/THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
MANAGEMENT 4310
ADVANCED ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR
Spring 2006
Professor:
Dr. Diane Miller
Office:
E516
Telephone:
380-1845
E-mail:
d.miller@uleth.ca
Office Hours: Monday 10:00-11:00, Tuesday 10-11:30, or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this fourth-year seminar is to explore further the determinants of behaviour in
complex work settings. Through readings, discussions, and assignments, we will attempt to
understand why people behave the way they do in organizations and what this means for
management practices. To this end, students will be expected to read, discuss, present, and
debate leading edge issues in research and management. The course is appropriate for students
majoring in HR/IR.
PREREQUISITES
4TH Year Standing, Management 2030 (3030), and Management 3051.
TEXT
Osland, J.S., Kolb, D.A. & Rubin, I.M. (2001). Organizational Behavior: An Experiential
Approach (7th Ed.). NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Osland, J.S., Kolb, D.A. & Rubin, I.M. (2001). The Organizational Behavior Reader (7th
Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
EVALUATION
Weekly Quizzes
25%
Final Exam (during final exam period)
Individual Research Project (Due March 29)
Presentation
Debate
Participation
25%
25%
5%
10%
10%
GENERAL CLASS STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
In general, we will cover one topic over two class periods. In the 1st class we will review the
chapter, clarify issues through discussion, and have students present relevant readings. At the
second class a quiz will be given, and students will participate in activities such as debates and
exercises.
QUIZZES AND FINAL EXAM
Unless otherwise indicated, in-class quizzes will be given at the start of the 2nd class for each
topic (25 percent) and the final exam (25 percent) will be given during the exam period. The
material covered will be readings, textbook chapters, class notes, discussions, exercises, and
videos covered during the course. Quizzes will be made up of multiple choice questions. You are
expected to write the quiz on the assigned day. Your highest 9 of 11 values will count towards
your final grade. The final exam will be written on the date assigned by the university (no
exceptions unless given permission by the Undergraduate Office). This will be a
comprehensive exam and will be in an essay style.
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PAPER
For this research paper students should develop a research question, that is relevant to the field of
Organzational Behaviour. Questions might centre around topics such as employee attitudes,
motivation, satisfaction, or commitment, diversity, teamwork, leadership, or other relevant
topics. Peer reviewed articles are required as part of your source material. Peer reviewed
sources can be obtained from ABI Inform, other similar data bases, or the library. I will not
accept personal web pages as sources. Use APA format for the bibliography. The paper should
summarize the current state of the literature and address the question(s). The paper is intended to
invoke critical thinking to resolve an issue by pulling together relevant literature so that you
came come up with your own conclusion to the issue. Literature review papers will receive a
lesser grade. The paper should be as long as is required to address the issue. This project is
worth 25% of the course grade, of which 5% will be allotted for a 10 minute in class presentation
of your paper. Due: March 29.
PARTICIPATION
Students will be responsible for reviewing one assigned reading from the required reading list,
and for preparing a two-page bullet-point summary (photo-copies for all course members). The
two-page summary will include the key points from the reading and your evaluation of the
strengths and weaknesses. Use ABI Inform and other similar sources to help you develop your
appraisal of the reading. The appraisal will need to identify at least two (2) relevant sources
which must be referenced according to the APA citation style. You will also make a 10 minute
class presentation of the reading highlights and your reaction. You are encouraged to rehearse
the class presentations for content, flow, use of visual aids, and timing. The presentation is
worth 5%.
Teams will be formed to give a debate presentation to the class. Each team will make a 15
minute presentation of their side. Following the main statements there will be a five minute
break during which each team will prepare its rebuttal to the main arguments posed by the
opposition (rebuttals are limited to 5 minutes for each team). At least two days before the
debate, presenting teams should e-mail the instructor a 1-2 page (typed double spaced) summary
of the team’s position and its main arguments. Attach a bibliography in APA form listing the
sources used in preparing your position. Debates account for 10% of the course value.
The marks given for the above assignments will be determined by computing the average score
of the assessments completed by other class members. The instructor reserves the right to adjust
student evaluations that may be too lenient or too strict. Criteria can include presentation
quality, response to readings and other debators, and answers to questions.
The importance of pre-class preparation, regular class attendance, as well as consistent and
meaningful contributions during class cannot be overemphasized. Students not involved in
presentations during a given week will come to class having read the required readings.
Evidence of having done the readings, by making insightful observations and asking
thoughtful questions about the readings, will be one of the criteria for assigning course
work marks. Class activity marks are awarded based on active and thoughtful involvement in
the day’s discussion. Contributions which add a new insight or perspective to the discussion will
be weighted more heavily. Members of the class are responsible for their individual and
collective learning in this course – you will get out of the class what you put into it. 10% of the
grade is alloted for your participation in the class and for asking questions of the presentations
and of your instructor.
ETHICAL CONDUCT
Ethical Conduct is expected from all students, in accordance with University policies as
described in the Calendar. Students cheating on any test OR submitting plagiarized, purchased,
copied or duplicated work as their own for individual or partnered projects can receive an
immediate "F" in the course (please refer to the Student Discipline Policy - Academic Offenses
and Discipline Procedures section of the Calendar). The circumstances of any applied penalties
will be thoroughly documented in your personal academic files. Ask yourself: Is it worth
having such a penalty documented on my academic file? If you are having problems
completing work it is far wiser for you to contact your instructor and request help and/or
due date extensions than to simply copy another student's work.
YOUR PROFESSOR.
I am a Professor of Organizational Behaviour. I received my B.A. from the University of
Victoria, my M.A.Sc. from the University of Waterloo, and my Ph.D. from the University of
Toronto. Before going back to school for my Ph.D., I worked as a contract consultant for the
Department of National Defence and for the Department of the Solicitor General. I also worked
as an internal consultant for the Federal Public Service Commission. My research interests are in
the area of groups and diversity and I have research and publications covering issues related to
these interests.
GRADE DISTRIBUTION
90 -100 A+
85 - 89 A
80 -84 A-
77 - 79 B+
73 - 76 B
70 -72 B-
67 - 69 C+
63 - 66 C
60 - 62 C-
57 - 59 D+
50 - 56 D
0 -49 F
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK
January 9
TOPIC
Introduction
ASSIGNMENTS
Handout: Course Outline
January 11
Psychological Contract
January 16
January 18
Theories of Managing
January 23
January 25
Learning
January 30
February 1
Motivation
February 6
February 8
Motivation
Workbook: Ch. 1.
Readings: Rousseau
Conger
Quiz, Exercise
Workbook: Ch. 2.
Readings: Mintzberg
Quinn
Quiz, Exercise
Workbook: Ch. 3
Readings: Daudelin
Senge
Quiz, Exercise or Activity
Workbook: Ch. 4.
Readings: Nadler & Lawler
Kouzes & Posner
Quiz, Debate
Exercise
February 13
Diversity
February 15
Diversity
February 20
February 22
February 27
Reading Week
Perception and
Attribution
March 1
March 6
Group Dynamics
March 8
March 13
Leadership
March 15
March 20
Decision Making
March 22
Workbook: Ch. 12.
Readings: Ragins et al.
Hofstede
Quiz, Debate
Workbook: Ch. 8.
Readings: Adler
Paul
Quiz, Exercise
Workbook: Ch. 9.
Readings: Wageman
Lipnack & Stamps
Quiz, Debate
Workbook: Ch. 13
Readings: Goleman
Manz & Sims
Quiz, Exercise
Workbook: Ch. 15
Readings: Vroom
Klein
Quiz, Debate
March 27
March 29
Organizational Culture
April 3
Research Paper due
Presentations
Presentations
April 5
April 10
Presentations
Presentations
Workbook: Ch. 14.
Readings: Schein (1st)
Greiner
Quiz,
Presentations
April 12
Final Exam: All chapters and related readings
Note: Additional detailed information concerning specific readings, pre-class preparations,
assignments, etc., for each topic area, will be provided separately. Also, weekly activities
may be modified from those listed above.