BUS V31, Organization and Management
MANAGER INTERVIEW PROJECT (ONLINE)
Purpose
To gain a comprehensive and practical understanding of the functions of management by using written and
critical thinking skills to interview a manager about their management techniques and experiences. Students
will be able to analyze the management style using information learned in this class.
Instructions
Conduct a face-to-face interview with the owner of a company with three or more employees or with an upperlevel
manager who is responsible for overseeing the work for at least five employees and managing a
department.
Write an analysis paper using the information gathered during the interview and knowledge gained from this
class. The paper must integrate theory and concepts from this class and demonstrate clear understanding of
theory and concepts.
The Process
1. Find a manager to interview. Schedule your interview ASAP because managers are very busy and their
schedules may be booked weeks in advance.
2. Compose 15-20 questions to ask the manager during the interview. Focus on the four fundamentals of
management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. If you don’t know the manager’s daily
responsibilities, ask the manager before you create your questions. Give a copy of the interview questions
to the manager before the interview, so he or she has an understanding of what you will be discussing
during the interview.
3. Conduct the face-to-face interview. Please dress appropriately and arrive on time. Take your list of
questions and take lots of notes.
4. After the interview, type a transcript of the questions and answers.
5. Write your paper. (Note: this paper is NOT just a summary of the interview. Rather, you are to show that
you can summarize and connect what the manager told you to what you are learning in class.)
Page Order Heading Content
Title Page (none) See the Submission section of this document for the title page
requirements.
Page 1 Manager Description
Identify the manager and summarize his or her job.
• What is the manager’s name? Where does the manager
work? How long has the manager worked there? What is
the manager’s title? How many people report to the
manager?
• Briefly describe the manager’s job.
Page 2 Planning
Discuss how the manager engages in the function of planning
and relate this to class material.
• What did the manager tell you about how they perform the
function of planning? Summarize what he or she told you.
• Identify one topic, concept, or theory from the Chapter 5
study guide that relates to what the manager told you
about planning. Explain it and cite evidence from the
interview to support what you identified.
Page 3 Organizing
Discuss how the manager engages in the function of
organizing and relate this to class material.
• What did the manager tell you about how they perform the
function of organizing? Summarize what he or she told
you.
• Identify one topic, concept, or theory from the Chapter 6
study guide that relates to what the manager told you
about organizing. Explain it and cite evidence from the
interview to support what you identified.
Page 4 Leading
Discuss how the manager engages in the function of leading
and relate this to class material.
• What did the manager tell you about how they perform the
function of leading? Summarize what he or she told you.
• Identify one topic, concept, or theory from the Chapter 11
study guide or the Chapter 12 study guide that relates to
what the manager told you about leading. Explain it and
cite evidence from the interview to support what you
identified.
Page 5 Controlling
Discuss how the manager engages in the function of
controlling and relate this to class material.
• What did the manager tell you about how they perform the
function of controlling? Summarize what he or she told
you.
• Identify one topic, concept, or theory from the Chapter 14
study guide that relates to what the manager told you
about controlling. Explain it and cite evidence from the
interview to support what you identified.
Page 6 Two Things Learned Identify and explain the two most important things you learned
about management from this project.
Transcript Interview Transcript List each question you asked and the manager’s answer to
each question.
6. Submit your paper and transcript. See the Submission section of this document for guidelines.
Submission
Follow these submission instructions:
1. Submit a digital copy to Canvas. You may submit one file with everything (title page, paper, and transcript)
or you may submit two files (file #1 with the title page and paper + file #2 with transcript).
a. Title Page requirements
i. Title of your paper (Manager Interview Project)
ii. Your name
iii. Class code + Semester (BUS V31, Spring 2018)
iv. Manager’s name, company name, manager’s email address
v. Interview date
vi. Font and Layout: Times New Roman or Arial font (11 or 12 point), single-spaced, 1-1.25”
margins all around.
b. Paper requirements
i. Length: 6-8 pages, not including title sheet and interview transcript.
ii. Font and Layout: Times New Roman or Arial font (11 or 12 point), double-spaced, 1-1.25”
margins all around.
c. Transcript requirements
i. Font and Layout: Times New Roman or Arial font (11 or 12 point), single-spaced, 1-1.25”
margins all around.
ii. Include:
1. Your name
2. Manager’s name and company name
3. Class code + Semester (BUS V31, Spring 2018)
Interview Questions
Below are some sample questions that may help you to develop your list of questions. DO NOT USE THIS
LIST AS IT IS; DEVELOP YOUR OWN SET OF QUESTIONS! Make sure you compose specific questions
about each function of management to gain enough information for the paper. Review your homework, notes,
and the textbook chapters 5, 6, 11, 12, and 14 to help you write the questions.
• What was your career path that led to this position of supervising employees? What kind of career
planning took place?
• How many employees report directly to you? (You are asking about the number of employees whom he or
she directly supervises with performance assessment and compensation assignment responsibilities.)
• Describe the exact responsibilities and activities over which you have oversight for these employees.
• What do you see as the pros and cons of supervising other people?
• How are you involved in the company’s planning? How often does the company conduct a planning
process?
• Describe how you set goals and objectives for your department and/or employees.
• How are you involved in the developing the organizational structure of the company?
• How are resources allocated within the company?
• Describe your approach to making decisions and solving problems. Why do you do it this way?
• How do you go about developing the people you manage?
• How do you go about motivating the people you manage?
• How do you describe your management style? How do you describe your leadership style?
• Describe what you believe is necessary to be an effective manager.
• How do you monitor and maintain control of your area of accountability?
• Have you been involved in any kind of quality control programs? How does the company ensure quality of
its products and services?
Grading
Your project will be evaluated as follows:
• Analysis paper: 75 points
• Interview Transcript: 25 points
Grading Rubric for the analysis paper:
Exceeds Meets Needs
Improvement
Unsatisfactory
Content
(60 points
max)
(54-60 points)
– Establishes and
maintains clear focus.
– Application of
concepts learned in
class.
– Depth and
complexity of ideas
supported by rich,
engaging, and or
pertinent details.
– Evidence of analysis,
reflection and insight.
(48-53 points)
– Focused on a
purpose.
– Some application
of concepts learned
in class.
– Depth of idea
development
support by
elaborated,
relevant details.
– Limited evidence
of analysis,
reflection and
insight.
(42-47 points)
– An attempt to
establish and
maintain purpose.
– Very little
application of
concepts learned in
class.
– Unelaborated
and/or repetitious
details. Lapses in
focus and/or
coherence.
– Very little
evidence of
analysis, reflection
and insight.
(<42 points)
– Limited awareness
of purpose.
– No application of
concepts learned in
class.
– Minimal idea
development.
Limited and/or
unrelated details.
– Almost no evidence
of analysis, reflection
and insight.
Mechanical:
Organization,
Grammar &
Spelling,
Length.
(15 points
max)
(14-15 points)
– Careful and/or
suitable organization.
– Variety of sentence
structure and length.
– Precise and/or rich
language.
– No errors in
grammar or format
(12-13 points)
– Logical
organization.
– Controlled and
varied sentence
structure.
– Acceptable,
effective language.
– Few errors in
grammar or format
(10-11 points)
– Simplistic
organization.
– Awkward
sentence structure.
– Simplistic and/or
imprecise
language.
– Some errors in
grammar and/or
format
(<10 points)
– Random or weak
organization.
– Incorrect or lack of
topic and/or
transition sentences.
– Incorrect and/or
ineffective wording
and/or sentence
structure.
– Errors in grammar
and format (e.g.,
spelling, punctuation,
capitalization,
headings).
