Instructions: Based on information presented during class and from your readings, please choose one of the following Problem Statements and design a study to address some aspect of the problem. You are to submit a conceptual map for the project as well as a Purpose Statement and a set of Research Questions or Hypotheses.

1. Research on transformational leadership has demonstrated that transformational leaders tend to have subordinates that perform better on the job, have a higher level of job satisfaction, and demonstrate a higher level of organizational citizenship and commitment. In other words, there is a growing body of data that supports the argument that the transformational leadership approach is more effective than other approaches. Additional research is needed to confirm this hypothesis. In addition, research is needed to determine if transformational leadership skills can be taught (i.e., that is not exclusively a matter of the leaders personality and behavior).

2. Most organizations today depend heavily on the information technology department; for many, like universities, it is impossible to function without connectivity. As the IT function has grown in importance, IT departments have tended to grow in size and autonomy. Consequently, within organizations today, there is often a good deal of tension between the departments that use IT and those who design and support it. It does not seem like we have yet determined an ideal organizational structure or an ideal set of policies and procedures.

3. Research has demonstrated that employing conceptual mapping (a process of summarizing an understanding of a concept in a graphic representation) enhances learning and improves planning performance. What is unknown is the extent to which managers value the process as a planning tool once taught how to complete a conceptual map.

4. An individuals work situation can create conflict in that persons family life. An individuals family life can create conflict in that persons work. Research has demonstrated a relationship between work-life conflict and an individuals overall life satisfaction. Further, research has demonstrated a connection between individual employees life and work satisfaction and organizational performance. Additional work is needed to support these hypotheses. In addition, work is also needed to determine what organizational interventions have the greatest effect on minimizing work-life conflict while maximizing organizational performance.

5. Many organizations are employing increasingly sophisticate level of automation. Two issues seem to be at the forefront of the expansion and implementation of the new automation systems (i.e., radio frequency interference and system security). This is a broad topic area that includes manufacturing systems as well as all types of information/communication systems.