Stevens Institute of Technology

Howe School of Technology Management

Syllabus

BT 330:

Social Psychology and Organizational Behavior

Semester: Fall 2014 / Day of Week/Time: Tuesday; Thursday
Instructors’ Name & Contact Information:
Zvi H. Aronson,
Donald Lombardi, Ph.D,
/ Office Hours: TBD
Class Website:

Overview

Using an applied and experiential format, this course exposes students to theory, methods and research in organizational behavior and social psychology. Topics relating to individual differences and group dynamics in organizational settings are stressed. Learning occurs through discussion, group activities, and the completion of assessment instruments. Emphasis is on helping students understand and improve their skills in key areas, including decision-making, leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

Prerequisites: None

Relationship of Course to Rest of Curriculum

This course is integral to B&T. It provides students with the opportunity to reflect upon, analyze and develop skills that relate to individual differences and group dynamics in organizational settings. This course will help students understand, appreciate and improve in key areas, including decision-making, leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

Learning Goals

  • Introduce basic concepts of social psychology and organizational behavior
  • Provide insight to your own skills, abilities and interests with regard to working in teams, groups and organizations

Pedagogy

A significant portion of the learning will occur through completion of self-assessment activities, participation in role-plays and simulations, discussion with others, case studies and even through providing feedback to classmates.

Required Text(s)

Required
  • Schmerhorn,J.R., Hunt, J.G., Osburn, R.N., & Uhl-Bien, M.(2011).Organizational Behavior, 12th Edition. ISBN-13: 978-0470878200
  • Harvard Business Review articles. Harvard Business Review on Motivating People. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press. ISBN 1-59139-132-6
  • The instructor will provide other required readings and material.
  • Additional course material will also be available through Canvas. You should plan to check Canvas for course announcements and to obtain copies of lecture notes and access to some surveys.
All lecture notes (PowerPoint) and assignments can be found on Canvas.

Assignments

Participation and completion of surveys and homework assignments

Class meetings will include lectures, exercises, videos and group discussion of cases and articles. At various points throughout the semester you will also be required to submit written assignments, complete surveys and to participate in activities. Many of the surveys are available online (). Regular attendance and participation on your part is critical to the course.
Exams
Two examinations are scheduled for the course. These exams will not be cumulative and will cover topics from readings and from class lectures.

Team Assignments and Projects

Throughout the semester you will work in groups of 4 -5 to complete various assignments, exercises and a project. In addition, you will also be completing various surveys and feedback instruments. The surveys and feedback you receive are developmental activities. Any surveys you complete and feedback you receive will remain completely confidential and will not impact your grade. Completing the surveys however, is a course requirement.
Mini-Assignments: The syllabus describes several small assignments that you will need to complete as a team. These assignments will count toward your participation and overall team project grades.
Integrated Analysis: Each team will be assigned two books about individual, organizational and technological achievements. Your task will be to use the theories and principles discussed in this course to compare and contrast these stories. As a team you will submit one double spaced paper of approximately 7 pages (length is less important than quality of content). (see syllabus).

Individual Skill Assessment and Development Plan

Drawing upon the concepts, assessment tools and exercises covered in this course you will need to prepare a paper (roughly 5-7 pages) that reviews your strengths and development areas and also describes your plans for making improvements in the future, in skills areas such as leader communication, conflict management, influencing without formal authority and creative problem solving.
Assignment / Grade Percent
Participation and completion of homework assignments / 15%
Exam #1 / 15%
Exam #2 / 15%
Team project / 20%
Team member evaluation / 5%
Skill Analysis and Development Plan / 30%

Ethical Conduct

The following statement is printed in the Stevens Graduate Catalog and applies to all students taking Stevens courses, on and off campus.
“Cheating during in-class tests or take-home examinations or homework is, of course, illegal and immoral. A Graduate Academic Evaluation Board exists to investigate academic improprieties, conduct hearings, and determine any necessary actions. The term ‘academic impropriety’ is meant to include, but is not limited to, cheating on homework, during in-class or take home examinations and plagiarism.“
Consequences of academic impropriety are severe, ranging from receiving an “F” in a course, to a warning from the Dean of the Graduate School, which becomes a part of the permanent student record, to expulsion.
Reference: The Graduate Student Handbook, Academic Year
Consistent with the above statements, all homework exercises, tests and exams that are designated as individual assignments MUST contain the following signed statement before they can be accepted for grading. ______I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/examination. I further pledge that I have not copied any material from a book, article, the Internet or any other source except where I have expressly cited the source.
Signature ______Date: ______
Please note that assignments in this class may be submitted to a web-based anti-plagiarism system, for an evaluation of their originality.

Course Schedule

Wk1 / Course Overview and Introduction
Wk2 /

Introduction to Management and Organizational Behavior

Schmerhorn et. al., Chapter 1 and Chapter 16;
Trader Joe’s - Case 1A, pp. 561-562. In class questions.
Wks 3 /

Motivation theories and performance

-Schmerhorn, Chapters 5 & 6
Wks4 /

Motivation theories and performance

-HW -Team Assignment #1 - Motivation and Learning Article Team Presentations
Wk 5 /

Understanding Individual Differences and Work Behavior

Schmerhorn, Chapter 2,
Complete Individual web-based assessments
Wk 6 /

Emotions, Attitudes and Perception

- Schmerhorn, Chapters 3 and 4(T)
- HW - Team Assignment #2 - Summary of Individual Differences Information(R)
Wks 7 /

Understanding Group Processes and Team Dynamics

- Schmerhorn, Chapters 7;
- Schmerhorn, Chapter 8 (pp 201-219), Army Crew Team Case discussion in class.
Wk 8 / Exam 1
Wk 9 / Power and Political Behavior
-Schmerhorn, Chapter 12
-Power and influence, includes NPR Interview on Power(T)
-Power in project –based work (R)
Wk 10 /

Leadership

Schmerhorn, Chapters 13 and 14

-Behavioral and trait perspectives on leadership (T)
-Contingency and transformatonal perspectives on leadership (R)
Wk11 /

Interpersonal Communication

-Schmerhorn, Chapters 11
Wk12 /

Conflict Management/Negotiation-Schmerhorn, Chapters 10.

Team Assignment 3 Due-Integrated Book Analysis – team presentations
Wk13 /

Decision-making and Creative Problem-solving in groups

Schmerhorn Chapter 8 (219-224), Chapter 9.
Case Study: Red Flags, Smart People, Flawed Decision: Morton Thiokol and the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster.” Mark Maier (case and case questions available in class)
Wk14 /

Exam 2

Submit - Skill Analysis and Development Plan. Students present key skills areas for development, includingcommunication, conflict resolution, influencing without formal authority andcreative problem solving.