Cutoff date: April, 25, 2015 unless otherwise indicated by the deanship
Please read these instructions carefully. However, contact your tutor in case of any difficulties with the instructions. You should submit your completed assignment to your tutor to arrive no later than the cut-off Date
Please use standard A4 size paper for your TMAs. Your name, personal identifier, course and assignment numbers must appear at the top of each sheet. Please leave wide margins and space at the end of each sheet for tutor comments. It is better to use double spacing so that you can easily handwrite corrections to your drafts and tutors have space to include their feedback on the script. Start each question in the assignment on a new page.
Completing and sending your assignments:
When you have completed your TMA, you must fill in the assignment form (PT3), taking care to fill all information correctly including your personal identifier, course code, section & tutor, and assignment numbers. Each TMA and its PT3 form should be uploaded on the AOU branch Learning Management System (LMS) within the cut-off date. Keep a copy of your TMA for security. Late submissions require approval from the branch course coordinator and will be subject to grade deductions. All assignments are treated in strict confidence.
It is very important that you ensure that your tutor receives each assignment by the cut-off date given. If you feel that you are unable to meet the cut-off date of the TMA because of unusual circumstances, please contact your tutor as soon as possible to discuss a possible extension to the cut-off date.
TMA weight: 20% of total course grade.
Course material: The Manager’s Good Study Guide, Third Edition
Answering: Your response to the question should take the form of a full essay format divided into a number of paragraphs with introduction and conclusion without subheadings and bullet points.
Referencing: You must acknowledge all your sources of information using full Harvard Style Referencing (in-text referencing plus list of references at the end).
Textbook: For completing your assignment you can also take the help of your text book (The Managers good study guide).
E-library: You are expected to use E-library sources to support your answers. A minimum of 4 sources is required.
Word count: your answer is expected to be within the specified word count. A 10% deviation from word count limit is acceptable.
Plagiarism:
The Arab Open University Definitions of cheating and plagiarism.
According to the Arab Open University By-laws, “the following acts represent cases of cheating and plagiarism:
• Verbatim copying of printed material and submitting them as part of TMAs without proper academic acknowledgement and documentation.
• Verbatim copying of material from the Internet, including tables and graphics.
• Copying other students’ notes or reports.
• Using paid or unpaid material prepared for the student by individuals or firms.
• Utilization of, or proceeding to utilize, contraband materials or devices in examinations’’
Penalty on plagiarism:
The following is the standard plagiarism penalty applied across branches as per Article 11 of the university by-laws:
• Awarding of zero for a TMA wherein more than 20% of the content is plagiarized.
• Documentation of warning in student record
• Failure in the course to dismissal from the University.
• All University programmes are required to apply penalties that are consistent with the University by laws.
Examples of Plagiarism:
Copying from a single or multiple sources, this is where the student uses one or more of the following as the basis for the whole, or a good part, of the assignment:
• Published or unpublished books, articles or reports.
• The Internet.
• The media (e.g.TV programmes, radio programmes or newspaper articles) .
• An essay from an essay bank.
• A piece of work previously submitted by another student.
• Copying from a text which is about to be submitted for the same assignment
General instructions for students:
Deductions
• Lack of Use of E-Library- Minimum four sources to support your answer ( Deduct up to 5 % marks)
• Poor TMA Presentation and Structure (Deduct up to 5% marks)
• Poor Referencing ( Deduct up to 5% marks)
• Non-adherence of word count ( Deduct up to 5% Marks)

Introduction

The aim of this TMA is to familiarize students with the theoretical understanding of how and why managers do what they do in organizations.
Short Business Case

UPS Store

The UPS Store grew out of United Parcel’s acquisition of Mail Boxes Etc. This acquisition happened in 2001. Mail Boxes Etc. providing copying services, a place for individuals to pick up their mail , and mailing services with firms such as UPS.This acquisition by UPS was intended to give the package delivery firm a retail connection. Thereafter, UPS allied itself with office Depot and Staples to provide shipping services in their stores. As a part of enhancing its services UPS has been consistently adding on-line tracking and other possible services.

The goal of developing these connections has been to create a seemless integration of technology that makes it easier for consumers to choose UPS. Thus, there was not a separate technology strategy, but instead, technology was a key part of what enabled the strategy.

References

Podmolik,M.E. 2004.UPS promotes commerce, supply chain capabilities. B to B,89 (12):18-20
TMA Questions

Answer the following questions, using an essay format, with reference to the above case study. You need to draw and use the theoretical concepts, techniques, principles and models which you have learned in B121: The Manager’s Good Study Guide and external resources like e-library resources.

Question 1. (200 words, 20 marks)

Identify the advantages and challenges of working with others in a technology mediated environment, with reference to the UPS store.

Question 2. (400 words, 40 marks)

Use your e-library search to find three articles that discusses techniques for group work. By integrating the ideas derived from the articles, write an essay on “Techniques for Group work”.

Question 3. (400 words, 40 marks)

3. Choose the organization you are working with or the one you are familiar with, and find the uses and experiences of Peer relationship as a strategy for learning at work, by interviewing at least five employees.
TMA Guidance to Students

Question 1.

Student need to read the case carefully. Student need to relate the discussion in the pages 86-88 of The Manager’s Good Study Guide. Identify the advantages and challenges of working with others in a technology mediated environment. Use of E-library is rewarded with higher grades.

Question 2.

Use your e-library and search to find three articles that discuss techniques for group work. Integrate the ideas derived from the articles. Write an essay on “Techniques for Group work”.

Question 3

Choose a local organization of your choice. Meet 5 employees. Interview them, in order to find out the uses and experiences of peer relationship as a strategy for learning at work