MGT 361
Organizational Behavior
Session: Winter, 20009
Instructor: Peter E. Sagala, MBA
Class Dates: March 3 ---- April 21.
Classroom: TBA
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 6 pm – 9 pm
Contact Info: Home Phone#269-469-9272 /
E-mail Addresses – [email protected] and [email protected]
Required text(s): Organizational Behavior, 8th Edition, by Robert Kreitner and Angelo Kinicki.
McGraw-Hill Irwin. Copyright, 2008. ISBN # 978-0-07-338125-1. Plus Squirrel Inc., First Edition, by
Stephen Denning. Jossey-Bass, a Wiley Imprint, Copyright 2004, ISBN # 0-7879-7371-8.
Frequent reading of a major daily (e.g. Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Chicago Tribune) or the
web pages of MSN Money and/or Yahoo Finance along with a weekly reading of one of the following
business periodicals such as Business Week, Fortune, Forbes or The Economist. (3 of these are
available in our library, The Economist at St. Joseph’s library.)
Note: Students may be able to purchase Organizational Behavior along with Squirrel Inc. at reduced
prices on www.amazon.com or www.bigwords.com.
Also, please note:Each student must have a copy of A Writer’s Resource: A Handbook for Writing and
Research, Second Edition, on hand. This handbook will be used as our standard for all research papers as
well as the Final Project assignment.
University Mission
The mission of Siena Heights, a Catholic University
founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican
Sisters, is to assist people to become more competent,
purposeful, and ethical through a teaching and learning
environment which respects the dignity of all.
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Department / Division Learning Outcomes
Course description: Students gain a better understanding of human behavior among individuals,
within groups and organizations. Through cases, self-assessments, and
experiential exercises they develop their capacity to increase job performance
work satisfaction, and organizational commitment. For workplaces of fewer
boundaries, greater differences, rapid change, shifting loyalties and ethical
dilemmas, students develop skills in managing teams, stress, conflict, change,
politics, careers and organization cultures.
•
Communication – The ability to express ideas in writing, verbally and visually.
•
Creativity – The ability to develop original ideas and use common solutions in uncommon
ways.
•
Analytical ability – The ability to effectively separate a complex problem or situation into its
component parts in order to identify solutions.
•
Integrative thinking – The ability to incorporate, assimilate and dissect issues discussed and
read along with actual current events and situations in the management of organizations (profit
as well as non-profit and governmental agencies).
Course Outcomes:
Develop an understanding of the dynamics of human behavior in organizations, both for profit
and not-for-profit.
Appreciate the components of motivation and leadership within the context of teams and
organizations.
Develop an understanding of the behavior of individuals and groups within organizations and
their effect on organizational efficiency and productivity
To assist students to integrate into their thinking the important societal dimensions of diversity,
environmental concerns, ethics and technological change.
Assessment strategies: The analytical papers based on the assigned readings, written
journals, and in-class presentations along with group discussions and the final project should
develop the student’s communication skills as well as their creative skills. The analytical papers
along with the final project, tests, lectures, and in-class discussions of current events and
readings should develop the student’s analytical ability. The in-class presentations, in-class
discussions, group discussions, article analysis papers, and the project should improve the
student’s integrative thinking abilities.
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BAM (Business Administration Management) Outcomes To General Education Program Outcomes
Program Learning
Course Outcomes
Learning Strategies
Assessment
Outcomes
Tools/Strategies
Communication
Develop the ability to
express ideas verbally,
visually and with the
written word.
Assigned readings,
Papers/Case Studies,
group activities, class
discussion, participation
and the Final Project.
Group activities, Final
Project presentation, class
discussions and
participation.
Creativity
Develop creative
solutions to dilemmas
encountered within the
context of teams and
organizations.
Analytical Ability
Identify key components
contributing to
organizational efficiency
and productivity.
Lectures, assigned
readings, class
discussions, and Final
Group Project.
Integrative Thinking
Develop the ability to
incorporate, assimilate
and understand the
dynamics of human
behavior within both for
profit and non-for-profit
organizations.
In class discussions, inclass presentations, group
activities and discussions
as well as assigned
readings along with
written analyses. Final
Group Project.
Assigned Case Write-ups,
In Class Presentations,
Class Participation and
quizzes/tests.
Assigned papers and Case
Write-ups based on
readings, Written
Journals and Oral as
Written presentation
For the Final Project.
Quizzes, Written papers
based, on readings, final
group project, in-class
discussions and Oral /
written presentations.
Quizzes, In-class
presentations, in-class
discussions, group
discussions,
article analysis, and
final group project.
Grading policy and scale:
All assignment are due on the assigned date. However, as your instructor, I understand that you are a working
professional and schedules can be tough. Therefore, if you are not able to turn your assignments in on schedule,
as long as you contact me prior to the date, we can work out a schedule. Otherwise, the assignment is subject to a
5% point reduction. ALL work must be turned in on the last night of the class. It will be helpful if you forward
your assignments to me to my E-mail address: [email protected].
Assessment:
Class participation and
attendance.
Written Journals (4
journals)
2 Quizzes/
Analysis Paper based on
assigned readings.
100 points (6.67
pts./class)
400 points (100 pts. /
journal )
200 points (100 points
/ quiz
200 points
Final Project
(Applied Summary
Paper)
100 points
Total Potential Points
1000 points
Grading Scale:
90–100 pts.(90%100%)
80– 89 pts. (80%89%)
70– 79 pts.(70%-79%)
A
B
C
60–69 pts. (60%-69%)
D
0–59 pts. (0%-59%)
F
Attendance policy:
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In order to accomplish the goals of the class, your attendance is required. I understand that extenuating
circumstances can occur. And so, if that is the case, it is your responsibility to contact me as soon as possible to
make alternative arrangements.
In order to actively participate, you must be in class and be prepared for the class. If unforeseen circumstances
prevent you from being prepared, you should attend class anyway but inform me beforehand so that I will not call
you to lead class discussion.
Academic dishonesty policy
Academic dishonesty is unethical behavior which in any way violates the standards of scholarly conduct. It
includes such behaviors as cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing, submitting the same or
essentially the same papers for more than one course without the consent of all instructors concerned,
misappropriating library materials, or the destroying of or tampering with computer files. Also included in
academic dishonesty is knowingly or intentionally helping another violate any of this policy.
Plagiarism definition and penalties
Plagiarism is the failure to give credit for the use of material from outside sources, including the Internet. It
includes, but is not limited to: verbatim use of a quote without quotation marks and adequate documentation ;
submission of a paper, prepared by another person, as one’s own work; using the ideas, facts, words,
photographs, pictures, graphics, or data of someone else and claiming them as your own ; or not documenting
ideas, facts, words, or data gathered during research.
A discussion of penalties regarding plagiarism will be held during the 1st class session.
See page 166 of the Siena Heights University Undergraduate 2006-2008 Catalog for the University policy on
Academic Dishonesty, including plagiarism. Also see page 179 of the Siena Heights University Undergraduate
2006-2008 Catalog for the University Statement of Ethics and Responsibilities in the use of Computer Resources.
Disability statement
Siena Heights University welcomes students with disabilities who meet academic admission requirements, and
will work toward meeting their needs by providing reasonable and appropriate accommodations to those students
with documented disabilities. These disabilities may include but are not limited to impaired vision, hearing, or
mobility; learning disabilities; and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD). Students with documented Learning Disabilities must contact the Director of Academic Advising or
the Office for Students with Disabilities to discuss the Siena Heights University Policy.
See page 181 of the Siena Heights University Undergraduate 2006-2008 Catalog for the complete University
Americans With Disabilities Policy.
Course /Topic Schedule and Class Assignments:
Date Time
Topic
3/3
6:00 –
Review of Syllabus during the first 2 hours including introductions and goal of the
9:00pm
class.| Chapters 1, 2 and 3 from the text should be read for class discussion.
3/10 6:00 –
Chapters 4, 5 and 6 from the text should be read for class discussion. Class
9:00pm
lecture and discussion will be based on assigned readings.1st Written Journal is
due. Begin to read Part One, Chapters 1 and 2 from Squirrel Inc.
3/17 6:00 –
Chapters 7, 8 and 9 from the text should be read for class discussion. 2nd Written
9:00pm
Journal due. Read Part Two, Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 from
Squirrel Inc.
3/24
6:00 –
Chapters 10, 11, and 12 from the text should be read for class discussion.
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9:00pm
3/31
6:00 –
9:00pm
4/14
6:00 –
9:00pm
6:00 –
9:00pm
4/21
1st Written Assignment/Case Analysis Due. Also, Topics for Final Projects
determined.
Chapters 13, 14, and 15 from the text should be read for class discussion.
Mid-Term Quiz. 3rd Written Journal due. Also Read Part Three, Chapters
11 and 12 from Squirrel Inc.
Chapters 16, 17, and 18 from the text should be read for class discussion.
4th and Final Written Journal due
Final Quiz.
Also Group Presentations of Final Projects will be made.
Please Note: Revisions and Modifications to this syllabus may be made as needed to meet the
goals of this specific class.
Notes Regarding The Class Journal Assignments
The purpose of the 2 classroom journals is to spur thinking. You are encouraged to write in the first person
(“I”). Journals should be typed. The journal should be written with a minimum range of 500 - 600 words
per journal. Evaluation of the journals will focus on the use of the student’s writing skills to encourage
exploration of the topics studied and discussed in class as well as their minimum word lengths as stated above.
They will be graded on content not writing style.
Also Please read the following for a better understanding of what the expectations are for the
Written Assignments and Case Work.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS /CASE ANALYSIS
The guidelines presented below/on the following page have been designed to help the student analyze situations
and cases assigned from our text. The template is a guideline, not a rigid format. Each question is intended to
bring out information that will be helpful in analyzing and resolving a situation/problem. Each situation will be
different, and some parts of the guidelines may not apply in every case. Also, participants should be attentive to
the questions at the end of the case analyses found in the textbook. The heart of any case or article analysis is the
recommendations that are made at the end of your analysis. The Problem/Issue Identification and
Analysis/evaluation steps should be focused on generating and defending the most effective set of
recommendations possible.
I. Problem/Issue Identification
1. What are the central facts of the case and the assumptions you are making on the basis of these facts?
2. What is the major overriding issue in this case? (What major questions/issue does this case address
that merit (s) their/its study in this course and in connection with the chapter/material you are now
covering?)
3. What sub-issues or related issues are present in the case that merit consideration and discussion?
II. Analysis/Evaluation
4. Who are the various individuals in this case, and what part do they play in the case? What
challenges/threats/opportunities do these participants pose?
5. If the case involves a company’s/organization’s action, evaluate what the company did or did not do
in the handling the issue affecting it.
III. Recommendations
7.
What recommendations would you make in this case? If a company’s or organization’s
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strategies or actions are involved, should the organization have acted the way it did? What
actions should the organization take now, and why? Be as specific as possible, and
include a discussion of alternatives you have considered but decided not to pursue.
Mention and discuss any important implementation considerations.
In Other Words --- A Bottom Line Summary of the above Regarding the Format for Assigned
Papers/Case Studies:
1. Identify The Issue(s), Problem(s), or Challenge(s). (In other words, “What’s The Message?)
2. Describe the background, Provide the Details. The Narrative.
3. State the Solution(s) in the Article/Case and state if you agree and / or disagree.
4. If applicable, provide any alternative set of solutions.
5. Minimum of 800 words required. 1000 words ideal.
6. Students need to become familiar with A Writer’s Resource: A Handbook for Writing and
Research as the standard for writing and designing their written assignments and research
papers throughout the course.
Please Note Well!
Pre-assignments for the 1st class session.
1) Chapters 1 from Organizational Behavior textbook should be read.
2) Also read this syllabus as thoroughly as possible prior to our 1st meeting.
Have questions
ready for discussion on the 1st class session regarding this syllabus and this class.
3) Additionally, each student will be expected to discuss at least 1 current (over the previous 5
days prior to our class session) significant article he/she has read from the Wall Street
Journal or the business section of a major daily newspaper such as The New York Times,
Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Los Angeles Times or from one of the following business
periodicals such as Business Week, Fortune, Forbes, The Economist, or Harvard Business
Review. Depending on the length and detail of the issues involved, the student may also
choose among the financial websites such as MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, or Bloomberg
Financial as their source for discussion.
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