UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

MGT 301 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT

By Dr Gabriel Ogunmokun
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
SEMESTER:

Fall Semester 2015

DUE DATE:

3rd November 2015

INSTRUCTIONS: This is a group assignment. Each group should have at least 3 students and at most 4
students. It is the responsibility of the students to form their own groups. Each group must (i) email their
answers to me on or before 5:00 pm on the due date and (ii) submit the hard copy of the assignment to me in
class, or to the office of the UVI School of Business, not later than 5:30 pm on the due date.
Students should bear in mind that the accumulation of knowledge is only one part of a well rounded education.
Another significant part is the development and refinement of skills necessary to function in the business world.
Among these skills is the ability to work with others, to effectively schedule your time and energies over an
extended period and to develop skills in writing and presenting reports (including oral presentation). Your
participation in group assignments will provide you with the opportunity to develop these skills in a setting
similar to one you may encounter upon graduation.
QUESTION 1: Theoretical Essay (About 1,000-1,500 words)
1. It is important to study management because it is universal; the reality of work is that you will either manage or
be managed. Most people recognize the important role that good management plays in our society. The study of
management for those who aspire to managerial positions provides the body of knowledge that will help them to be
more effective managers. For those who do not plan careers in management, the study of management can give
them insights into the way their bosses behave and into the internal activities of organizations. (Robbins,
Bergman, Stagg and Coulter (2003, p 29 - 30), 1. Read your text book and lecture notes as well as other
management text books and use the knowledge gained to discuss management with particular reference to any
three of the following:
Approaches to management
Management decision making
Organization structure and design
Motivation
Note: Your essay must have a solid introduction and conclusion.
(20 marks)
QUESTION 2: Practical Project (About 1,000-1,500 words)
Select a retail business organization or a service business organization in the US Virgin Islands and write a
strategic management plan for the organization. Your strategic management plan should include: Environmental
Analysis; Overall Mission and Aims; Specific Objectives; Strategy Formulation; Annual Action Management
Plan; Implementation; Control and Evaluation. The organization you select must have a website address that you
can use for collecting information. Your plan should also include an introduction/background of the organization
and an executive summary.
(20 marks)

Stephen Robbins, Rolf Bergman, Ian Stagg and Mary Coulter, Management, Prentice Hall.