TOPIC 4
Management Decision Making: Social Model General Framework
There is little doubt that social influences have a significant impact on decision-making behaviour.
Social pressures and influences may cause managers to make irrational decisions. Outline, in the
general framework, a model of social influence on decision making.
Individual Components
The individual components of this topic introduce some classic studies as illustrative of the impact
of social influences on decision making.
1. Solomon Asch’s classic study into the impact of social conformity on decision making
2. Stanley Milgram’s classic study of the influence that obedience to an authority figure can have on
decision making
3. Fred Luthans’ study on the influence of information presented in a computer printout in contrast
to the same information presented from an ordinary typewriter
4. Groupthink examples
TOPIC 5
Organisational Structure General Framework
Outline, six key elements commonly used to define the structure of an organisation identifying the
management theorist who identified each of these elements. Then outline four factors
(contingencies) that are commonly used to define the situation (the organisational environment).
Individual Components
Each individual should select an example organisation – a real example – and suggest what you
believe to be the structure of that organisation in terms of the six key elements that are used to
define organisational structure. For your example organisation, you should define their
organisational environment in the terms of the four contingency factors and comment on the
match (or mis-match) of the organisation to its organisational environment
TOPIC 6
Goal Setting and Planning General Framework
Outline the importance of goal setting in planning and the characteristics of well-defined goals.
Individual Components
1. Discuss Miles & Vergen’s landmark study into goal setting and the three conditions they
identified to be satisfied to ensure best practice in goal setting
2. Discuss Management by Objectives
3. Discuss contingency factors which influence a manager’s approach to planning
4. Discuss different types of plans
