The University of Sydney Page 1
WORK2218
Dr. Ju Li Ng
Final Exam Preparation
The University of Sydney Page 2
• Final Exam: Please refer to Canvas for the dates and instructions
- Open book (You are allowed to refer to the materials in this unit.)
Essay Questions (Worth 30%):
• There are two essay questions, and it is an open book exam.
• It will be an open-book exam which means that you are allowed to access the reading
materials, lecture and tutorial materials when preparing for this exam.
• It is also an extended-release exam, and you have 24 hours to complete this exam.
• There is an expectation to cite and include research. It will be similar to your group report
assignment settings as your answers will be checked by the Turnitin software for Academic
Integrity concern. Your answers must be based on theories and frameworks from the course.
Please note the word limit for each question is 850 words with a 10% buffer. Material in excess of
935 words will not be marked. Word count will include all in-text citations but excludes
references.
WORK2218 FINAL EXAMS
The University of Sydney Page 3
Topic Summary of WORK2218 MAIN EXAM Final
Exam
What is OB? Why study OB? The focus of OB, Multilevel consideration.
Attitudes and Job
Satisfaction
Attitudes and the main components of attitudes, Job attitudes (i.e. job satisfaction, job involvement, psychological empowerment), OCB, and
job performance.
Self-Leadership
and Learning
Self-leadership (SL) and SL Strategies, Reflective practice, Stages and methods of reflection
Individual Decision
Making
Management function, Individual Decision-making, Attribution theory, Rational model, Bounded rationality, Intuitive Decision-making,
Common Biases and Errors, Creativity in organisations.
Politics and
Negotiation
Definition of Power, Bases of Power, Power Tactics, Factors that influence the effectiveness of power tactics, Unequal power in the
workplace (Sexual Harassment), Politics, Factors that influence political behaviours, Impression Management
Foundations of
Group Behaviour
Definition of team and group, Stages of Group Development, Group Properties (Roles, Norms, Status, Conformity, Deviant Behaviours,
Status, Size and Dynamics, Cohesiveness), Team Design (Hackman’s Model), Effectiveness and Efficiency in teams. *
Trust and Team
Building
Trust definitions, Elements of Trusts, Multilevel concepts of trust, Types of Trust, Leader-member-Exchange, Team Psychological Safety,
Conflict and Types of Trust, Consequences of Conflict, Trust building process in the face of conflict, Negotiation and negotiation process. *
**
Work and
Organisational
Design
Elements of Organisational Structure, Work Specialisation, Departmentalisation, Chain of Command, Span of Control, Centralisation vs
Decentralisation, Types of Structure, Job Design and Organisational Effectiveness, Job Characteristics Model, Motivating Potential Score,
Job Redesign Strategies, Job Analysis.
Organisational
Culture
Organisational Culture definition, Levels of Culture, Characteristics of Organisational Culture, Strong vs Weak Culture, Culture and Climate,
Keeping the culture alive (Selection, Socialisation, Top Management) and Practical applications by Guest lecturer (Emma Martin). **
Organisational
Change
Forces of Change, Resistance to Change (Individual and Organisational Sources), Techniques of overcoming Resistance to Change,
Managing Change Approaches and Models (Lewin, Kotter, Action Research, Organisational Development), Learning Culture and Practical
applications by Guest lecturer (Emma Martin).
**
Managing Diversity Diversity definition, Diversity elements (Gender, Age, Culture), Managing Diversity Paradigms (Business Case, Assimilation, Differentiation
and Learning Paradigm), Diversity Management Strategies and Implementation and Practical applications by Guest lecturer (Dr Jane
O’Leary).* Essay question. Please note that given the interconnectivity of the topics, you may have to draw from more than one topic.
The University of Sydney Page 4
WORK2218 FINAL EXAMS – TIPS (ANSWERING ESSAY
QUESTIONS)
– Read the questions carefully – ensure that you understand it;
follow the instructions.
– Analyse the question and the expectation of the questions.
– Don’t assume and misinterpret the question
– Demonstrate learning, show that you understand the course
content; discuss relevant theories and include examples
– Be analytical! Show evidence of critical thinking and analysis
Review the tutorial materials
and activities, and Group
Report Feedback
The University of Sydney Page 5
Question 1: Self-assessment and Reflection Report
– You will be given an article to read, and you are to write a self-assessment and reflection
report.
– Self-assessment and reflection report means you are to assess your individualised and
personal situation (not hypothetical). You are to include specific personal examples to
justify your self-assessment and analysis.
– You can use “I” when writing the report.
– There is an expectation to engage with research in this question.
– You are expected to include a minimum of one scholarly article (other than the article you
are given to read).
– You are given 850 words (with 10% buffer). Hence, any excess of 935 words will not be
marked.
– Word count includes in-text citations but excludes references.
– You must cite appropriately.
– Use report format: introduction, body and conclusion.
– There is no need for headings or executive summary.
The University of Sydney Page 6
Question 1: Final Exam Criteria
– Your ability to self-assess, reflect and identify key issues relevant to the
article.
– Your ability to critically think and apply the findings from the article and
also the theory/framework covered in this unit.
– Your ability to problem-solving by recommending specific strategies
following the issue and analysis.
– Your ability to write a coherent reflection report.
These criteria are similar to your
group report and presentation.
Review the feedback and learnings
from your group report and group
presentation.
The University of Sydney Page 7
Question 2: Short Case Study
– You will be given a short case study.
– Understand and analyse the case study.
– You are given 850 words (with 10% buffer). Hence, any excess of 935
words will not be marked.
– Word count includes in-text citations but excludes references.
– Use report format: introduction, body and conclusion.
– You do not need to include headings or executive summary.
– You are expected to include a minimum of two scholarly articles.
– You must cite appropriately.
Learnings from the tutorials on case study and learnings from your
group report (i.e. engaging with scholarly articles and applying
research evidence/theories and frameworks)
The University of Sydney Page 8
Question 2: Final Exam Criteria
– Your ability to identify key issues relevant to the case.
– Your ability to critical think and analyse by applying the
theory/framework/concept covered in this unit.
– Your ability to problem-solve by recommending specific strategies to
address the issues based on your analysis.
– Your ability to write a coherent report.
These criteria are
similar to your group
report
The University of Sydney Page 9
Recommended Approach: Logistics when Drafting your Answers
– Please make sure that you do not submit at the last minute.
– Please leave enough time to review, finalise and upload your word
document to Canvas.
– Please make sure you upload the correct file, i.e., Q1 answers for Q1 and
Q2 answers for Q2 (you would be surprised how many students have
upload these incorrectly).
– Your answers will be checked for academic integrity using the Turnitin
software so please ensure that citations are noted accordingly.**
** Students have been referred for academic integrity (e.g., contract cheating,
plagiarism) in the past. Academic integrity is a very serious issue so please
ensure that you are mindful of this.
The University of Sydney Page 10
Essay Question 1 (Example) Please read the Case Study “The Social Media Policy Decision” and the following extended scenario.
Your head of department instructed you to lead the
social media policy implementation. While you and
your team had initially agreed that the social media
policy should only allow specific stakeholders to
access the organisational account to post materials,
the head of department insisted that everyone can
access and post comments on the organisational
page.
You do not agree with the head of department’s
decision. Hence, you decided to persuade and
influence him in changing his mind. You know that he
is a difficult manager to persuade, so you decided to
write a report to your former lecturer to get her
feedback on your plan. Specifically, identify the issues
and recommend the appropriate framework to employ
to help you convince your head of department. You
must use the framework and concept when answering
this question. You are expected to use a minimum of
one scholarly article when answering this question.
The word limit is 850 words with 10% buffer (including
in-text citations and references). Hence, any excess of
935 words won’t be marked. The format for your answer
should follow a report format of having an introduction,
body and conclusion.
Case Study:
The Social Media Policy Decision
The industry initiatives agency is a group of 120 professionals responsible for marketing your state
as good place for companies to operate their business or open new operations. Although you report
to the head of the state’s employment and commerce department, your agency is semi-autonomous
in its policies and practices from the parent department. One of your highest priorities is to recruit
and retain young, well-educated, high potential employees for this growing agency. During a recent
recruiting drive at universities and polytechnics, some potential applicants candidly stated that the
state government seems out of touch with the younger generation, particularly their use of
technology. A few observed that your agency’s website doesn’t provide much recruitment
information, and they couldn’t find the department’s Facebook or Twitter sites.
These comments led you to think about having a social media policy in the industry initiatives
agency, particularly whether or to what degree the agency should allow or possibly event encourage
its staff to have work-related Facebook sites, personal blogs, and Twitter sites, and to participate in
those sites during work hours. You personally know very little about emerging social media, though
many of your direct reports (functional managers and team leaders) have varying degrees of
knowledge about them. A few even have their own personal Facebook sites, and one manager has
her own travel blog. Some direct reports are strongly opposed to social media in the workplace,
whereas others are likely very supportive. However, you believe that all their views are in the
agency’s best interests.
This social media policy decision would be within your mandate; unlike most governments, neither
this state government nor the employment and commerce department have such a policy or
restrictions on any policy that is designed by your agency. However, a few specific government
departments prohibit Facebook and texting activity during work and, due to concerns about
breaches of confidentiality and employer reputation, do not allow employees to mention work-related
matters in any social media. Your decision is to develop a policy specifying whether and, if so, to
what degree agency staff should be allowed or encouraged to engage in social network site activity
during work hours.
Source: McShane & Von Glinow, M.A. (2018). Organizational Behavior: Emerging Knowledge,
Global Reality (p.208), New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
The University of Sydney Page 11
Essay Question 2 (Example)
Please read the following article:
Thomas, D. & Ely, R. (1996). Making Differences Matter. Harvard Business Review.
Based on the findings highlighted in Thomas and Ely (1996). Submit a self-assessment and reflection
report of your experience when working with diverse team members. Please include specific examples
such as group members’ behaviours, as part of your reflection. In addition, you are expected to also
prescribe your recommendation when working with diverse team members.
– The word limit is 850 words with 10% buffer (including in-text citations but excluding
references). Hence, any excess of 935 words won’t be marked.
– The format for your answer should follow a report format of having an introduction, body and
conclusion. You must include a minimum of one scholarly article. This other article must be
different from Thomas and Ely (1996).
Given the word limit, you are only expected to discuss one relevant issue/findings from the article and
use this to discuss your self-assessment and reflection.
The University of Sydney Page 12
How to Revise?
The University of Sydney Page 13
WORK2218 FINAL EXAMS - TIPS
Focus on UNDERSTANDING not trying to memorise.
FOCUS ON
UNDERSTANDING
The University of Sydney Page 14
Study Materials
– Your textbook and the required readings which are noted in Canvas
(organised by weeks)
– Lecture slides and your lecture notes
– You are not required to review the tutorial materials. However it is important
to take the learnings from the tutorials and apply these when writing your
essay question.
– The case studies and activities may be used as examples in your essay
questions (where relevant).
The University of Sydney Page 15
WORK2218 FINAL EXAMS – TIPS (PREPARATION)
– Organise your notes (lecture notes and readings)
– Required readings: read all the book chapters and required
readings (Reading list)
– have 2-3 pages summary of each topic; key purpose/points
covered;
– Know the key concepts and theories for each topic; use the key
words (these are highlighted in the lecture slides to help you
understand the concepts)
– Have examples for each of the concept to test if you
understand the concepts
The University of Sydney Page 16
Thank You and Good Luck!