MGT 3725 - Fundamentals of Management
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 03, CRN 40518,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Jessi Hinz
Email: jdhinz@ysu.edu
Course Description
3725. Fundamentals of Management. Position yourself for management and leadership opportunities in your career. This course builds the foundation for developing the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to succeed as a manager. Students learn how managers plan, organize, lead, and control to help organizations achieve their goals, while examining how organizational structure, culture, and decision-making shape effectiveness. Emphasis is placed on strengthening problem-solving, professional behavior, collaboration, and self-awareness, essential capabilities for contributing on teams today and growing into leadership roles tomorrow. Sophomore standing required. Prereq.: BUS 1500 (C) or BUS 1500H (C) and 2.5 GPA. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Principles of Management | Carpenter, M. A., Bauer, T. N., & Erdogan, B. | 978-1-4533-2688-6 |
| Required | Leadership: Theory and practice (Chapter 3 only) | Northouse, P. G. | |
| Required | The Power of Healthy Relationships at Work | Seppala & McNichols | |
| Required | Four Ways to Create High-Quality Connections at Work | Dutton & Worline (2023) | |
| Required | Managing Your Boss | Gabarro & Kotter (1980, 2005) | |
| Required | Are You Solving the Right Problem? | Spradlin (2012) | |
| Required | How to Avoid Rushing to Solutions | Markovitz (2020) | |
| Required | Decision-Making Style | Brousseau et al. (2006) | |
| Required | What Leaders Really Do | Kotter (1990) | |
| Required | Harnessing the Science of Persuasion | Cialdini (2001) | |
| Required | Leading Change | Kotter (1995/2007) | |
| Required | Ethical Breakdowns | Bazerman & Tenbrunsel (2011) |
For this course we will use a combination of textbook readings from Carpenter, M. A., Bauer, T. N., & Erdogan, B. (2009). Principles of management. Flat World Knowledge, Harvard Business Review and other business journal articles, and videos. All readings are linked or shared on our Blackboard course page.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 8/24 | Welcome | |
| Wed | 8/26 | Management and Managers | |
| Mon | 8/31 | The Four Functions Approach to Management | |
| Wed | 9/2 | Communication and Relationships at Work | |
| Mon | 9/7 | NO CLASS (LABOR DAY) | |
| Wed | 9/9 | Understanding Yourself and Others | Quiz #1 |
| Mon | 9/14 | Managing Up | |
| Wed | 9/16 | Organizational Mission and Vision | |
| Mon | 9/21 | Goal Setting | |
| Wed | 9/23 | SWOT Analysis | Quiz #2 |
| Mon | 9/28 | Problem Identification | |
| Wed | 9/30 | Decision Making | |
| Mon | 10/5 | Organizational Design | |
| Wed | 10/7 | Job Design | Problem Identification Statement |
| Mon | 10/12 | Organizational Culture | Quiz #3 |
| Wed | 10/14 | Management versus Leadership | |
| Mon | 10/19 | Motivation | |
| Wed | 10/21 | Motivation | Quiz #4 |
| Mon | 10/26 | Groups & Teams | |
| Wed | 10/28 | Groups & Teams | |
| Mon | 11/2 | Persuasion and Negotiation | |
| Wed | 11/4 | Leading Change | |
| Mon | 11/9 | Performance Management & Feedback | Quiz #5 |
| Wed | 11/11 | NO CLASS (VETERANS DAY) | |
| Mon | 11/16 | Group Presentations | Groups 1-5 |
| Wed | 11/18 | Group Presentations | Groups 6-10 |
| Mon | 11/23 | Managerial Ethics | |
| Wed | 11/25 | NO CLASS (THANKSGIVING BREAK) | |
| Mon | 11/30 | Course Synthesis | |
| Wed | 12/2 | Final Exam Review | |
| Mon | 12/7 | NO CLASS | Final Exam |
| Wed | 12/9 | NO CLASS | Final Exam |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.