Course Number and Title

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE

FACULTY CONTACT INFO & OFFICE HOURS:

Instructor’s name: (Please fill this i.n)

Phone Number: (Please fill this in.)

Blackboard Internal Messaging: (Please fill this in; do not use any email addresses.)

DAY / OFFICE HOURS (CST)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSTRUCTOR:

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GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION:

Date: (Please fill this in.)

Course Number: BU 301

Course Name: Organizational Behavior

Semester Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): BU 105 Business Principles and Management

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the nature of organizational behavior through the study of group and inter-group relations, organizational design, and the structure and factors affecting organizational design. Topics include the external environment; the impact of technology, power and politics; and organizational change and development.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Describe the relationship between learning and behavior modification in an organization.
Discuss the theory of incentive plans.
Explain how learning, perception, attitudes, values, and ethics affect and influence individual’s behavior with an organization.
List the basic considerations to be taken in setting up work groups.
Describe some techniques used to effectively manage groups.
Explain the relationship between intergroup behavior and performance.
Explain the influences that an individual has on stress and stress management.
Describe some strategies for resolving conflict in an organization.
Describe the strategies that an organization can use to plan for short-term and long-term change.

REQUIRED TEXT(S):

DuBrin, A. J. (2007). Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior 4e. Australia, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, United States: Thomson South-Western.

SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:

PowerPoint slides, articles, links found in Blackboard each week.

CLASSROOM POLICIES:

Written Assignments: Follow detailed assignment instructions including theResearch Paper. Besure to useAPA format, proper grammar, and spelling.

Discussion Boards: A "threaded discussion" is a discussion forum that allows one user to begin a discussion by entering a message that can be read by other users (original post), who can then add their own comments in response to the original message. Other users can then add their responses to these comments. Thus, the discussion is "threaded" as one comment leads to another and another. Unlike chat rooms and other "real-time" interaction forums, threaded discussions do not require different users to be logged on at the same time. Instead, an individual can enter and contribute to a threaded discussion at any time, responding to a message posted a day or even weeks earlier.

Each week, students will have assigned discussion statements or questions. Questions will be available for students’ to post their primary posting by Sunday. Each student is required to answer each question by initiating an original response (called a primary posting). Each original post must be a minimum of 150 words and incorporate concepts from lectures, textbooks and supplemental readings which should be highlighted in red and cited at the end of the posting.

FromMonday to Sunday, each student must post secondary responses to three or more of their colleague's posts for each discussion question with a minimum of 150 words or more by Sunday of each week. Secondary responses should also incorporate concepts and theory from textbook and supplemental readings. Students are expected to log on 4 times a week.Students are encouraged to embark on collaborative discussions in addition to the required secondary postings. The Instructor will participate in these discussions as well. Assessment is via the Threaded Discussion Rubric.

IMPORTANT: The instructor reserves the right to change a threaded discussion assignment in advance should a current event emerge that is relevant to the course material. Any changes will be posted in the Announcement before that week’s session begins.

CLASS PARTICIPATION:

Attendance is defined as submission of assignments, exams, or discussion board posting. Each student is expected to log on at least 4 times a week. This standard is a minimum requirement. Herzing University suggests that students participate on a daily basis during the course.
Participation is measured by a student’s contribution to the virtual classroom discussion board. A student contribution must add value to the course. A note is determined to be of substance by containing information that supplements, contradicts, questions, or furthers discussion on a subject area contained in the course. Notes such as “me too” and “I agree” and other notes not related to the course are not considered substantive notes for participation. For specific guidance students are encouraged to read the statement of expectations and evaluation rubric posted under the Discussion heading.
Performance Expectations:
All readings and review of PPTs, lectures, and supplementary materials is to be completed before the first day of the week.
Demonstrate dependability, initiative, time-management, and organization and prioritization skills.
Work responsibly, either independently or with a group of their peers, in the design, implementation, and presentation of course activities.
Resolve group communication concerns and any personal/professional disagreements that may impede the course and its activities.
Tardiness: Discussion forums are locked the first day of the subsequent week. Missing the opportunity to participate in the discussion will result in 0 pts being recorded for participation. There is no making up missed participation.
Late Assignments will NOT be accepted.

Late Assignments: Missing the opportunity to participate in the discussion will result in 0 pts being recorded for participation. There is no making up missed participation.

Late Assignments will NOT be accepted.

SUMMARY OF WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS/ASSESSMENTS:

Week 1 / Pre-test, APA Quiz, Readings ch 1,14,15, Assignment, Discussion: For this week's discussion we will: 1. Describe how studying organizational behavior relates to your chosen profession and 2. Describe the organizational culture and structure of an organization.
Week 2 / Readings ch 2,3,4, Assignment, Discussion: 1. Describe your preferred learning style. Based on the four stages of learning orientation, given an example of how you learned something and 2. Describe the relationship between intelligence and job satisfaction.
Week 3 / Readings ch 6,7, Assignment, Discussion: 1. What incentive plans motivates you? What other factors lead to your motivation? And 2. How does WIIFM explain why managers and professionals devote time to community and charitable activities?
Week 4 / Readings ch 10,11, Assignment, Midterm exam, Discussion: 1. If you believe the leader-member exchange theory is valid, how would you try to be part of the in-group? And 2. Many managers feel that previous experience on a sports team prepares you for a workplace team. Therefore, many managers will attempt to hires those individuals with this experience. What is your reaction to this hiring practice?
Week 5 / Readings ch 8,12, Assignment, Discussion: 1. Many people complain of email overuse in organizations on the job, how does email contribute to your effectiveness as a communicator? And 2. What are the negative consequences if managers ignore power, politics, and influence tactics in organizations particularly in workgroups?
Week 6 / Readings ch 5,9, Assignment, Discussion: 1. Critics of teams in organizations often ask "Have you ever seen a statue of a committee in a park?" What is the point of this statement and how would you respond? And 2. Describe a failed business decision. Why did it fail? What should be done differently to make it a success?
Week 7 / Readings ch 13,16,17, Assignment, Final project, Final Exam, Discussion: 1. What are some functional consequences of conflict? How can conflict be used to improve a particular situation? And 2. What steps can you take to prepare yourself to be a better multicultural manager?
Week 8 / Post Test, Discussion: 1. How can use apply the concepts from this course to your organization and professional preparation? And 2. What concept did you choose for your research project? Shareat least 2 pieces of new information you gathered with you classmates.

Assignment – Week 1

Library Assignment: Choose an Organizational Behavior topic of interest to you (review the Table of Contents of this book and the Index for Ideas) for your research paper. Choose a minimum of 10scholarly (peer reviewed) sources related to your topic of interest for utilization in your research paper. It is recommended you print or save a copy of the sources so you can refer to them when writing your research paper. Create a reference page in APA format listing this sources. The final research paper will be10 pages on the topic. You may find that you will need much more than 10 sources. See Writing Guidelines Document for formattingparticulars & Written Papers Rubric for evaluation specifics under Course Info page.

Below is the final project (due in week 7) outline:

Project Outline:

Submit/Upload your assignment using the link below.

Cover page

Table of Contents

Body of the paper on the selected topic with References cited within the text in APA

Reference Page (based onassignment 1)

Some potential topics might include: organizational change, stress, conflict management, decision making, groups/teams, leadership, personality, motivation, power and politics within the organization, succession planning, time management, etc.

***For this assignment (week 1), you are creating just a proposed reference page for the final project in APA format based on your chosen topic.

Assignment – Week 2

1. View the Supporting Lesson Links to the Web or other Media section of this course.

2. Take the Garner's Multiple Intelligence's Test and the VAK Learning Styles Inventory.

3. Take the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, the Big Five Personality Test, and the Jung Typology Test.

4. Write a reflection paper about your newly acquired knowledge from the readings and links as well as thenew knowledge about yourself. How does this knowledge relate to organizational behavior? How will this new knowledge and understanding be reflected in they way you prepare yourself professionally?

5. The required components include:

1. Title page

2. Brief summary of results

3. Identify and explain the relevant principles and theories.

4. Use the principles and theories to analyze your results

5. Conclusion

6. References

Assignment – Week 3

Write a reflection paper using the theories and principles of motivation and incentives you have learned. You may want to do some further research on the topic. How will you use these theories andprinciples apply to you professionally?The required components include:

1. Title page

2. Brief summary of a situation

3. Identify and explain the relevant principles and theories.

4. Use the principles and theories to analyze the situation

5. Conclusion

6. References

Assignment – Week 4

1. Write a reflection paper using the theories and principles of teamwork and leadership you have learned. Describe asituation when you were on a team and also a situation in which you were in a leadership role. Howdo these theories and principles of teamwork and leadership help with your professional development.

2. The required components include:

1. Title page

2. Brief summary of a situation

3. Identify and explain the relevant principles and theories.

4. Use the principles and theories to analyze the situation

5. Conclusion

6. References

Assignment – Week 5

Review the case problem: Do we Need This Blogger? on p. 185-186 in your book and also the case problem: Infighting at DaimlerChrysler on p. 281-282. Write a case analysisfor each case problem to apply what you have learned. The required components are:

1. Title page

2. Introduction including an overview of the business

3. State the problem or issue in a paragraph.

4. Describe the facts and assumptions of the case

5. Analyze the case and information that you have. Answer the questions at the end of the case.

6. Provide your recommendations in order to solve the problem. Provide at least three alternative solutions and support each with the materials from the chapter, your experience, and other sources. Choose an optimal solution.

7. Describe the consequences and implications of your recommendations. You may need to restate your assumptions. Provide an action plan.

8. Summary conclusion

9. References.

Assignment – Week 6

1. Review the case problem: The Adam Aircraft Work Group/Team on p. 208-209. Write a case analysis to apply what you have learned. The required components are:

1. Title page

2. Introduction including an overview of the business

3. State the problem or issue in a paragraph.

4. Describe the facts and assumptions of the case

5. Analyze the case and information that you have. Answer the questions at the end of the case.

7. Describe the consequences and implications of your recommendations. You may need to restate your assumptions. Provide an action plan.

8. Summary conclusion

9. References.

Assignment – Week 7

Read the case problem: Hard Charger Turned Soccer Mom on p. 311-312 and the case problem:What to do about Louie? on p. 404-405. Write a case analysis on each case to apply what you have learned. The required components are:

1. Title page

2. Introduction including an overview of the business

3. State the problem or issue in a paragraph.

4. Describe the facts and assumptions of the case

5. Analyze the case and information that you have. Answer the questions at the end of the case.

7. Describe the consequences and implications of your recommendations. You may need to restate your assumptions. Provide an action plan.

8. Summary conclusion

9. References.

Assignment Grade distribution for references week 1

1. 10 Scholarly peer reviewed references (2 points for reference listed up to 10, .5 for each that is not scholarly peer reviewed up to 10) = 25 points

2. APA format – 5 points

3. Organizational behavior topic – 4 points

Assignment Grade distribution for reflection paper – weeks 2, 3, and 4

1. Title page 1.25 points

2. Brief summary of results 5 points