MGW 1010

INTRODUCTION TO
MANAGEMENT
COMMON MISTAKES FOUND
IN ASSIGNMENT 1

Dr. K.L. Loh

INTRODUCTION (i)
No purpose of the essay stated.
No students perspective on the
issue stated.
STRUCTURE OF AN INTRODUCTION
Begins with background sentences on the
topic
Explains the purpose of the report
Presents the students perspective on the
issue, derived from an analysis of the data
which is presented in the body of the
report.
Ref. Q-Manual p 29
Dr. K.L. Loh

INTRODUCTION (ii)
No link between definition and actual.
Managers are defined as people who lead,
guide and monitor the work of people to
ensure organizational goals are accomplished.
Mrs. Y is a director of marketing in Company A.
An organization refers to a deliberate structure
that is composed of people in order to achieve
a distinct purpose (Robbins, Bergman, Stagg &
Coulter, 2009). Company A provides
investment and financial services and is a
large organization of 100 people.
Dr. K.L. Loh

INTRODUCTION (iii)
Unnecessary information included
The 5-point Likert scale in the questionnaire
rates that 5 means the manager agrees very
much and 1 indicates very little.
The manager interviewed is Mrs. T who is 45
years old, married with a daughter.
A pseudonym is given to identify the
manager .
The manager interviewed will give the
internal view of his managerial skills inside
the company.
Mr. X has given a brief
idea about his
Dr. K.L. Loh
4

ARGUMENT REGARDING KATZS

THEORY (i)
Topic/definition discussed is not
linked to Katzs skills.

The manager also plays the roles of a disturbance

handler and resource allocator.
According to Rue and Byars (2009) planning is mostly
associated with top level management.
Both Mintzbergs and Fayols models contain
elements that correspond to identifiable concepts
and ideas (Fell, 2000, as cited in Lamond, 2003).
Mintzbergs decisional role shows a clear similarity to
Fayols management function of organizing .
Mr. A is responsible to participate in board meetings
as a director for any form of discussion involving the
organisations goals.
Dr. K.L. Loh

ARGUMENT REGARDING KATZS

THEORY (ii)
No explanation or example given
to support the point (a)

Therefore, human skills are placed as a

priority in the job.
The team is motivated to achieve their
highest performance which is believed to be
self-actualisation by Maslow.
As for conceptual skills, Mr. Y regularly
enhances his analytical capability and also
his ability to think outside the box.
Mr. Y needs to have specialized skills in order
to train, direct, evaluate
Dr. K.L. Loh

ARGUMENT REGARDING KATZS

THEORY (iii)
No explanation or example given
to support the point (b)
Mr. A reflects Katzs technical skills since
his job requires him to have knowledge
and proficiency in a specific field.
. his level of management contradicts
with the way Katz categorises the
importance of his skills in the level of
management.
Katzs theory is only useful to a certain
extent.
Dr. K.L. Loh

ARGUMENT REGARDING KATZS THEORY (iv)

Wrong understanding of Katzs skills

This therefore proves that Katzs

statement was flawed, as technical skill is
definitely required for top managers.
Poor understanding of conceptual skills

Dr. K.L. Loh

ARGUMENT REGARDING KATZS THEORY (v)

Others

Contradictory statements
Use of non-specific terms
Huge evidence of human skills
Not so much involved

Dr. K.L. Loh

ARGUMENT REGARDING
TECHNOLOGY AND/OR CHANGING
TECHNOLOGY (i)
Unexplained term used
With the improvement of technology,
deals and transactions can be performed
easily.
The latest technology is needed to excel in
the managers work.
With technology, the manager and the
employees are now more flexible as they
are able to work outside of the office.
Dr. K.L. Loh

10

ARGUMENT REGARDING
TECHNOLOGY AND/OR CHANGING
TECHNOLOGY (ii)
Unexplained term used
.. advancement in telecommunication
technology assists interaction
Technology affected the company by
increasing the demand of skilled
employees
.. more reliance on good system support
to perform repeated processes .

Dr. K.L. Loh

11

ARGUMENT REGARDING
TECHNOLOGY AND/OR CHANGING
TECHNOLOGY (iii)
Unsupported statements (a)
Technology also affects the aspects of life
at work by improving it.
The introduction of latest technology is to
bring about positive changes to the
organization.
Technology also provides a better base for
industrial relations.

Dr. K.L. Loh

12

ARGUMENT REGARDING
TECHNOLOGY AND/OR CHANGING
TECHNOLOGY (iv)
Unsupported statements (b)

Technology advancement has allowed the

manager to build a tighter relationship
with his agents and clients.
The manager believed that there is no
perfect substitute for human cordiality .
Without technology development in the
company, they would lose out to their
competitors.

Dr. K.L. Loh

13

ARGUMENT REGARDING
TECHNOLOGY AND/OR CHANGING
TECHNOLOGY (v)
Others

Unrelated theory stated

Hipkin and Bennett (2002) also mentioned that

managers are mainly concerned about

General explanation of effects of

technology
stated without linking to the
organization or
the manager.
Dr. K.L. Loh

14

CONCLUSIONS
Weak conclusion
STRUCTURE OF A CONCLUSION
Summary of the essay discussion
Logical deductions drawn from the findings
Effects/Implications of the issue in the
future
Any issues unresolved.

Ref. Q-Manual p 30
Dr. K.L. Loh

15

ESSAY STRUCTURE (i)

Poorly constructed paragraphs
STRUCTURE OF A PARAGRAPH
Main point of paragraph/topic sentence (in
your own words)
Discussion/explanation, based on evidence
from your research/reading
Writer comment or perspective on the
development of the paragraphs idea.

Ref. Q-Manual p 31
Dr. K.L. Loh

16

ESSAY STRUCTURE (ii)

Poor paraphrasing
Original source:
Organisational cultures vary according to
the nature of the beliefs, values and
attitudes that are commonly held. These
reflect differences in society, history and
function.
A Paraphrase:
As explained by Williams, Dibson and
Walters (1989), just as beliefs, attitudes
and values which express how societys
Ref. Q-Manual
56
historyp and
function differ, so too do
Dr. K.L. Loh
organizational cultures.

17

ESSAY STRUCTURE (iii)

Sentence is too long
As employees are motivated to acquire
feedback about their performance, ultimately
allowing them to manage their working
behaviour (Ashford & Cummings, 1983),
providing clear, performance-based feedback
promotes both commitment and morale by
facilitating their supportive needs from the
working environment, as well as improving
their ability to perform their work, ultimately
allowing them to achieve their goals within
the organisation.
Dr. K.L. Loh

18

CITATION OF SOURCES,
REFERENCING AND APA FORMAT
(i)
Plagiarism - Cut and paste without
acknowledging the source.
Cut and paste sentences even with
source
referenced is not academically
acceptable even
though it is not plagiarism.
Ref. Q-Manual, p. 51
Dr. K.L. Loh

19

CITATION OF SOURCES,
REFERENCING AND APA FORMAT
(ii)
Errors in direct quote
Without quotation marks
Without page number

Too many direct quotes

Ref. Q-Manual, Chap. 10

Dr. K.L. Loh

20

CITATION OF SOURCES,
REFERENCING AND APA FORMAT
(iii)
Error in citation of source

Peterson instead of Peterson and Van Fleet

Stephen Robbins, Rolf Bergman, Ian Stagg and
Mary Coulter (2008) states that ..
Abraham Maslows motivational theory, Henri
Fayols managerial principles and Henri
Mintzbergs theory ..
.. lower levels of managers as cited in
(Robbins, et al., 2009)
.. than those of higher managerial posts as
observed in (Robbins et al., 2009)
TreatingChap.
secondary
source as the main source
Ref. Q-Manual,
10
Dr. K.L. Loh

21

CITATION OF SOURCES,
REFERENCING AND APA FORMAT (iv)
Citation of source is not listed in the
Reference
list
Michaely and Womack (1999, as cited in Shen
and Chih, 2009)

Year is wrongly stated or not stated

According to Katz, a managers capability .
.. as defined by Mintzberg,
Peterson & Van Fleet, 1297
Ref. Q-Manual, Chap. 10
Dr. K.L. Loh

22

CITATION OF SOURCES,
REFERENCING AND APA FORMAT
(v)
Reference list is not in
alphabetical
Milner, L.M.
& Fodness, D.order
(1996). Product
gender perceptions: The case of China.
International Marketing Review, Vol. 13(4),
40-51.
Chapman, J.A. (2001). The work of
managers in new organisational contexts.
Journal of Management Development,
20(1), 55-68.
Bovey, W.H. & Hede, A. (2001). Resistance
to organizational change: The role of
and
Ref. cognitive
Q-Manual, Chap.
10 affective processes.
Dr. K.L. Loh
23
Leadership & Organisation Development

CITATION OF SOURCES,
REFERENCING AND APA FORMAT
(vi)
Wrong referencing format from
internet source

Chapman, J.A. (2001). The work of

managers in new organisational contexts.
Journal of Management Development,
20(1), 55-68. Retrieved from
http://www.emaraldinsight.com.ezproxy.lib.
monash.edu.au/Insight/viewContentItem.do
;jsessionid=2D5782B05B8DDA48C5197AB0
94907774?
contentType=Article&contentId=880423
Ref. Q-Manual, Chap. 10
Dr. K.L. Loh

24

CITATION OF SOURCES,
REFERENCING AND APA FORMAT
(vii)
Mixing Harvard referencing with
APA
referencing

Milner, L.M. & Fodness, D. (1996). Product

gender perceptions: The case of China.
International Marketing Review, Vol. 13
Issue 4, pp. 40-51.

Ref. Q-Manual, Chap. 10

Dr. K.L. Loh

25

CITATION OF SOURCES,
REFERENCING AND APA FORMAT (viii)

Initials of authors were not

included
Milner & Fodness (1996). Product gender
perceptions: The case of China.
International Marketing Review, 13 (4), 4051.

Italics were not used

Milner, L.M. & Fodness, D. (1996). Product
gender perceptions: The case of China.
International
Ref. Q-Manual,
Chap. 10 Marketing Review, 13( 4), 40Dr. K.L. Loh
26
51.

CITATION OF SOURCES,
REFERENCING AND APA FORMAT (ix)
Italics were not used
Milner, L.M. & Fodness, D. (1996). Product gender
perceptions: The case of China. INTERNATIONAL
MARKETING REVIEW, 13( 4), 40-51.

Wrong use of et al.

Reference list includes articles which were
not
cited in the text.
Wrong use of and / &
Listing of secondary sources as references.
Ref. Q-Manual, Chap. 10

Dr. K.L. Loh

27

USE OF PRESCRIBED TEXT AND

RELEVANT JOURNAL ARTICLES
Use of non-academic sources
The Grey Chronicles. Three skills of effective
administrator. Retrieved December 9, 2008 from
http://www.en.articlesgratuitis.com/management
skills-id1586.php
Mann, A. (2006, August 13). Managing Technology
in an organisation. Retrieved March 22, 2010, from
http://ezinarticles.com/?Managing-technology-in-anorganisation&id=267658

Ref. Q-Manual, p. 20
Dr. K.L. Loh

28

IMPACT OF LANGUAGE, GRAMMAR,

PUNCTUATION AND SPELLING (i)
Wrong spelling

Robin, Bergman, Stagg & Coulter, 2009

Miztberg, 1975
Mintberg, 1975
Manger
In the case of this manage
He tends to neglet plannig
conduct indebt study .
Dr. K.L. Loh

29

IMPACT OF LANGUAGE, GRAMMAR,

PUNCTUATION AND SPELLING (ii)
Use of informal language
Mr. Y has helped me to complete my
Questionnaire.
In this assignment, we were required to
investigate ..
I have interviewed the manager ..
My argument is further supported ..
Based on the report that I have written ..
. An opportunity where others dont .
Ref. Q-Manual, p. 34
Dr. K.L. Loh

30

TECHNICAL ASPECTS

Wrong font size

No spacing between paragraphs
Wrong spacing between lines
Insufficient/exceeded word count
Late submission

Dr. K.L. Loh

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Dr. K.L. Loh

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