Meet the Teacher
Hi, I'm Linda Kropp and I'm your instructor for this online adventure--Principles of Management. I'm excited to meet you and get started! I want you to feel prepared for our first week of class so I put together this site for you. Please review the information below. You might want to bookmark this site for future reference.
I'll see you in class (online that is)!
~Linda
(You are welcome to call me either Linda or Professor Kropp.)
Week 1 Success Kit
How and when to attend our first week:
Our course starts on Monday, January 9, 2023. You need to log into Canvas and our course to complete the Course Introduction Module by Thursday, January 12, 2023.
How this course works:
This is a fully online class which means we will not mean in person. You can complete the work when it fits in your schedule as long you submit by the due date. We will cover 16 chapters, so usually one chapter per week. Each week's work is due on Tuesday night.
Each chapter will contain an interactive reading assignment and quiz, and sometimes an Interactive Assignment, found in McGraw-Hill's Connect online platform. Connect is fully integrated with Canvas and can be accessed from our Canvas course. The text has a 14-day courtesy access so no need to get behind if your financial aid is delayed.
Most chapters will contain a Discussion between class members. These discussions are based on various companies and concepts that we study throughout the semester.
Due dates for week one:
The Course Introduction Module ends with a quiz on it's contents. This is due on Thursday, September 1st. You will need to score a 10/10 on the Course Introduction Quiz to open up the Chapter 1 Module. Chapter 1 will be due by Tuesday, January 17th.
Due dates in general:
The course is divided into four units. Each new chapter is due on Tuesday, midnight. SmartBook and self-assessment in Connect cannot be submitted late as Connect does not allow it. Other assignments will be accepted late until the end of the Unit (at the end of chapters 5, 8, 13, and 16) but a late penalty of 3% per day late. As each unit ends, the modules will close. If circumstances beyond your control should arise, please reach out and we will work together to help you succeed. If you have a reason clearly beyond your control, due dates can be extended.
Materials you will need for week one:
You will need the following Text: Contemporary Management, 12/e with Connect access code by Garreth Jones, Jennifer George McGrawHill Publishing Company. Bundle ISBN #9781266808425.
NOTE: a 14-day courtesy access is available to get you started!
This package is available for purchase at the Campus Bookstore. The etext with access code can be purchased from the publisher’s website during the registration process if a print copy is not desired, however, historically the Bookstore has the lowest price available. If you purchase the text from a third-party, make sure it comes with the access code!
Communication Essentials
Contact Me
The best way to reach me is via the Canvas Inbox. I can also be reached at my MJC email, kroppl@mjc.edu, or if you feel the need to vocalize your questions, you can leave a message at (209) 575 - 6168. This is my office phone and sends a recording to my MJC email. I will get back to you within 24-48 hours, usually quicker.
Ask a peer
If you encounter a general question about the course, I invite you to ask it in the Q&A Discussion board in our Canvas course. Your question will be seen by your peers and if anyone has the answer -- by all means, answer it! If your question is personal in nature, please send it directly to me through the Canvas Inbox or my MJC email.
Our Classroom Pact
What you can expect from me:
As your instructor, I will be actively present in your learning experience.
I will create a positive and supportive environment where you will feel safe to experiment and share ideas.
I will respond to your questions within 24-48 hours and provide individualized support in response to your needs. Weekends and holidays may take a little longer.
I will provide feedback on your assignments within one week.
As an educator, I understand that you are busy and that you have many competing priorities. Thus, I have built in support and flexibility for your successful completion of this course.
What I will expect from you:
You will log into our course at least twice each week to review and evaluate the work due in the current week's module.
Each week, you will invest about 10 hours of time to the coursework, assignments & activities, and quizzes.
You will submit all assignments and activities on time, and complete quizzes by the due date.
You will challenge yourself to try new things, keep an open mind, and recognize that mistakes are a vital part of the learning process. We all make them and we will celebrate them together.
You will be thoughtful in your interactions with peers while taking extra care to respect diverse perspectives and support the professional growth of others with varying years of experience.
My Teaching Philosophy
Teaching is important to me because I value education and learning. My philosophy has always been that I am more of a learning facilitator than simply a lecturer and disciplinary expert. I feel am more a "guide on the side" rather than a "sage on the stage." I believe people not only learn through listening but mostly by doing. That's why I seek to create a learning environment that makes you, the student, feel welcome and ready to learn. Remember, learning is the primary goal of any class you take.
We are part of a diverse learning community. That diversity is an asset because you will not only learn from me, but you will also learn from your classmates. By participating freely, you will also learn more about yourself.
Course Goals
When you have finished this course, you should be able to:
Identify and briefly define the three major types of managerial skills that managers need.
Discuss the four principal managerial tasks. For each, give a realistic business example of how a manager performs this task.
Discuss the relationship between ethics and laws and their impact on relevant stakeholders in the management decision process.
Evaluate the many factors and influences which have contributed to the development of modern business management theory.
Recall vocabulary, ideas, and facts of significance in business organization and management.
Compare, interpret, and apply pertinent data and methods in business management.
Evaluate factors involved in business decisions.
Relate basic requirements and skills of good business management and leadership.
Make independent decisions regarding business policies and operations.
My Advice for Success
In order to succeed in my course I recommend you:
Log into our class at least twice per week to see what is happening that week.
Set your Canvas notification preferences so that course Announcements go directly into your preferred email.
Don't get behind--each module opens the Friday before it "officially" opens so you will have two weekends to complete a module.
If you DO get behind, reach out! Give me a call (or Canvas message) and let's work together to help you succeed.
Have an open mind! In this class we will explore many facets of management.
Support for You
Canvas Help & Technical Support
Canvas Helpline - (209) 575-7900 - Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Live Chat is available from Canvas (click the "?" at the bottom of the left-most navigation pane)
Accommodations for Disabilities
If you have an accommodations form from Disability Services, please send me a copy right away so we can work together to help you succeed in this class.
Disabled Students Services can be reached on the web, by phone 209-575-6225, Fax 209-575-6852 or TTY 209-575-6863. The office can also be reached by email at: mjcdsps@mjc.edu.
Tutoring Resources for Business Students
The Founder's Hall 114 Lab is open Monday - Friday from 9am - 5 pm. (Hours may vary slightly--I'll keep the Resources Module updated)
Business students can use the computers in the lab for Canvas, Connect, writing papers, etc.
Additional Resources:
Tutoring & Writing Center: Tutoring Information and Contacts
