Unity University

Department of Management
COURSE TITLE: Management Concepts and Thoughts
Group assignment (10/15%)
1. A University MBA instructor told his students, “The purpose of a management
course is to teach students about management, not to teach them to be managers”.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Discuss in group and describe your
opinion.
2. Based on your experience at work or school, describe some ways in which the
principles of Scientific Management, Administrative Theory, and Bureaucracy
are still used in organization. Do you believe these characteristics will ever cease a
part of organization life? Discuss and write brief report.
3. In self-selecting groups, visit a work organization of your choice, preferably one
that is well known to at least one member of your group.
a) Investigate those features of the structure, management and operations of the
organization which are characteristic of:
(i) Scientific management; and (ii) bureaucracy.
Comment critically on what you believe to be the practical effects of your set of
characteristics, and give examples in support of your comments.
b) For the same, or a different, organization, comment critically, with supporting
examples, on the extent to which applications of the human relations approach
to organization and management have been applied in practice.
4. Take any organizations of your choice, preferably the one well known by at least
one members of your group. Discuss how that organization applies the four major
management functions.
- Planning - Directing
- Organizing - Controlling