MGT408 ? Organizational Theory
& Development

Unit 5 Assignment: Organizational Change

Due Date: 11:59 pm EST Sunday of Unit 5
Points: 100

Overview:

This week, we delved into the topic of organizational change and realized that the world
is changing at an increasing rate of acceleration. In turn, organizations need to adapt to
thrive and often, even survive. Change, whether revolutionary or evolutionary it is
inevitable, and organizations must adapt. Based on your individual research, continue
examining the company you have been following in previous assignments and explain
how you see it responding to a major challenge, that was a threat to the life of the
organization. What was the nature of the change required? How did the company
respond?

Instructions:

? Choose an organization that has declined or failed to the extent of

dissolution (death of an organization).

? Discuss why organizational decline occurred and detail the stages of its decline.

Then describe how managers can work to prevent the failure of an organization.

Requirements:

? Develop a clear introduction with a thesis, a body, and a conclusion. Focus on

quality of writing, as opposed to length.

? Research and include at least one additional, credible reference from an outside

source pertaining to the organization you chose.

? Use APA formatting for the cover page, citations, and the reference page. No

abstract is required.

Be sure to read the criteria below by which your work will be evaluated before
you write and again after you write.

Evaluation Rubric for Unit 5 Assignment

CRITERIA Deficient Needs
Improvement

Proficient Exemplary

(0-12 points) (13-19 points) (20-25 points) (26-30 points)

Supporting
Evidence/
Analysis

Lacks specific,
credible, and
relevant
support.
Development
of position /
argument is
inadequate or
missing.

There is
evidence of
some support
in the paper,
but it is not tied
in well with the
development of
the position or
argument.

Adequately
supported with
a limited
spectrum of
specific,
credible, and
relevant
evidence.
Development
of position or
argument is
thoughtful and
persuasive but
lacks some
detail.

Well-supported
with a broad
spectrum of
specific,
credible, and
relevant
evidence.
Position /
argument is
well-
developed,
very thoughtful,
and
persuasive.

(0-9 points) (10-14 points) (15-17 points) (18-20 points)

Grammar and
Mechanics

Lacks polish
and does not
demonstrate
proficiency in
grammar and
mechanics.

Some polish
and proficiency
in grammar
and mechanics
is present.

Generally
polished and
demonstrates
proficiency in
grammar and
mechanics.

Polished and
demonstrates a
high level of
proficiency in
grammar and
mechanics.

(0-7 points) (8-10 points) (11-13 points) (14-15 points)

Introduction
and Thesis
Statement

Unclear or
incomplete

Introduction
and thesis are
present but
lack detail and
clarity.

Introduction
with a partially
developed
thesis.

Clear, well-
developed,
introduction
and thesis.

Conclusion No conclusion
included.

Conclusion is
present but
does not tie in
with the rest of
the paper.

Some attempt
at a
conclusion, but
it is not well
written.

Well-written
and fully
developed
conclusion.

(0-4 points) (5-6 points) (7-8 points) (9-10 points)

Clarity and
Organization

Lack
organization,
logic, and
clarity.
Transitions
seldom or

Organization,
logic and/or
clarity are
missing.
Transitions are
used but are
confusing and

Generally
organized,
logical, and
clearly
articulated.
Transitions

Paragraph
formation is
clear. Fully
organized,
logical and
clearly
articulated.

CRITERIA Deficient Needs
Improvement

Proficient Exemplary

never used to
connect ideas.

difficult to
follow.

often smoothly
connect ideas.

Transitions
smoothly
connect ideas.

APA
Formatting

Paper has no
APA formatting
and contains
no credible
references.

There is some
attempt at APA
formatting in
the paper, but
it is not
correctly used.
One credible
reference is
used.

Paper lacks
one element of
APA (cover,
references, or
in-text
citations), but
does contain
one credible
reference.

Paper has all
elements of
APA formatting
used properly
with at least
one credible
reference
used.