EB101 ASSIGNMENT 2006

1
EB101 ASSIGNMENT 2006
The effectiveness of teams in the management of
a family-owned versus a non-family owned small
business
2
STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION

• Introduction
• Purpose of assignment writing
• Working in groups
• Assignment instructions
• Literature overview
• Empirical research
• Writing the report
• Plagiarism declaration
• Lecturers evaluation
• Before handing in

3
INTRODUCTION

• The practice of writing assignments
• Accepted teaching method for most university
  courses
• Compulsory for all Business Management modules
• Develops effective report writing skills
• Develops scientific research skills
• Expands knowledge of subject area
• Group work prepares students for the business
  world

4
PURPOSE AND VALUE OF ASSIGNMENT WRITING

• To compile a written research report in
  accordance with scientific assignment rules and
  guidelines, e.g., Harvard method
• Students get to tackle a real life problem in
  the business world
• Application of theoretical concepts learnt in
  EB101 to a practical situation
• Develops independent thought and critical
  thinking
• Prepares students for more advanced report
  writing projects
• Develops students ability to gather and condense
  relevant information
• See Du Toit Geel (20061)

5
WORKING IN GROUPS

• Benefits
• Prepares students for their working careers
• Opportunity to collaborate on projects with a
  desired end result
• Develops teamwork skills can include in CV
• Challenges
• Equal participation of all members
• Planning with deadline date in mind
• Setting tasks and establishing clear goals from
  the outset
• Keeping lines of communication open
• One person does all the work
• Free riders

6
WORKING IN GROUPS

• Tips and tricks
• Appoint a group leader and allocate specific
  tasks
• Identify time frame and set up a chart commencing
  with deadline date
• Schedule meeting dates, times, venues well in
  advance and send out reminders
• Ensure everyone knows what to do
• Know your way round the library
• Expel non-performers
• Focus on end result at all times
• Check final document as a group
• Output is a finished product group should be
  proud of

7
FORMAT FOR SUBMISSION OF GROUP NAMES

• (A4 sheet only. Tiny scraps of scrap paper not
  accepted!!!!)
• After 10 March 2006 groups may not be changed

8
TIMEFRAME EXAMPLE
9
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS HANDOUT

• Topic
• The effectiveness of teams (partners) in the
  management of a family-owned versus a non-family
  owned small business
• Aim
• To investigate how effective teams (partners)
  operate in managing their own business and to
  establish whether teams (partners) operate more
  effectively if the members are related to each
  other versus those that are not related.

10
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS HANDOUT

• It is compulsory to consult the book How to
  complete a scientific assignment and report
  (HCSA) by Du Toit and Geel (2006 edition), in the
  completion of this assignment.
• Your assignment must be set out according to the
  Harvard method, as discussed by the authors of
  HCSA. It will be marked according to the
  evaluation schedule discussed in class.
• A special assignment lecture will be given on how
  to complete this assignment and attendance is
  compulsory.
• Set up a title page. (Please provide two copies
  one is required for proof of submission
  purposes).
• Set up a table of contents.
• Set up an introduction.
• Provide a literature overview (see contents
  below).

11
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS HANDOUT

• Relate theory to practice
• Conduct two interviews. One with a team member
  that manages a small family business and one with
  a team member that managers a small non-family
  business. A family business is one where two or
  more family members are working in the business
  and the family owns more than a 50 share in the
  business. The two businesses should have been in
  operation for at least 1 year. For the purpose of
  this assignment a small business is one that does
  not employ more than 50 persons.
• A management team exists when two or more persons
  own and manage the business together. In a family
  business, team members may be any of the
  following persons who are related by blood or
  marriage, who manage a business together
  husband and wife, siblings, cousins, in-laws etc.

12
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS HANDOUT

• No chain stores will be accepted e.g. Clicks,
  Pick n Pay etc. The Summerstrand Village and
  Seagate Shopping Centres are strictly out of
  bounds.
• Only one group is allowed per business. Groups
  must make sure that no other group has already
  interviewed the businesses they approach. Should
  this be the case another business must be
  selected.
• Use the questionnaires provided to obtain the
  necessary information.
• Close off your assignment with a conclusion and
  recommendations.

13
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS HANDOUT

• Consult at least six different sources (sources
  include books, journals, newspapers, Internet
  databases, etc.) Consult the management and
  organisational behavior textbooks. Additional
  information can be obtained from the South Campus
  library, i.e. short loan section and Mrs Prinsloo
  (1st floor). Use the reference technique
  described in HCSA.
• Your assignment must not be more than six A4
  pages (excluding title page, table of contents,
  list of sources and annexures), it must be
  technically correct, typed in 1.5 line spacing,
  Times New Roman or Arial font, 12 pt and with
  margins no bigger than 2.5 cm all round. It must
  be stapled in the top left had corner (no plastic
  sleeves or folders).
• The assignment must be completed in a group of 4
  persons.

14
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS HANDOUT

• The due date is Friday 7 April 2006. Handing in
  instructions
• South campus Between 1030 and 1130 am, in the
  foyer outside venue 35OG05. Assignments will not
  be accepted on the 5th floor or in class.
• Vista campus Between 1030 and 1130 am, in
  office number D204. Assignments will not be
  accepted in the class.
• A penalty reduction of 10 (of the mark obtained)
  per day will be imposed for late submission.
• Attachments as annexures to assignment
• Completed questionnaires
• Plagiarism/group participation declaration
• Evaluation sheet names and student numbers
• (Stapled last)

15
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS HANDOUT

• Proposed table of contents
• (Headings must be set out according to HCSA,
  e.g., bold vs not bold)
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Literature overview of teams in business.
• 2.1 Defining teams Distinguish between a group,
  a team and a partnership. Are these different
  concepts or one and the same thing? Define each
  concept and elaborate on the differences and
  similarities between them. Also refer to the
  different types of teams.
• 2.2 Advantages and disadvantages of working in
  teams in todays business environment.
• 2.3 Key characteristics (conditions) of effective
  teams. Identify and discuss what it takes to
  function effectively as a team? (You need at
  least 2 references for each characteristic/conditi
  on identified)
• 3 Empirical research
• 3.1 Background of the family and non-family small
  businesses interviewed (introduce the firms
• 3.2 Report on findings (report findings of
  questionnaires specifically)
• 4 Summary and recommendations
• List of sources
• Annexure A Completed questionnaires
• Annexure B Plagiarism/group participation
  declaration

16
LITERATURE OVERVIEW

• Effectiveness of management teams in business
• Defining teams
• Benefits and shortcomings of working in teams
• Key characteristics of effective teams

Library search
17
LITERATURE OVERVIEW

• Where to start?
• Prescribed textbook
• Bosch et al. (2006)
• Chapter on General and Strategic Management
• Literature sources
• Library
• Open shelves books on management,
  organisational behaviour
• Short loan
• Mrs Prinsloo 1st Floor, South Campus Library
• will assist with Journal articles
• Electronic full text journals (permission
  required)
• Internet search
• Only reliable sources may be used

18
LITERATURE OVERVIEW

• Suggested keywords for literature search
• Effective management teams
• Effective managing partners
• Management teams small business
• Management teams family business
• Family business management teams
• Small business management teams
• Shared leadership teams

19
EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

• Background of the small business interviewed
• Section A questionnaire
• Introduce firms to reader
• Summary profile of firm questionnaire items
  1.1-11.4
• Report on findings
• Section B questionnaire
• Report on findings (actual responses to factors
  influencing teamwork)
• Analysis of questionnaire items 1-11
• Compare average mean scores for family and
  non-family businesses
• Factors influencing effective teamwork can also
  be ranked for the
• family and non-family businesses

20
1 GOALS Please indicate (X) to what extent you
agree with the following statements. (1)
disagree strongly, (2) disagree, (3) neutral,
(4) agree (5) strongly agree
B FACTORS INFLUENCING EFFECTIVE TEAMWORK
Average score 28/7 4 Score for goals is 4.
Respondent agrees that goals is a factor which
influences effective teamwork
Non-family business
21
B FACTORS INFLUENCING EFFECTIVE TEAMWORK
1 GOALS Please indicate (X) to what extent you
agree with the following statements. (1)
disagree strongly, (2) disagree, (3) neutral,
(4) agree (5) strongly agree
Average mean score 22/7 3.14 Score for goals
is 3.14. Respondent is neutral that goals is a
factor which influences effective teamwork
Family business
22
EXAMPLE RANKING TOP 5 FACTORS INFLUENCING
TEAMWORK
Table 3.1 Factors influencing effective teamwork
in a family vs a non-family business
Table 3.1 indicates a difference in emphasis
between the factors that influence the
effectiveness of teams in family owned small
businesses versus those that influence non-family
owned small businesses. Comparison
similarities, differences, insight,
recommendations for future research???
23
WRITING THE REPORT

• NB NB NB Consult du Toit and Geel (2006)
• Instructions in this guide are clearly set out
• Report 5 main parts
• Introduction
• Literature review what has already been written
• Empirical research report back of interviews
• Conclusions and recommendations
• List of sources
• Layout
• Appearance and technical requirements

24
WRITING THE REPORT

• INTRODUCTION
• Statement of the problem
• Develop a problem statement using topic as a
  guide
• Provides direction for rest of the study
• Emphasis on the importance of or reason for the
  research
• Why is the study necessary
• What insights might be gained, any future use
• The objectives of the assignment
• Refer to assignment topic

25
WRITING THE REPORT

• The method of research used
• Literature search
• Empirical research
• Difficulties encountered during the research and
  how the difficulties were overcome
• Condensing a vast amount of information
• Group dynamics
• An indication of the contents following the
  introduction
• Alert reader to sections that follow
• Du Toit and Geel (200613)

26
WRITING THE REPORT

• MAIN TEXT BODY OF REPORT
• Du Toit and Geel (2006) must be consulted
• Never refer to I or we use the
  researchers only if necessary
• Headings must be correctly numbered
• Page numbers are shown (except on first page)
• When taking information from any source, no
  matter how short the extract, reference or source
  MUST be acknowledged and indicated (otherwise
  plagiarism)
• All references used in body must be acknowledged
  in the list of sources

27
WRITING THE REPORT

• MAIN TEXT BODY OF REPORT
• What is plagiarism in assignment writing?
• Plagiarism occurs when the work, writing, ideas,
  etc, of another author is copied and passed off
  as ones own
• Plagiarism can be deliberate or unintentional
• Every source used must be properly acknowledged
  in accordance with scientific principles of
  assignment writing
• Plagiarism is a growing concern in tertiary
  education today
• Plagiarism is a serious offence which could
  result in disciplinary action being taken against
  the offender(s)

28
WRITING THE REPORT

• MAIN TEXT BODY OF REPORT
• REFERENCING EXAMPLES (Harvard method)
• NB NB NB Refer to Du Toit and Geel
• According to Hunt (200438), when leadership
  responsibility is shared, individual team members
  are committed to a tangible vision which is
  pursued by the entire team.
• Leadership responsibility, when shared, has
  individual team members who are committed to a
  solid vision which is then pursued by the entire
  team (Hunt 200438).

29
WRITING THE REPORT

• Plagiarism example
• Shared responsibility leadership results when a
  team of individuals is committed to a tangible
  vision and they all share responsibility for the
  pursuit of that tangible vision. In other words,
  it isn't just the "leader" in authority who is
  responsible for making change happen, it is the
  entire team.
• Piece is copied directly from source (author) to
  text (body of report)
• No credit is given to the author

30
WRITING THE REPORT

• MAIN TEXT BODY OF REPORT
• REFERENCING EXAMPLES (Harvard method)
• NB NB NB Refer to Du Toit and Geel
• Kotler, Grönroos and Carter (2003172) offer the
  following advantages and disadvantages that apply
  to working in teams in the current business
  environment
• Although it is normal to find management teams
  operating in family owned businesses, several
  challenges are unique to the family business when
  it comes to working in teams (Kotler et al.
  2003191).

31
SHOWING DIAGRAMS

• Table 2.1 Heading
• Source Adapted from Olsen (200178)

• Figure 2.1 Heading
• Source Adapted from Olsen (200136)

32
Gray, B.A. 200134598 Krüger,
J. 202045781 Rootman, C. 200347156 Van
Eeden, S. 200269794

• Note Title page x 2 copies
• Group names in alphabetical order
• Name of lecturer/lecturers

AIDS AND THE SMALL BUSINESS THE PERSPECTIVE OF
PRO-DIVE
DATE 7 April 2006 LECTURER Ms J Krüger
33
DECLARATION in respect of PLAGIARISM

• EB101 GROUP ASSIGNMENT - 2005
• Declaration must be completed and signed by each
  group member and handed in with the
• assignment on the due date. The assignment will
  not be marked without it.
• 1 I know that plagiarism is wrong and that it
  means to use another persons work, e.g. ideas,
  words, models, diagrams and pretend that it is my
  own original work.
• 2 Irrespective of the conventions used for
  quoting and referencing in any specific project
  that I submit, I undertake to give credit to each
  significant contribution to, and quotation that I
  have taken from the work(s) of other people. I
  shall do this by quoting and referencing. All
  sources derived from the Internet shall be
  properly acknowledged.
• 3 I confirm that all written projects which I
  submit at this University shall be my own work.
• 4 I shall not allow anyone to copy my work with
  the intention of passing it off as his or her own
  work.
• 5 This declaration shall apply to all work
  whether I submit as an individual or as a member
  of a group.
• I understand that disciplinary action may follow
  should I be in breach of the above declaration.
• I declare that I participated equally in the
  preparation of this assignment to the
  satisfaction of my group leader and fellow group
  members.
• Signed at Port Elizabeth on the
  2006.

34
DECLARATION in respect of PLAGIARISM

• GROUP LEADER
• I declare that I am satisfied that each member
  listed above made an equal contribution to the
  assignment and should receive the percentage mark
  as indicated above.
• ...
• Signature of Group Leader
• Groups are required to resolve their own
  problems, in particular problems concerning
  member participation. Lecturers will not
  intervene in group disputes under any
  circumstances.

35
BEFORE HANDING IN ASSIGNMENT

• Due date Friday 7 April
• Time 1030-1130 only

• Document checklist
• Report has been proof read
• Double title page attached
• Additional annexures
• Questionnaires
• Plagiarism declaration (completed signed)
• Evaluation sheet (names student numbers written
  on)