ORSC 201 - Organizational Behavior Spring Semester2015 Instructor Shezeen Hemani Room No. Room 438, 4 th Floor, SDSB building Office Hours TBA Email shezeen@lums.edu.pk Telephone Ext: 5326 Secretary/TA Ms. Nabeela Shehzadi TA Office Hours TBA Course URL (if any) Suraj.lums.edu.pk COURSE BASICS Credit Hours 3 Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 Duration 75 minutes Recitation/Lab (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week -- Duration -- Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week -- Duration -- COURSE DISTRIBUTION Core --- Elective Yes Open for Student Category -- Close for Student Category -- COURSE DESCRIPTION Organizational behavior is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization s effectiveness. This course focuses on such topics as leadership skills, personality, motivation, team building organizational change and culture. COURSE PREREQUISITE(S) NILL COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES The course is designed to: 1. Introduce students with the theoretical underpinnings of the field of organizational behavior. 2. Familiarize students with the factors at personal, group and organizational level that affect human behavior in organizational settings. 3. Prepare students for taking decisions to solve people related problems.
LEARNING OUTCOMES After taking this course students will be able to: 1. Understand some of the most important organizational theories. 2. Understand the drivers of human behavior in organizational context. 3. Apply the acquired knowledge for decision making and problem solving in organizational context. 4. Evaluate various managerial and organizational initiatives. UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES General Learning Goals & Objectives Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral Communication Objective: Students will demonstrate effective writing and oral communication skills Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify and address ethical issues in an organizational context. Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify key problems and generate viable solutions. Goal 4 Application of Information Technology Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to use current technologies in business and management context. Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to work effectively in diverse environments. Goal 6 Understanding Organizational Ecosystems Objective: Students will demonstrate that they have an understanding of Economic, Political, Regulatory, Legal, Technological, and Social environment of organizations. Major Specific Learning Goals & Objectives Goal 7 (a) Program Specific Knowledge and Understanding Objective: Students will demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines and how they interact including application to real world situations (Including subject knowledge). Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science behind the decision-- making process (for MGS Majors) Objective: Students will demonstrate ability to analyze a business problem, design and apply appropriate decision- - support tools, interpret results and make meaningful recommendations to support the decision-- maker How the course learning objectives specifically relate to program learning goals and objectives. PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES COURSE ASSESSMENT ITEM Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral Although not a core learning objective of this Written: Project, Quizzes, & Exam. Communication course, written and oral communication will Oral: CP, & Presentations. be frequently used and tested. Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and Reasoning Fair and Ethical treatment and grading of students. Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills Goal 4 Application of Information Technology Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments Goal 6 Understanding Organizational Ecosystems Major Goal: CLO # 3 (Prepare students for taking decisions to solve human related problems) Although not a core learning objective of this course, students will work in diverse teams to complete group project & presentation. Major Goal: CLO # 2 (Familiarize students with the factors at personal, group and organizational level that affect human CP and Project Preparing and delivering project and presentation. Group Project & Group Presentation All Instruments
Goal 7 (a) Discipline Specific Knowledge and Understanding Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science behind the decision-- making process Lahore University of Management Sciences GRADING BREAKUP AND POLICY Project / Presentation: 20 % Quiz(s): 15 % N 1 policy applies for grading Attendance: 5% (Max 3 absences are allowed. From 4 th absence, there will be a deduction of 0.5) Class Participation: 10% Mid Term: 25% Final Examination: 25% EXAMINATION DETAIL Major Goal: CLO # 1 (Expose students with the theoretical underpinnings of the field of organizational behavior). CLO # 2 (Familiarize students with the factors at personal, group and organizational level that affect human behavior in organizational settings) Major Goal: CLO # 3 (Prepare students for taking decisions to solve human related problems. All Instruments All Instruments Midterm Exam Final Exam Yes/No: Yes Combine Separate: Combined Duration: 90 minutes Exam Specifications: TBA Yes/No: Yes Combine Separate: Combined Duration: 90 minutes Exam Specifications: TBA COURSE OVERVIEW LECTURE TOPICS RECOMMENDED READINGS SESSION OBJECTIVES 1 Intro to the course -- Intro to course outline. Module 1: Individual level processes 2 What is Organizational Behavior? Chapter 1 Getting students familiar with OB. 3 Attitudes and Job Satisfaction Chapter 3 4 Emotions and Moods Chapter 4 5 Emotional Intelligence What makes a leader? (Goleman) Explaining why these attitudes are important. Briefing students about the research on these topics. Explaining why emotions are important in organizational context. Introduction of emotions taxonomy. Introduction to the concept of EQ, its dimensions and its importance in managing people
6 Personality and Values Chapter 5 7 Personality and Values Chapter 5 8 Perception and Individual Decision making Chapter 6 9 Motivation Concepts Chapter 7 10 Motivation Application Chapter 8 11 Case: TBA Case / Exercise Module 2: Group level processes 12 Foundations of Group Behavior Chapter 9 13 Understanding Work Teams Chapter 10 14 MID TERM EXAM Explaining the role of personality as a predictor of human behavior. Explaining the role of personality as a predictor of human behavior. Explaining how individuals interpret and process information and use it for decision making. Explaining why motivation is important in organizational contact. Introducing the classical motivation theories to the students. Explaining how motivation theories can be applied in the organizations. Application of Individual level processes Explaining why individuals exhibit specific behavior when in teams/ Explaining the stages in team formation and their performance patterns. 15 Brief Project Presentation All groups will prepare and give a 5 minute presentation on their group projects 16 Leadership Movie Session 17 Leadership Chapter 12 Debriefing Session 18 19 Workplace Conflict Chapter 14 Negotiation Chapter 14 Module 3: The organization system Introduction to Leadership theories with the use of real life characters Explaining the importance of leadership in organizational context. Introduction of Leadership theories in the light of the movie characters. Introduction of various factors that initiate/ influence conflicts. Introduction to the factors that affect the negotiation process and 20 Organizational structure Chapter 15 Explaining how organizational structure develops Explaining how organizations acquire and 21 Organizational Culture Chapter 16 retain specific cultures. Explaining why organizations need 22 Organizational Change Chapter 17 change. Introduction to various 23 Power and Politics Chapter 13 Introduction to the concepts of power and Politics in organizational context. Issues in the management of a diverse workforce. Understanding 24 Diversity in Organizations Chapter 2 the dynamics of a diverse 25 Open Session: Guest Speaker/ Case 26, 27 &28 Project Presentation Students will present their group project findings
TEXTBOOK(S)/SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS Stephen P. Robbins, Timothy Judge & Neharika Vohra, Organizational Behavior, 15th edition (Pearson Education 2013) The course will also comprise of readings and articles from other sources, such as business magazines, national dailies / journals, classics in OB and management, popular media, best sellers etc. These will be announced in class and material will be made available either electronically (via LMS) or will be distributed in class. USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE METHOD OF INSTRUCTION, GRADING INSTRUMENTS AND SOME USEFUL HINTS Method of instructions: Class will consist of lectures, discussions, videos, cases and activities to enrich learning. As class discussions play a significant role in learning and understanding of the subject, it is your responsibility to adjust your personal schedules and ensure your active presence in all the class sessions. It is essential that you: 1. Prepare for the classes. Please read the assigned reading(s) before each class. 2. Attend all classes. 3. Actively contribute to class discussions and activities. 4. Thoroughly and thoughtfully complete assignments. In addition to reading each chapter before it is covered in class, to enhance your learning you should do the following: 1. After reading the chapter opening (a one to two page incident at the beginning of each chapter), think about what occurred and why. When you are finished reading the chapter, you should be able to explain what happened, using the concepts in the chapter. 2. Complete, and when possible, score, the experiential exercise at the end of each chapter. Think through how this information can be helpful to you on a personal and professional level. Group assignments / project To be discussed in the class. A detailed guideline for group project will be shared through email. Class participation Class Contribution is and can be: Making observations that integrate concepts and discussions, Citing relevant personal examples, Being an active participant in group discussions, Working with others to come to a common understanding of the topics. By extension, contribution is not continuously dominating the class and group discussions. It also means listening to what others say -- they have a right to contribute (and you may learn something!). Contribution is not coming to class unprepared and ill-equipped to intelligently discuss the topic of the day. Contribution is not repeating the points others just made to get the CP credit. Working in Teams Students frequently complain about having to work on group assignments. The primary reasons for these complaints are (a) often some members will "drag their feet" and force others to pick up the slack, and (b) interpersonal conflicts arise in the group context. Although there is certainly some merit to these complaints, we insist on incorporating the group projects as a significant element in the course because of two major considerations. First, this course is about human behavior in organizational settings. Learning about the concepts in this course (as is true of the concepts in most any course) is facilitated by permitting direct experience with them. Thus, by forming mini- - organizations in each class meeting, you are given a greater chance to directly experience some of the things you are
trying to learn about. Second, the vast majority of you will find yourself -- -- if you haven't already done so -- -- working in groups at some time or another (in fact, many of you will spend the majority of your working lives as members of a group). There is no chance whatsoever that you will avoid slacking group members and interpersonal conflict after college. Why not face the music and start now to learn how to cope with these frustrating elements of group work? Plagiarism University s ethics code applies. Helpful hints As a leader in an organization, you are going to have to be clear and precise in both your oral and written communications. People with whom you communicate will continually be suffering from information overload. Therefore, you will have to organize your thoughts clearly and make your points logical, brief and with supporting rationale. This leads to the following suggestions: 1. Organize your presentation well. What is the main point? How will you support it? 2. Link your ideas to class concepts. Integrate with other readings, speakers, etc. 3. Show your own independent thinking. Focus on new understandings. 4. Present your ideas cleanly, clearly, and logically. Style is important.