management in the case
study may have influenced the
shift in leadership style
Explain the characteristics and
decisions of management in the
case study that help explain the
shift in leadership style
Explain the characteristics and
decisions of management in the
case study that help explain the
shift in leadership style, but
explanation is cursory or
inappropriate
Does not explain the
characteristics and decisions of
management in the case study
that help explain the shift in
leadership style
6
Evaluate Leadership
Theory: Internal and
External Influences
[OL-342-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
explanation demonstrates keen
insight into how internal and
external influences on the
organization in the case study
may have influenced the shift in
leadership style
Explains the internal and
external influences on the
organization that may have
caused the shift in leadership
style
Explains the internal and
external influences on the
organization that may have
caused the shift in leadership
style, but explanation is cursory
or inappropriate
Does not explain the internal
and external influences on the
organization that may have
caused the shift in leadership
style
6
Evaluate Leadership
Theory: Relationship
[OL-342-05]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
makes cogent connections
between a leadership style
used in the case study and the
decision-making processes
Describes the relationship
between a leadership style
used in the case study and the
decision-making process
Describes the relationship
between a leadership style
used in the case study and the
decision-making process, but
explanation is cursory or
inappropriate
Does not describe the
relationship between a
leadership style used in the
case study and the decision-
making process
6
Assess Organizational
Culture: Internal
Culture
[OL-342-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
the discussion is an especially
comprehensive overview of the
internal culture of the
organization
Discusses the internal culture
present within the organization
using terms relative to
organizational behavior
Discusses the internal culture
present within the organization
using terms relative to
organizational behavior, but
discussion is cursory or
inappropriate
Does not discuss the internal
culture present within the
organization using terms
relative to organizational
behavior
6
Assess Organizational
Culture: Examples
[OL-342-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
identification demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
internal culture present within
the organization
Identifies specific examples
from the case study that
demonstrate the internal
culture present within the
organization
Identifies examples from the
case study that demonstrate
the internal culture present
within the organization, but
identification is inappropriate
Does not identify examples
from the case study that
demonstrate the internal
culture present within the
organization
6
Insights and
Conclusions:
Complement
[OL-342-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
explanation demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of how
leadership styles and culture
complement each other
Explains why the leadership
style(s) and internal culture of
the organization complement
each other or do not
complement each other
Explains why the leadership
style(s) and internal culture of
the organization complement
each other or do not
complement each other, but
explanation is cursory or
inappropriate
Does not explain why the
leadership style(s) and internal
culture of the organization
complement each other or do
not complement each other
6
Insights and
Conclusions:
Influenced Each Other
[OL-342-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
explanation demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
influence that leadership styles
and culture have on one
another within the organization
Explains whether or not the
changes in leadership style or
internal culture of the
organization influenced each
other
Explains whether or not the
changes in leadership style or
internal culture of the
organization influenced each
other, but explanation is
cursory
Does not explain whether or
not the changes in leadership
style or internal culture of the
organization influenced each
other
6
Insights and
Conclusions:
Employees
[OL-342-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
explanation provides cogent
example for how employee
behavior was influenced by the
leadership styles and internal
culture of the organization
Explains how the leadership
styles and internal culture of
the organization may have
influenced the behavior of the
employees within the
organization
Explains how the leadership
styles and internal culture of
the organization may have
influenced the behavior of the
employees within the
organization, but explanation is
cursory or inappropriate
Does not explain how the
leadership styles and internal
culture of the organization may
have influenced the behavior of
the employees within the
organization
6
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and
organization and is presented in
a professional and easy-to-read
format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact
readability and articulation of
main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
4.5
Total 100%
