Fall 2016
Seminar in Performance Management
MGT 494
Section 1002: Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-3:45 p.m., BEH 108
Alan N. Miller, Ph.D.
Professor of Management
Department of Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology
Lee Business School
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Office: Beam Hall, 311
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:25-9:55 a.m., 4:00-5:00 p.m., and by appointment
Telephone: (702) 895-1724
Email:
Course Objectives
Performance management is the continuous process of identifying, measuring,and developing the performance of individuals and teams and aligning performance with the strategic goals of the organization. This course has three related learning objectives. First, to describe the performance management process. Second, to integrate performance management with the strategic management process. Third, to teach students how to design and implement a viableperformance management system that can be used in any type of organization.
Prerequisites
Students must have a major in the Lee Business School or a Management minor and have completed MGT 301 (Principles of Management and Organizational Behavior) with a minimum grade of C.
Required Readings
Aguinis, H. (2013). Performance Management (Third Edition). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Course Requirements and Grading
Attendance and punctuality are required at the class meetings on which the date of the Term Project oral presentation is assignedand on which examinations are scheduled (see the class schedule below). Attendance and punctuality at all other class meetings are strongly recommended.
Students are required to read all assignments (textbook chapters) before the date they are scheduled to be discussed in class (see the class schedule below).
There will be four examinations given on the dates shown in the class schedule. The first exam has 40 multiple-choice questions and is worth 40 points. The second and third exams each have 55 multiple-choice questions; each exam is worth 55 points. The final exam has 50 multiple-choice questions and is worth 50 points. The exams cover both assigned readings and class lectures. A brown or green Scan-Tron answer sheet and a number 2 pencil are required for each exam. Make-up exams are only given to students who notify the instructor before missing an exam and who provide an acceptable written excuse that can be documented.
Each student is required to complete theTerm Project.Thisproject includes designing a performance management system for each student’semployer or any organization he or she has worked for that does not use a performance management system. Students with no work experience must meet with the instructor to select an organization. Students cannot select the same organization and must have the instructor approve the organization they have selected by September 8.
The Term Project requires each student to write a short report and make a 19-21 minute oral presentation to the class on an assigned date. During the oral presentationeach student must: (1) briefly describe the performance appraisal system currently used by his or her organization;(2)provide a complete and detailed description of the components - including prerequisites, performance planning, performance execution, performance assessment, performance review, and performance renewal and recontracting - of the performance management system he or shehas designed for the organization;(3) explain how he or she would transition the organization’s performance appraisal system into a performance management system; and(4) describe the advantages of having a well-designed, properly implemented performance management system for theorganization. Specific examples from each student’s organization should be included in number (2) above.
The use of Power Points is required for the oral presentation. Each student must provide the instructor with a hard copy of the Power Points immediately before beginning his or her oral presentation.The short written report must be a summary of theperformance management system the student designed for his or her organization.The report must be one full 8 ½ x 11 inch single spaced page in length, using 12-point Times New Roman font and 1 ¼ inch margins. Each student must provide the instructor with a hard copy of the report immediately before making his or her oral presentation. The Term Project is worth 100 points and will be graded on quality of content (40%); thoroughness (40%); and, for the oral presentation, adherence to the time requirement (20%).
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is an excellent source of current information about organizations. Students who subscribe to the WSJ will receive 5 points that will be awarded as extra credit. In order to receive these points, the subscription must be in the student’s name; must begin no later than theseventh class meeting of the current semester; and end no earlier than the last class meeting of the semester. Students must provide the instructor with written proof of the foregoing from the WSJ by October 27. To subscribe to the WSJ, visit: WSJ.com/student offer
Course Web Site
The web site contains the course syllabus andthe Power Point presentations used in the class lectures. To access these click on “Classes” in the left column and then on “MGT 494 – Seminar in Performance Management.”
Determination of the Course Grade
A student’s course grade is determined by summing the number of points received for all examinations andthe Term Project. If applicable, extra credit points for subscribing to the WSJ will be added to this total. The following table shows the number of points needed to receive each letter grade:
276-300 = A
270-275 = A-
264-269 = B+
246-263 = B
240-245 = B-
234-239 = C+
216-233 = C
210-215 = C-
204-209 = D+
186-203 = D
180-185 = D-
0-179 = F
Students who have a documented disability that may require accommodation must contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) for coordination of services. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC), Room 137 (Voice: 895-0866 or TTY: 895-0652). These students must notify the instructor in writing of the accommodation they need by the last day of late registration.
Students requesting an accommodation for religious holidays must notify the instructor in writing of the accommodation they need by the last day of late registration.
Academic Misconduct
Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices to always take the ethical path. Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV’s function as an educational institution.
An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another, from the Internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources. See the Student Academic Misconduct Policy (approved December 9, 2005) located at:
Copyright
The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The university will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use laws.Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies. Additional information can be found at:
Incomplete Grades
The grade of I – Incomplete – can be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed all course work up to the withdrawal date of that semester/session but for reason(s) beyond the student’s control, and acceptable to the instructor, cannot complete the last part of the course, and the instructor believes that the student can finish the course without repeating it. A student who receives an I is responsible for making up whatever work was lacking at the end of the semester. If course requirements are not completed within the time indicated, a grade of F will be recorded and the GPA will be adjusted accordingly. Students who are fulfilling an Incomplete do not register for the course but make individual arrangements with the instructor who assigned the I grade.
Tutoring
The Academic Success Center (ASC) provides tutoring and academic assistance for all UNLV students taking UNLV courses. Students are encouraged to stop by the ASC to learn more about subjects offered, tutoring times and other academic resources. The ASC is located across from the Student Services Complex (SSC). Students may learn more about tutoring services by calling (702) 895-3177 or visiting the tutoring web site at:
UNLV Writing Center
One-on-one or small group assistance with writing is available free of charge to UNLV students at the Writing Center, located in CDC-3-301. Although walk-in consultations are sometimes available, students with appointments will receive priority assistance. Appointments may be made in person or by calling 895-3908. The student’s Rebel ID Card, a copy of the assignment (if possible), and two copies of any writing to be reviewed are requested for the consultation. More information can be found at:
Rebelmail
By policy, faculty and staff should e-mail students’ Rebelmail accounts only. Rebelmail is UNLV’s official e-mail system for students. It is one of the primary ways students receive official university communication such as information about deadlines, major campus events, and announcements. All UNLV students receive a Rebelmail account after they have been admitted to the university. Students’ e-mail prefixes are listed on class rosters. The suffix is always @unlv.nevada.edu.
CLASS SCHEDULE
August 30: Discussion of course objectives, prerequisites, course requirements and grading, course web site, determination of the course grade, etc.
September 1:Discussion of the following questions: What is the meaning ofemployee performance? What is performance appraisal and why is it important? What are the sources of performance appraisal? What are the problems with performance appraisal? What is the meaning of a mission? Why is it important for organizations to have a mission? How can employee performance be aligned with achieving an organization’smission? How can the alignment between employee performance and achieving an organization’s mission be improved? What is performance management? Why is performance management important?
September 6: Performance Management and Reward Systems.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 1.
Each student is assigned a date for his or her oral presentation.
September 8:Performance Management Process.
Conducting a Performance Appraisal Interview.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 2.
Each student must provide the instructor with the name of his or her organization for the Term Project.
September 13: Performance Management and Strategic Planning.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 3.
September 15: First Exam (covers Aguinis, chapters 1, 2, and 3).
September 20:Defining Performance and Choosing a Measurement Approach.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 4.
September 22:Measuring Results and Behaviors.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 5.
September 27: Gathering Performance Information.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 6.
September 29: Implementing a Performance Management System.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 7.
October 4: Second Exam (covers Aguinis, chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7).
October 6: Discussion of the Term Project.
October 11: Performance Management and Employee Development.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 8.
October 13: Performance Management Skills.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 9.
October 18: Reward Systems.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 10, pages 263-280.
October 20: Legal Issues.
Aguinis, chapter 10, pages 280-285.
October 25: Managing Team Performance.
Reading: Aguinis, chapter 11.
October 27: Third Exam (covers Aguinis, chapters 8, 9, 10, and 11).
November 1:Discussion of the Term Project.
November 3: Term Project Presentations.
November 8: Term Project Presentations.
November 10:Term Project Presentations.
November 15: Term Project Presentations.
November 17: Term Project Presentations.
November 22: Term Project Presentations.
November 24: Thanksgiving recess.
November 29: Term Project Presentations.
December 1: Term Project Presentations.
December 6: Term Project Presentations.
December 8: Summary and Conclusions.
Review for Final Exam.
December 15: 3:10-5:10 p.m. - Final Exam (covers Aguinis, chapters 1-11).
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