Organizational Behavior

Course
Semester
Spring
Year
2022
General Course Information

Course Lecturer Name(s):  Helen Bhola-Paul

Course Director Name: Same as above

Course Lecturer(s) Contact Information:  hbhola@sgu.edu (473) 444 4175 Ext 3748

Course Director Contact Information:  N/A

Course Lecturer(s) Office Hours:  Appointment via Zoom Mon, Wed, Fri 1-3pm; Tues, Thurs 11:00am-12pm 

Course Director Office Hours: N/A

Course Lecturer(s) Office Location:  Upstairs Building C 

Course Director Office Location: N/A

Course Support:   Tracy Fortune – tfortune@sgu.edu Ext 3373;  Mahalia Charles- mcharl11@sgu.edu Ext 3863

Course Management tool: To learn to use Sakai, the Course management tool, access the link https://apps.sgu.edu/members.nsf/mycoursesintro.pdf

Course Curriculum Information

Course Description: 

This course is designed to give students an understanding of the character traits of members of an organization. Students would learn about individuals, groups and the organization as a system. This course will look closely at individuals’ attitudes, personality, and their motivation. The characteristics and roles of groups and teams will be examined within an organization.  In addition, an organization’s system and how it fosters motivation, manages politics and power and how those impact individuals, groups and teams within the organization

Course Objectives: 

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Interpret problems in various workplaces for attitudes, emotions and personalities 
  2. Analyze various non-monetary and monetary motivational techniques to increase job satisfaction
  3. Understand the factors that causes politics in an organization 
  4. Analyze stress reduction techniques to lower and manage organizational stress 
  5. Improve skills in written and oral communication

Student Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Interpret problems in various workplaces for attitudes, emotions, diversity, human resources procedures and personalities 
  2. Analyze various non-monetary and monetary motivational techniques to increase job satisfaction
  3. Understand the factors that causes politics in an organization 
  4. Analyze stress reduction techniques to lower and manage organizational stress 
  5. Improve skills in written and oral communication

Program Outcomes Met By This Course:

ISLO-3: Students will be able to demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.

ISLO-4: Students will be able to critically think, motivate and collaborate to solve business problems. 

SAS Grading Scale: Grades will be assigned as follows:

A  = 89.5% or better

B+ = 84.5 - 89.4%

B  = 79.5 - 84.4%

C+ = 74.5 - 79.4%

C = 69.5 - 74.4%

D = 64.5 - 69.4%

F = 64.4% or less 

Course Materials:

Text: Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A., (2015). Organizational behavior. (16th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Publishing.

Supplementary Readings/Resources: Where appropriate additional reference materials will be placed in the “Library Resources” in Sakai as well as during lectures.

Course Grading Requirement:

  • Midterm Exams: 30%
  • Personality Test (submission via Sakai): 5%
  • Group case study presentations15%
  • Group written : case study (submission via Sakai): 30%
  • Individual Forum Discussion  (2 x 10% each): 20%
  • Total: 100%

Course Requirements:

Students are required to complete:

  1. Two Individual Forum Discussion- Students will need to respond to a question posted in the Forums area on Sakai which will be graded. A Rubric will be posted along with the question so that persons can see the criteria for their grading. Please note that at least one scholarly resource should be used to answer the question and the use of proper APA citing is a requirement for all written assignments.
  2.  A Group Case Study both a Written Submission and a Presentation- Quality writing, proper citation, referencing, and good research is a criterion for a quality paper.  Please ensure that you follow the guidelines for your written assignments: On the date designated on the Course Outline the various group leaders will have the opportunity to present their group’s case study during class and in addition submit a written copy via Sakai.
  3. Midterm Exams – Students will take their midterm exams using Examsoft platform.  Contact Examination Services to ensure that your laptop meets the requirements to be able to download Exemplify to take the exams.
  4. A Personality Test- Before Week #4- You will need to complete your personality type test using Myers Briggs Personality type indicator by going to this link. Submissions should be made via Sakai during week #4 and come prepared to discuss the learning experience gained from that activity in class.  http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm 

Course Schedule

  • Week #1 and Week #2                                                                                  
    • Chapter 1-What is Organization Behavior 
    • Chapter 2- Diversity in Organizations 
    • Individual Forum Discussion based on a question provided by Course Instructor and the due date is on Sunday Week #2- 
  • Week #3 and Week #4   
    • Chapter 3 Attitudes and Job Satisfaction  Chapter 4 Personality and Values  Personality test due during Week #4
    • Chapter 5 Perception and Individual Decision Making
  • Week #5,Week#6  
    • Chapter 6 Motivation Concepts  Chapter 7 Motivation: From Concept to Applications
    • Class case study discussion Some library resources will be provided via Sakai for Case Study assignments
  • Week #7 Chapter 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 
    •   Midterm Exam Review Class (Week #7 final class) Midterm via Examsoft and based on Midterm Exam schedule during Week #8 (Chapters: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, and 17)
  • Week# 8 Midterm Exam 
  • Week #9 
    •  ​​​​​​​Chapter 4 Emotions and Moods Chapter 9 Foundations of Group Behavior  Individual Forum Discussion based on a question provided by Course Instructor and the due date is on Friday Week #9  
  • Week #10 and #11 Chapter 10 Understanding Work Teams  Chapter 13 Power and Politics  
  • Week #12 and Week#13  Chapter 14 Conflict and Negotiation
    • Class case study discussion Some library resources will be provided via Sakai for Case Study assignments 
  • Week #14 Chapter 18 Organizational Change and Stress Management Written Case submission via Sakai Monday of Week #15
  • Week #15 Group case presentations online during class of Week #15- All powerpoint presentations must be uploaded to Sakai in the drop box provided  using (APA 7 template) 
  • Week #16 Final Exams Week- There will be no final exams for this course

School of Arts and Sciences Master Syllabi — Info for All Sections

Plagiarism Policy

Academic Integrity

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

Plagiarism is regarded as a cardinal offense in academia because it constitutes theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist. Plagiarism draws into disrepute the credibility of the Institution, its faculty, and students; therefore, it is not tolerated” (p. 48).

Plagiarism also includes the unintentional copying or false accreditation of work, so double check your assignments BEFORE you hand them in.

Be sure to do good, honest work, credit your sources and reference accordingly and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously following the university’s policies on Plagiarism as outlined in the Student Manual.

Your work may be subject to submission to plagiarism detection software, submission to this system means that your work automatically becomes part of that database and can be compared with the work of your classmates.

Attendance Requirement

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

Students are expected to attend all classes and or clinical rotations for which they have registered. Although attendance may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance may be taken randomly. Students’ absence may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy. If absence from individual classes, examinations, and activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed. A particular course may define additional policies regarding specific attendance or participation” (p. 9).

Examination Attendance

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

All matriculated students are expected to attend all assigned academic activities for each course currently registered. Medical excuses will be based on self-reporting by students. Students who feel they are too sick to take an examination or other required activity on a specific day must submit the online SAS medical excuse, which is available on Carenage. Students are only allowed two such excuses a year. Upon consultation with the Director of University Health Service, the third excuse will result in a mandatory medical leave of absence. The policies regarding make-up examinations are at the option of the Course Director” (p.46).

For additional specific examination policies and procedures, refer to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), pages 31 through 37.

Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services Policy

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

A student with a disability or disabling condition that affects one or more major life activities, who would like to request an accommodation, must submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) located in the Dean of Students Office. It is highly recommended that students applying for accommodations do so at least one month before classes begin to allow for a more efficient and timely consideration of the request. If a fully completed application is not submitted in a timely fashion, an eligibility determination may not be made, and accommodations, where applicable, may not be granted prior to the commencement of classes and/or examinations” (p. 8).

Disclaimer

It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the policies, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for a course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus. These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual.