Students in my course need to complete two assignments. Both require them to apply what they've learned to actual situations. These may be inside or outside the military. In both cases, students choose the context they wish to analyze. In so doing, I hope the assignment will make OB concepts real, practical, and relevant. That's what students want and expect from this course and their academic program.
The first assignment is a 1500 paper. Students individually need to describe and diagnose an organizational or leadership situation. They'll using concepts, theories, and other content from the course. Next, they'll outline the factors that contributed to the situation. Finally, they'll discuss how the concepts could have helped them and/or others deal with the situation more effectively.
I completed assignments like this one as part of my doctoral program. I found it immensely rewarding to revisit my experience using the material I was learning. It helped me to understand the material on a personal, not just intellectual, level.
The second team assignment will be a 20 minute presentation. Like the paper, it will be based on the analysis of an organization's challenges using course material. Students will need to find their organization. I impose few limits on the type of organization. They can be inside or outside the military, and from any industry or sector.
I consider this second assignment as an opportunity for students to see what it's like to serve as outside consultants. They function as de facto OB subject matter experts to provide information and insight on a real challenge faced by a real organization (in other words, it's not a case study students read and discuss in class). The students win and the organization wins!