BU 288
Organizational
Behavior I
Instructor: Jie (Kassie) Li
Sep 7, 2023
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Course Snapshot
Organization
Group
Individual
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What is this course about?
• Understanding behavior in an organizational context
• Overall goal: To understand, predict, explain, and learn how
to manage behavior in organizations.
• At its core… OB is about performance
•
•
•
•
Increase beneficial behaviors
Decrease detrimental behaviors
Maximize org effectiveness
Maximize individual well-being
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OB as Science
• OB looks at consistencies
• What is common about behavior, and helps predictability, explanation, and management?
• OB is more than common sense
• Systematic studies: experiments, field studies, etc.
• based on scientific evidence “evidence-based management”
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Why Should We Care About OB?
• OB principles affect every employee and every organization
• OB knowledge/skills are a clear career differentiator
• Can you effectively work with others?
• Can you effectively anticipate performance issues?
• Can you effectively motivate others to maximize performance?
• Can you effectively communicate a vision?
• Can you effectively negotiate?
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• Work Motivation
• Leadership
Some of the
Covered
Topics
• Negotiation
• Decision Making (e.g., cognitive biases)
• Groups and Teamwork
• Communication
• Ethics in Organizations
• Power and Workplace Politics
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My Goals for the Class
• Learn/understand OB theories
• Application is key.
Knowing when and how to apply theories.
Identifying theory strengths and weaknesses.
Understanding how to tailor theory to meet the needs of the situation.
• I want you to be prepared to use OB ideas in your careers
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Required Textbook
• Johns, G., & Saks, A. M. (2023). Organizational Behaviour: Understanding and
Managing Life at Work (12th Edition). Pearson Education Canada, Inc: Toronto, ON.
• Instruction to get access to the digital access to e-text is available in
MyLearningSpace.
Slides
• I will aim to post slides used in the lecture on MyLearningSpace before class
• But… not all information covered in class will be included.
Information related to cases and exercises will not be posted.
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Participation and Active Learning (10%)
• Level 1: showing up in the classroom
“If you miss more than three classes without permission, you may not be allowed to
write the final exam.”
• Level 2: being well prepared
Read assigned material in advance—text, readings and cases—to be fully prepared
for class discussion.
You may be called upon to contribute at any time.
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Participation and Active Learning (10%)
• Level 3: active Learning
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ask questions
Think critically
Apply OB to your own life
Share your ideas and experiences in class
Emphasis on quality
Contributions must be worded with respect for others
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Participation and Active Learning (10%)
• Vote on how to evaluate participation with a short survey after
this class
Objective Evaluation
Self-Evaluation
A Combo
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Exams
• Two Non-Cumulative Midterms (40%)
• Midterm 1 (September 28th): 20%
• Midterm 2 (November 2nd): 20%
Multiple Choice
• primarily based on
the textbook
• All assigned
readings even if
they are not
covered in class.
Short Answers
Questions
• primarily based on
in-class material
• Material does not
have to be in the
textbook.
• Final Exam (35%) – December (date TBD)
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Grading and Re-Grading Policy
• Fairness in grading is emphasized.
• Formal requests for re-grading must occur within 1 week of receiving your grade for that component.
• Entire exam/assignment will be regraded
• Grade could go up or down
• See more details in the syllabus.
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Group Presentation and Written Report (15%)
• You will be assigned a group of approximately 4-8 people.
• Your group will be randomly assigned an OB-related motive.
• Work with your groupmates in analysing the movie using constructs and theories your
learned from this course.
• At the end of the term, your group is expected to …
… submit a written report
… make one presentation
… do Q&A with your classmates after the presentation
• More information about group presentation will be available later.
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Research Participation Bonus Marks
You can earn up to 3 bonus marks in this course by…
▪ (1) Participating in academic research studies and/or
▪ (2) Reviewing academic journal articles
For either option, you must create an account at:
https://wlu-ls.sona-systems.com
▪
▪
▪
Click the “new participant” link to create an account
If you have multiple courses with this option, select them
Make sure you indicate your section code(s) accurately
▪ Last day to earn bonus marks this term:
December 6, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. (noon)
See your course outline / syllabus for more information.
Option 1: Research Study Participation
▪ Sign up for available (active) research studies at
https://wlu-ls.sona-systems.com
▪ Check the website regularly for new studies
▪ Timeslots are issued on a first-come, first-served basis
▪ New studies are posted over the course of the term
▪ Not guaranteed all students will earn 3 marks via
studies
▪ In-person (lab) studies are not likely to be available this term.
Option 2: Journal Article Review
▪ Go to MyLS, log-in and click the “Self-Registration” link at the top
right of the main page.
▪ Then self-register for the MyLS course titled “Lazaridis School
Research Participation Alternative | Fall 2023”
▪
Click on the course name, then click “Register,” then
“Submit,” and finally, “Finish.”
▪ Once registered, you will be able to find detailed directions on the
required format, content, and submission process for the article
reviews within the course site.
▪ 1 approved article review = 1 bonus mark
• Consider yourself given a “heads-up” that this
course is more difficult than it seems…
• Students are continually surprised at how difficult
it is to master the information as well as the art
of problem-solving and implementing best
possible solutions for organizations.
A Word on
Difficulty…
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• The course moves quickly.
• Stay on top of the material.
• If you get behind, it is extremely difficult to catch up.
• Get help!
• If you are having trouble or need clarification, I’m
available over email or by appointment.
More Words
on Difficulty…
• Please talk to me earlier rather than later.
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Let’s Get Started
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What is an Organization?
Organizations are social inventions for accomplishing common goals through group effort.
Social
Inventions
• coordinating people’s
effort
• Human resource (vs.
physical capital)
• Understanding people
and managing them to
work effectively
Goal
Accomplishment
• To survive and adapt to
changes
• Carry out basic work
reliably
• Continuously learn and
upgrade knowledge
and skills
• Be innovative
Group
Effort
• Coordination among
people
• Communications,
interactions, etc
• How to get people to
practice effective
teamwork
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What is Organizational Behavior?
• Organizational behavior refers to the attitudes and behaviors of individuals and groups in organizations.
• The goals of OB studies:
• How will my boss will
evaluate my
performance?
• When one can create
innovative projects?
Predicting
OB
Explaining
OB
• Why people are more or
less engaged, motivated,
or satisfied?
• Why did an employee
resign?
• Based on the prediction
and explanation of OB
• Effective management
leads to good
performance.
Managing
OB
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The “Contingency” Approach
• OB has few absolutes
• Think about the complexity of human nature
• There’s no best way to manage
• “It depends”
• Which leadership style is most effective? It depends …
• Will an increase in pay lead to an increase in performance? It depends …
• It depends on persons, situations, the fit of persons and situations …
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Quick Review of Class 1
1. Define organizations and describe the basic characteristics
2. Explain the concept and meaning of organizational behavior
3. Describe the goals of organizational behavior
4. Contrast the classical viewpoint of management with that advocated by the human
relations movement
5. Describe the contingency approach to management
6. Explain what managers do – their roles, activities, agendas for action, and thought
processes
7. Describe the five contemporary management concerns facing organizations and how
organizational behavior can help organizations understand and manage these concerns
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Before you go …
• To-do
1. Carefully read the course outline. Email me for clarification on any questions.
2. Log in and ensure that you have access to the textbook.
3. Keep an eye on the Sona system.
4. Finish the end-of-class short survey.
-- Share your opinion on how to evaluation participation
-- Provide your Laurier email address
-- Any feedback on today’s class. How did I do?
• Required readings for this class: Chapter 1
• Next class: Research in OB
Required readings: Appendix (Research on OB)
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