BUS 350 Organizational Theory and Behavior

Description: 

This course covers individual aspects of organizational behavior. Emphasis is on individual-organizational interface, organizational characteristics, organizational processes, and organization change and development. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of organizational structures, implement adaptations for diverse organizational cultures, recognize and eliminate internal and external constraints, overcome organizational conflicts and plan successful change efforts.

Overview: 

Understanding and anticipating human attitudes and behavior in the organizational context is a useful and powerful capability. Business leaders need to know why people behave the way they do when they are in organizations and how changing circumstances will impact peoples’ behavior in the workplace.

Today’s business leaders can anticipate continued innovation, technological advancements and change, downsizing, restructuring, intense competition, reengineering, entrepreneurial growth, and an expanding web of international linkages among business entities in the global economy.

Organizational behavior is a cornerstone of success for individuals in organizations. Even the most skilled business professional will be an ineffective leader without good organizational behavior skills, including a firm understanding of managing and motivating individuals and teams and the  interpersonal and communication skills necessary for effective performance in different organizational situations.

Prerequisites: 
A course in accounting or business, or consent of instructor.
Prospectus: 
PDF icon BUS 350 Prospectus.pdf
Course Credit: 
Three (3) semester credit hours
Instructional Objectives: 

On successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:

  1. Explain what is meant by organizational behavior and management and how it effects the world of business today;
  2. Identify the potential advantages of organizational behavior knowledge and how focusing on the human element can contribute to organizational and managerial effectiveness;
  3. Summarize the research methods of organizational behavior;
  4. Explain alternate organizational behavior perspectives and conceptual frameworks;
  5. Explain how personality and perception influence behavior in organizations;
  6. Apply theories and concepts of motivation and teamwork to developing strategies for improving performance;
  7. Apply theories and concepts of conflict management and negotiation to improve organizational communication and performance;
  8. Assess the influence of communication and organizational culture on management and employee behavior;
  9. Define key terms.
Required Texts: 

Organizational Behavior and Management, 10th Edition, by Ivancevich, Konopaske and Matteson.

Additional Readings: 

Organizations, Behavior, Structure, Processs. 14th Edition, by Gibson, Ivancevich and Konopaske.

Course Calendar: 

Lesson 1 The Field of Organizational Behavior

Topic 1 Managing Effective Organizations

Topic 2 National Culture

Topic 3 Organizational Culture

Topic 4 Managing Globally

Lesson 2 Understanding Individual Behavior

Topic 1 Human Nature

Topic 2 Individual Differences at Work

Topic 3 Perceptions and Attributions

Topic 4 Motivation: Background and Theories   

Lesson 3 Managing Individual Behavior

Topic 1 Leadership: Fundamentals and Perspectives

Topic 2 Job Design and Performance

Topic 3 Evaluation and Rewards Influence on Behavior

Topic 4 Managing Misbehavior

Lesson 4 Group Behavior and Interpersonal Influence

Topic 1 Groups and Teams

Topic 2 Managing Conflict and Negotiations

Topic 3 Power and Politics

Topic 4 Managing Individual Stress

Lesson 5 Organizational Processes

Topic 1 Communication

Topic 2 Managing Communication

Topic 3 Decision Making

Topic 4 Managing Organizational Change and Learning

Course Requirements: 

A course grade will be determined based on the number of points a student has earned over the semester as follows:

Icebreaker Assignment (30 points)

Exams (four, each worth 100 points, for a total of 400 points; All four exams are online; closed book and closed-notes). Only Exams 4 is a proctored exam.

Discussions (five, each worth 10 points for a total of 50 points)

“What I Learned” Essay (40 points)

Course Evaluation (30 points)

TOTAL 550 points

Students With Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities have a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. Students having a disability requiring an accommodation should inform the instructor by email (on the “Course Info” page click on the instructor’s name and then select “Send Email”).

Technology Access
This course requires web access and the student has to have an established e-mail account. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is necessary to view documents that are PDF files. One can download the reader free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

Course Evaluation
Student input is welcome for improving this course. Making suggestions by e-mail is helpful. Our goal in this course is to facilitate the successful achievement of all instructional objectives by all students. At the end of the course students have the opportunity of assessing the course. We want to make e-learning courses as effective as we can. We may also ask some other questions concerning a student’s experience in distance learning to help us improve our program. We appreciate students letting us know how we can improve our products and services for them and other distance learners.

Withdrawing From or Dropping This Course
It is the responsibility of a student to drop a course if he or she cannot meet the requirements of the course. Any student who stops attending a course without officially withdrawing from it risks receiving a punitive grade for that course. Withdrawal requests may be conveyed in any manner to the course professor, Registrar, or Vice President of Academic Affairs. This action is sufficient for ensuring any refund owed you. Please note the following: If a student drops a course on or before the “Last day to withdraw from a course without a grade penalty” as published in the University Academic Calendar, even if his or her work is not of a passing grade, then a “W” is recorded. If a course is dropped after that date, but before the last 21 calendar days of the semester, then the instructor determines the grade. The faculty member will at this time record a grade of “W” if passing (not computed in GPA) or “WF” if failing (computed in GPA). Students who drop a course, yet remain in one or more other courses during the last 18 calendar days of the semester, will receive a grade of “WF.” Students who completely withdraw from the University at any time during the semester may be given a grade of “W” on all courses. If students do not initiate the withdrawal process, the instructor is required to initiate the administrative process and to record a grade of “W” or “WF” for the course depending on the date the faculty member drops the student from the course. Students who register for a course as an audit, but then withdraw will be assigned a grade of “W” for the course.