Course Syllabus Organizational Behavior

Transcription

1 Course Syllabus Organizational Behavior Course Information Course Number/Section OB Course Title Organizational Behavior Term Fall 2010 Days & Times Fridays 7:00-9:45 p.m. Professor Contact Information Professor Tracey Rockett, Ph.D. Office Phone Address Office Location SOM Office Hours Friday 5:30-7:00 p.m. and by appointment Other Information The quickest and easiest way to contact me is thru WebCT . If it is important to get a quick response, do not call since I only check my voice mail when in the office. However, if it is a topic that needs to be addressed over the phone you can call during my office hours or me to set up a time to call/meet. Course Description This class is an introduction to the field of Organizational Behavior. Over the semester we will cover a number of topics at the individual, group, and organizational levels of analysis. The objective of the class is to provide you with theoretical frameworks and a vocabulary to help you understand and analyze happenings in organizations. The class will be conducted using a variety of methods including lectures, exercises, cases, class discussions, and videos. Since this is a graduate course, I expect a great deal of participation from you in the form of written assignments and class discussions. Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes 1) Develop an understanding of how individual behaviors affect groups and organizations. 2) Be able to make the connection between course concepts and personal work experiences. 3) Be able to understand basic theories of motivation and be able to evaluate the differences between motivational approaches and be able to assess the efficacy of motivational programs. 4) Be able to evaluate specific situations in organizations and provide direction and leadership when necessary. 5) Be able to recognize the need for making a decision and be able to analyze the situation, evaluate alternatives, and create the most appropriate approach. 6) Be able to create effective high performance teams by assessing the needs of stakeholders and developing effective team processes. Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 1

2 Required Textbooks and Materials Required Texts Course Packet for OB 6301 available at both Campus Bookstore and Off Campus Books Course Requirements: I expect that you will come to class each week ready to discuss the readings and your personal experiences related to the readings. Because we come from different backgrounds and have different bases of experiences, the readings will help us find a common ground. This is a reading intensive class! If you are unable or unwilling to do the reading required on a weekly basis, you will fall behind and your grade will suffer. Class Contribution: Your class contribution will be measured by counting your participation in the inclass exercises. There will be an in-class exercise most weeks. The in-class exercises will be diverse, ranging from group activities to individual surveys. We will engage in these interesting (and fun) activities in order to add a hands-on, practical component to our understanding of organizational behavior. You must attend class in order to participate in these exercises. I will not give make-up exercises. While I will not be directly evaluating verbal participation due to the large size of the class, it is encouraged that you participate in class discussions. Active participation in the class discussions is essential for this class. A great deal of learning takes place when you share your experiences with others. However, I realize that due to the large class size and personal inclinations, sometimes your participation in the discussion will be limited. Therefore, the tangible component of the contribution grade will be the in-class exercises. Class contributions will count for 20% of your grade, broken down as follows: 20 points - attends class consistently, participates consistently in exercises. 15 points missed two classes/exercises. 10 points missed three classes/exercises. 5 points missed four classes/exercises. 0 points missed five or more classes/exercises. If you come to class regularly and read the materials ahead of time, and participate on a regular basis, it should not be difficult for you to earn the maximum 20 points. However, if you choose not to attend class then your grade will suffer. Reflections on Experience Papers: A very important part of this course is the experience that you bring to class. In order to draw on some of your experience, you will be required to write two Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 2

3 papers over the course of the semester. These are not intended to be major research papers. These are intended to be short papers in which you are asked to describe an experience that you have had in an organization and to apply the readings for the week to explain the experience from a theoretical standpoint. For each week I have listed the question(s) that should be answered. You only need to write two papers. Therefore, you have a choice of which topics you would like to write about. The paper should be around words (approximately 3-4 typed pages, double spaced). It should include a description of your experience and a careful analysis of how the material from our class helps you understand your experience from a broader perspective. We will be using your experiences as part of the class, to further everyone s understanding of the material we are discussing. Because these experience papers are going to be an integral part of class, I may ask for you to share your experiences during the discussions. Experience papers are due in class the day of the topic. So, if you want to write on personality and perception, it is due on the evening of Sep 5 th, the night we are discussing the topic. You must bring a hard copy of your paper. Due to problems in the past, I will not accept them via . If you write a paper for the class and cannot attend, you must make arrangements for a classmate to turn it in for you. You are responsible for ensuring that your paper is in on time. Each paper will be worth 10 points, or 10 percent of your grade. Exams: There will be two exams. The exams will consist of short essay questions and a longer case analysis. Both exams will be weighted the same, and are comprehensive in the sense that all of the material we discuss in class is related. Therefore, you may use information from the previous section to contribute to your analysis on the exam. The exams will be in-class, open note and open book, and will last for two hours. Each exam counts for 30% of your grade. If you attend class on a regular basis and participate in the discussion and inclass exercises, I do not expect that you will have a problem. My make-up policy is simple. If you miss an exam for any reason, you will need to take a comprehensive make-up at the end of the semester. While this makeup is comprehensive, it will follow the same format as the two regular exams. If you know of a conflict ahead of time and need to reschedule an exam for a different time, please discuss it with me at least one week before the exam date. If you do not contact me one week prior to the exam date, you will need to take the make-up at the end of the semester. Re-grading: I do not want to make mistakes in my grading and I want to be fair to all of the students in the class. However, I do not want to grade every paper or exam Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 3

4 twice. Therefore, there are two rules I use for re-grades: 1) all requests for regrades must be presented in writing with a description of what you want me to consider in the re-grade process; 2) when I re-grade a paper or exam, I re-grade the entire paper or exam, not just the areas of concern. Therefore, it is possible for the grade to go down as a result of a re-grade. Course Grading: Class Contribution 20% Reflection Papers 20% Exam I 30% Exam II 30% 100% Grading Scale A B C Below 70 F Assignments & Academic Calendar: Aug 20, 2010 Session 1: Introduction and Course Overview ** DUE NEXT WEEK ** Bio Page Aug 27, 2010 Session 2: Historical Perspective Taylor, F. The Principles of Scientific Management Roethlisberger, F The Hawthorne Experiments Hackman, J., Oldham, G., Janson, R., and Purdy, K A New Strategy for Job Enrichment Kerr, S On the Folly of Rewarding A While Hoping for B Yang, C. & Palmer, T Low Wage Lessons Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 4

5 Describe a situation in which you have seen Rewarding for A.. at your workplace? Why has this happened and how might it be corrected? Does your organization practice job enrichment? What characteristics apply and how does it work? Sep 3, 2010 Session 3: Personality and Perception Roche, E Do Something He s About to Snap Personality Test: Describe a situation in which a workplace conflict was due to personality differences. What type of personality are you and how does it affect the way that you work? Sep 10, 2010 Session 4: Social Information Thomas, J. & Griffin, R Power of Social Information in the Workplace Asch Opinions and Social Pressure Zimbardo, P. & Leippe, M The Psychology of Attitude Change and Social Influence Describe a situation at your workplace where your attitudes affected your decision making in a negative manner Describe a situation in your workplace where you behaved in a way that you would not have normally behaved. Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 5

6 Sep 17, 2010 Session 5: Commitment and Socialization Schein, E Organizational Socialization and the Profession of Management Salancik, G Commitment is too Easy Brittain, J Gillette Metal Warshaw, M Have You Been House Trained? Mieszkowski, K She Helps Them Help Themselves Explain the formal or informal socialization process at one of your jobs. Have you ever been in a workplace that required commitment? Were you able or not able to commit? How did the process evolve? Sep 24, 2010 Session 6: Communication Godin, S How to Give Feedback Alinsky, S Communication Maruca, R How Do You Manage an Off-Site Team? Describe a situation in your workplace in which there was a miscommunication. Oct 1, 2010 Session 7: Decision Making Isenberg, D How Senior Managers Think Decision Making exercise Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 6

7 Describe a recent decision you made at work and the process by which you made it. Oct 8, 2007 EXAM I Oct 15, 2010 Session 8: Power and Influence Bies, R. & Tripp, T Two Faces of the Powerless: Coping with Tyranny in Organizations Martin, J. & Meyerson, D Women and Power: Conformity, Resistance, and Disorganized Coaction Carnegie, D. How to Win Friends and Influence People Warshaw, M Good Guy s* Guide to Office Politics Describe a situation where someone used power and influence to get something from you. Describe a situation where you used power and influence to get something from someone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oct 22, 2010 Session 9: Conflict and Negotiations Greenhalh, L Managing Conflict. Neale, M. & Bazerman, M Negotiating Rationally: The Power and Impact of the Negotiator s Frame. Inc. How to Negotiate Practically Anything Fisher, R. & Ury, W Getting to Yes Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 7

8 Describe a recent negotiation. What would you do differently? Describe a situation in which conflict occurred in the workplace? Was it positive or negative? Why? Oct 29, 2010 Session 10: Diversity Chrobot-Mason, D. & Ruderman, M Leadership in a Diverse Workplace Bell, M., McLaughlin, M., & Sequeira, J Age, Disability, and Obesity: Similarities, Differences, and Common Threads Stroh, L., Langlands, C., & Simpson, P Shattering the Glass Ceiling in the New Millennium Tischler, L Where are the Women? Explain how diversity has affected your job? Has it been a good or bad thing? Describe a situation in which you felt discriminated against. Nov 5, 2010 Session 11: Ethics Solomon, R. Morality: The Basic Rules Seglin, J. Just Because It s Legal, Is it Ethical? Hartman, L. Technology and Ethics Reingold, J Into Thin Air Pink, D The New Face of the Silicon Age Describe an ethical dilemma that you have been involved in at work. How did you resolve it? Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 8

9 Nov 12, 2010 Session 12: Organizational Culture and Design Langewiesche, W Columbia s Last Flight Fishman, C Whole Foods Meyer, M Culture Club Describe a situation in which you found that the organizational culture was positive. Describe a situation in which you found that the organizational culture was negative. Nov 19, 2010 Session 13: Wrapup and Exam Review Nov 26, 2010 Thanksgiving Break Enjoy Turkey and Pecan Pie!!! Dec 3, 2010 Session 14 EXAM II *These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor. Student Conduct & Discipline The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 9

10 be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year. The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/ ). A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct. Academic Integrity The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one s own work or material that is not one s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings. Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective. Use The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an exchange. The university encourages all official student correspondence be sent only to a student s U.T. Dallas address and that faculty and staff consider from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts. Withdrawal from Class The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled. Student Grievance Procedures Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the university s Handbook of Operating Procedures. In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called the respondent ). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties. Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 10

11 Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations. Incomplete Grade Policy As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semester s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F. Disability Services The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is: The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22 PO Box Richardson, Texas (972) (voice or TTY) Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance. It is the student s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours. Religious Holy Days The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment. If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC (b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee. Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address given below. Additional information is available from the office of the school dean. ( Affairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm) Course Syllabus OB 6301 Page 11