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BA 352  Organizational Behavior  Winter 2007

 

Jack Drexler, Ph.D.

Office: 206 Bexell; Phone: 737‑4276                                                                                                                  

email:  drexler@bus.oregonstate.edu                                                                                                               

Office Hours: M: 10:00; Tu: 2:00; W: 2:30

 

I will occasionally communicate with you using your College of Business e-mail address.  There is signage in Bexell 112 explaining how to access it.  If you prefer to use your ONID e-mail address, Bexell lab assistants can explain how to have mail addressed to @bus.oregonstate.edu automatically forwarded to your ONID address.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who successfully complete BA352:

·         Have assessed how their values, attitudes, perceptions and behaviors impact their interpersonal effectiveness and professionalism.

·         Have developed and enhanced the essential interpersonal skills for being an effective team leader and member of entrepreneurial and established organizations that have diverse membership.

·         Correctly use conceptual frameworks from management research and practice to diagnose and improve individual performance and group dynamics.

·         Have developed an awareness of the role of effective human resource management in organizations.

·         Have a framework for assessing the ethical implications of the decisions they make and the actions they take.  They work effectively with persons (1) with disabilities, (2) from diverse ethnic, cultural, gender backgrounds and (3) across various hierarchical and social strata.

TEXTS

·         Kinicki, A. and Kreitner, R.  (2006).  Organizational Behavior: Key Concepts, Skills and Best Practices.  (2nd Ed.)  Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

·         Ritti, R.R. and Levy, S.  (2003).  The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Know (6th Ed.).  New York: Wiley.

·          Byham, W.C.  (1998).  ZAPP.  Pittsburgh: Development Dimensions Press.

REQUIREMENTS

A.  Examinations.  There will be two examinations -- a midterm and a final.  They will be based on the readings, lectures and group activities (500 points). 

 

B.  Participation/Observation.  This course is designed to be an experiential one, and much of your learning depends upon your active involvement with the subject matter.  This means I expect you to think about the class material, to evaluate its useful­ness, and to find opportunities to apply it. 

 

1.  Group Participation.  You must come to class.  You will be part of a devel­oping group throughout the term; your group's success depends upon your attendance.  There is a penalty for missing class group activities.  Two absences during group activities are allowed, but I will deduct fifty points from your total points for each absence beyond two.  Showing up after a group activity has begun will count as an absence, as will leaving early.  Most class sessions will involve group work.

 

The absence allowance should give you enough flexibility to deal with unex­pected illness or emergency.  In no case, however, will there be an exception to the policy.  If you are likely to have some regularly scheduled event during class sessions, you should take this course during a different quarter.

 

2.  Class Participation.  I expect all class members to contribute to class discussions.  This should be based on prior reading, lectures and class exercises.  This requirement applies to the large class sessions and not to class group work. If you don't feel comfortable getting involved in large group discussions, see me privately about strategies for increasing your involvement.  (75 points)

 

3.  Group Projects.  The class will be divided into groups that maintain the same members throughout the term.  By maintain­ing intact groups, the groups become a focal point for learning and skill development.  There will be two group projects assigned.  You will have to evaluate your peers' contribution to each project.

 

I will form class groups based on background information I collect the first week of the term.  The first group meeting will be on the first class day of the second week of the term.  Failure to provide the background information by Friday of the first week of the term will result in you not being assigned to a group and thus unable to earn any of the group project points for the course.  (425 points).

 

Notes and summary of grading.

1.  Late assignments and exams.  Unless you have an acceptable reason and give advance notice, I will deduct 25% of the available points for late submissions and give no points once an assignment/exam is returned to the rest of the class.

2.  Typing and writing.  Assignments must be typed.  Well-written English and good spelling are expected; I will deduct 10% of the available points for five or more spelling and/or grammar errors on any assignment.  Staple together the pages that you have written and hand them in without any binders.  You must submit two copies of each assignment.  Also, put your section number and class-group number on all group assignments and evaluations.

3.  Students with disabilities.  Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at 737-4098.  

4.  Academic dishonesty.  Any case of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of F for the course.  This action is allowed by Academic Regulations and Procedures as described in the Schedule of Classes.  I expect you to know and understand these policies and regu­lations.  If there is any doubt about their meaning and interpreta­tion, ask for an explanation.  This link leads to more information about the university’s policies on academic dishonesty.

5.  Final grade determination.  I will use the +/- grading system with cutoffs as indicated the first day of class.  The relative contribution of requirements to total points is:

                Examinations                                                                                           500

                Class Participation                                                                                   75

                Group Projects                                                                                        425

                                Total                                                                                        1000

 

                                                                                       Tentative Course Outline

 

Date                        Topic                                                      Reading/Assignment                  

1/8                           Introduction/Feedback/Ethics           KK:1

1/10                         Perception/Diversity          Ri:[1-21] 1,3,7; KK:4 [FEEDBACK NOTES]

 

1/15                         Martin Luther King Holiday

1/17                         Attribution/Group Formation/

                                Cross-Cultural Relations                     Ri:[47-50] 8,13; KK:3

 

1/22                         Motivation                                            Ri:[73-81]; KK:6

1/24                         Motivation:                                          Ri:18,19,20; KK:7

1/26                         Winter Career Symposium 10-2:30  Memorial Union

 

1/29                         Motivation: Performance Msmt.        Ri:22; KK:8    

1/31                         Communications;

                                Human Resource Management        KK:12    

 

2/5                           Managing Team Meetings

2/7                           MIDTERM EXAM

 

2/12                         FOCUS: CLASS GROUPS

2/14                         Team Work                                           KK:10; PROJECT #1 DUE  [GROUP ROLES]

 

2/19                         ORAL PROJECT REPORTS

2/20                         Winter Career Fair                                Alumni Center 10:30-4

2/21                         Team Work                                           KK:9                      

 

2/26                         ZAPP; Power                                        ZAPP; FIRO-B

2/28                         Power/Leadership                                Ri:[219-229],34; KK:13-14

 

3/5                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Leadership                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Prepare Admin. Decision Making

3/7                           Conflict & Negotiations                      $$$$$$$$$; PROJECT #2 DUE

 

3/12                         Conflict & Negotiations                      KK:11    

3/14                         Wrap-up/Resume Writing                  KK:2

 

 

                                                                                                  FINAL EXAM

                                                                               TUESDAY, MARCH 20   7:30-9:20

 

 

·         Key to reading assignments:  ZAPP: entire book. Ri:[X-X],Y,Y -- the numbers in brackets refer to page numbers and the numbers not in brackets refer to chapter numbers in the Ritti text.  If you elect to use the 5th edition, this link leads you to a page with a translation table.  KK:Y,Y – the numbers refer to chapter numbers in the Kinicki and Kreitner text.