BUSI 405–001
Leading & Managing:
An Introduction to Organizational Behavior
Spring 2015
Instructor:
E-Mail:
Office:
Office Hours:
Charlotte Larson
charlotte_larson@kenan-flagler.unc.edu
5410 McColl Building
By appointment
Course Meeting Times:
Course Website:
Mondays and Wednesdays, McColl 3600, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Available on Canvas
Course Description
Purpose: Welcome to BUSI 405! This course has been designed to provide you with an introduction to and a
basic understanding of leading and managing in organizations. While your other core courses help you understand
the skills you will need to do well in accounting, finance, marketing, and operations, to actually get work done in
organizations requires the skills and abilities to lead and work with individuals and groups in organizations. This is
what I hope we will accomplish in BUSI 405. While we will concentrate on activities in business organizations, much
of what we will talk about in BUSI 405 will also be applicable to a variety of other organizations (academic, social,
athletic, religious, non-profit, etc.) to which you currently belong or which you will be joining and (hopefully)
leading in the future.
The course is designed to accomplish three main goals:
• Increase your knowledge of OB concepts so that you can understand and analyze how organizations and
the people within them work.
• Provide you with opportunities to apply OB concepts to real-world problems faced by managers.
• Develop your leadership and management potential. Effective leaders often manage people and
information to accomplish organizational goals under conditions not entirely in their control. Leaders
must successfully be able to diagnose problems, make effective decisions, motivate and influence others,
and drive organizational change.
Intended Audience: BUSI 405 is one of the required courses for students seeking an undergraduate business
major from the University. Thus, the majority of students taking this course will be junior/senior undergraduate
majors. If there are seats available, the course is also open to business minors as well as any other registered
students in the University. There are no course prerequisites other than the student standing noted above.
Topics: This course is an introduction to the basic concepts and topics in organizational behavior (OB) and
management, with a focus on OB at three levels: individual, groups/teams, and organizational.
The work groups and organizations you are now part of, and that you will be a part of in the future, are made up of
individuals. So, it is helpful to think about why individuals feel and behave the way they do in their organizations.
Our first several sessions will therefore cover the basics of human nature, including behavior and personality,
perceptions and attributions, and attitudes and emotions.
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We will wrap up our focus on the individual level by considering a number of different models of motivation to
better understand why people feel and act the way they do, and how leaders can influence the attitudes and
behaviors of their followers and subordinates.
As we move to the groups and teams portion of the course, we will examine leadership theories and principles.
Next, since much of what occurs in organizations these days occurs in groups or teams, we will discuss topics
relevant to building productive groups and teams. During this portion of the course, we will also consider power
and influence, conflict, and negotiations.
Finally, successful management and leadership require that we understand and appreciate how the larger
organization within which we work and lead can affect our attitudes and behaviors and the attitudes and behaviors
of others. In the final portion of the course, we will consider human resource management, organizational
structure, and organizational culture. Then, as a capstone to our course, we will spend several classes engaged in
an online, team-based simulation aimed at understanding and leading change in an organization.
Instructional Methods
To accomplish our course goals, we will use readings, lectures, exercises, cases, and class discussion. As preparation
for each class, please read and give some thought to the information presented in your textbook. In addition to the
assigned reading in your textbook and other occasional readings, sometimes I will make exercises and cases
available to you that we will discuss in a future class. Those should also be completed or read and thought about
before you come to the class in which we will discuss a particular exercise or case.
Course Materials
Textbook: McShane, S. and Von Glinow, Mary Ann. Organizational Behavior (7th ed.), 2015. McGraw-Hill
Education. ISBN #978-0-07-786258-9. This text is required for the course and should be available at Student Stores.
You may wish to use the electronic version of the text, which is also available.
Supplemental Materials: Throughout the semester, additional readings and exercises will be handed out in
class or made available on Canvas.
Course Policies
Honor Code: Integrity is one of the Kenan-Flagler Business School’s core values. “We hold ourselves to the
highest ethical standards.” As is the case in all University classes, the Honor Code is in effect in this class. Violations
of the Honor Code are totally inconsistent with this core value and are simply unacceptable in any form. Any
violation of the Honor Code will result in an F in the course, regardless of any other grades received in the class.
While it should be obvious, an honor code violation would occur if you gave help to or received help from another
student during an examination. I am committed to treating Honor Code violations seriously and urge you to
become familiar with terms of the Honor Code as set out at http://instrument.unc.edu. If you have any questions,
it is your responsibility to ask me about the Code’s application in this class.
Specific to cases, exercises, and the change simulation, please note that you and/or your team are expected to
arrive at your responses and strategy on the basis of your own efforts. Suggestions as to possible responses and
strategies may be available elsewhere, but using such information is similar to cheating on an exam and will be
considered an Honor Code violation. Please appreciate the importance of adhering to this policy.
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Meeting Times: BUSI 405-001 meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Please try to be on
time for class. Coming in late disturbs the class and the instructor. Also, important administrative information is
discussed at the beginning of class.
Preparation: It is important that you have completed the assigned readings and exercises thoroughly before
class on the day shown in the schedule at the end of this syllabus. We will not have time to talk about everything
covered in the text in class, so if you have specific questions I will open every class with a request for questions on
last session’s material. This is a great time to air these questions (others in the class may be lost as well) or at the
very least you should feel free to ask questions during office hours about anything that you do not understand.
You will be expected to know the assigned textbook material for exams, whether or not we discuss it during
class.
Technology: Even though the University pushes the increased use of technology in the classroom, I ask that you
not use your computer during our time together. I find it disconcerting to look up and see the impersonal back of a
computer instead of the smiling (or even sleeping) face of a student. I trust you understand. The same is true for
cell phones and other electronic communication devices. Please make sure you turn these devices off before we
begin class. I understand the temptation to multitask by using class time to catch-up on email, the news, Facebook,
or YouTube videos. But this is an unwise use of class time. Additionally, other students could be as distracted by
your use of such devices as you are. To protect the learning environment for you and your classmates, there is a
“no-gadgets” policy in BUSI 405. If you need to take/make an important call during class, please take that
conversation outside of the classroom.
Grading
Your final grade in BUSI 405 will be based on the following components, which represent a total of 500 possible
points:
Component
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
Class Participation and Attendance
Change Simulation
Discussion Boards
Research Requirement
Points Possible
100
115
130
75
50
30
-30 if not completed
Percent of Grade
20%
23%
26%
15%
10%
6%
-6% if not completed
Out of the 500 total points:
If you earn at least 450 points (90%), you will receive a grade of at least an A-.
If you earn at least 400 points (80%), you will receive a grade of at least a B-.
If you earn at least 350 points (70%), you will receive a grade of at least a C-.
If you earn at least 300 points (60%), you may receive a grade of a D.
If you earn less than 300 points (< 60%), you may receive a grade of F.
Note that for each cut-point above, you may receive a higher grade than the one indicated, but you are
guaranteed that your grade will not be lower than the one indicated if you earn the requisite number of points.
Please note that final grades must be just that, final. For purposes of maintaining equity in the class, I cannot allow
anyone to do extra work as a way of improving a final grade. However, I do reserve the right to examine those
grades close to the cut-points, and I may give a student the benefit of the doubt both as a function of his/her grade
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trends through the semester as well as my perceptions of his/her overall contribution to the class.
Exams: Your knowledge about BUSI 405 topics will be evaluated with three exams given in class. These exams will
be non-cumulative, but knowledge of prior class material may prove useful in future exams. The exam schedule
and exam weights appear below.
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
Wednesday, February 4
Wednesday, March 18
Monday, May 4, 8:00 a.m.
20%
23%
26%
(100 points)
(115 points)
(130 points)
Each exam will include a combination of multiple choice and short essay questions. Questions will be taken from
the textbook, assigned readings, and material presented in class. The final exam will not be cumulative, but it will
be given during the exam period at the time designated by the registrar, as noted above and in the course
schedule.
Please note that make-up exams will only be given in exceptional circumstances, and only if I have approved the
make-up in advance of the exam. The last exam must be given only at the date and time scheduled by the
University. Exams 1 and 2 will be returned to you in class along with information about your performance, class
performance, and the correct answers.
Class Participation and Attendance (75 points – 15%): There is no formal attendance requirement in
BUSI 405, but you can earn up to 75 points by contributing to the classroom experience in a positive way. I do take
attendance, as the best way to learn about our topics is to actively participate in class discussions and activities,
and it is difficult to make meaningful contributions to the class without being in class. To increase the number of
class contribution points you earn you should:
Be here. If you are not here, you can’t contribute to class discussion. Certainly, in some cases
unforeseeable problems arise (i.e. illnesses, family emergencies) which make it difficult or impossible for
you to attend, but I hope these do not afflict many of you during the semester. Being here means more
than just your physical presence; it also means that your mind is with us. Please bring your name tent
every day.
Be prepared. To contribute to class discussion, you should prepare the material assigned for each class
(e.g. readings, cases, exercises). The assignments appear on the syllabus as well as on Canvas.
Be courageous. If you are here and you are prepared, the next step is mustering the courage to speak.
Everyone in this class is smart, interesting, and has unique life experiences to share. You will get the most
out of this course if you share your thoughts with one another. Please participate fully in the class
exercises and voice your views in our class discussions. Make sure you ask questions about things that you
don’t understand. Asking questions in class not only helps you, but it most likely also helps your
classmates. You are probably not the only one with a particular question. If you feel uncomfortable asking
questions in class, please feel free to stop up after class, send me an email, or stop by my office.
Be courteous. Treat your classmates and instructor in a respectful and professional manner. Listen
carefully to the comments and questions raised in class. You may learn something new, and you will be
able to avoid simply repeating something said earlier in class. It is perfectly acceptable for you to voice
disagreement with an opinion provided by another student or the instructor; open debate often leads to
the most thoughtful and informative class discussions. However, please voice your disagreement in a kind
and considerate manner.
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In addition to earning positive participation points, you can also incur negative participation points for behaviors
that detract from your own learning, from the learning of others, and/or show disrespect for your classmates or
the instructor, such as texting or surfing the internet.
To assist me in assessing your class participation, you will have the opportunity to complete a brief participation
form at the end of each class session, as well as a self-evaluation at the conclusion of the course. Please ensure you
hand in your participation form at the end of each class session, as this will also serve as a record of your
attendance.
Change Simulation (50 points – 10%): The change management simulation is an online activity in which
you and several team members will be asked to manage a change in a simulated organization. Many of the topics
we talk about in BUSI 405 will be present in the simulation. All of the necessary information related to the change
management simulation will be made available to you in class or on Canvas. Your individual grade on this activity
will be your team’s grade on the simulation multiplied by a peer evaluation of your individual contributions to your
team’s outcomes.
Please note that you and your team are expected to arrive at your strategy for conducting the simulation on the
basis of your own efforts. Suggestions as to possible simulation strategies may be available elsewhere, but using
such information during the simulation is similar to “cheating” on an exam, and it will be considered an Honor
Code violation. Your learning from the simulation will be enhanced if you work through the process without any
“outside” assistance. Please appreciate the importance of adhering to this policy.
Discussion Boards (30 points – 6%): To better appreciate the relevance of the topics we will cover over the
course of the semester, each of you will be responsible for identifying and sharing one recent article in the business
press related to a topic we will discuss. A sign-up sheet will be made available after the first class session for you to
select a topic. Please sign up for a topic before our second class session; anyone who has not selected a topic at
that point will be assigned to one.
A few days prior to (but no earlier than a week before or later than 24 hours before) the session of your topic,
please start a discussion thread in Canvas with the article you have selected attached as a PDF. Provide a brief (34 sentences) summary of what the article is about, as well as a brief (3-4 sentences) statement about why you
selected the article (i.e., how it relates to your topic, and/or what about it was interesting to you). As more than
one person will be assigned to each topic, please ensure that you are not duplicating an article already posted by
one of your classmates.
Articles should be from the past three years. Potential sources include Bloomberg Businessweek, Fast Company,
Fortune, Harvard Business Review, The Economist, The New York Times, or The Wall Street Journal. You can find
electronic versions of these publications by searching for their titles at the UNC Library E-Journal Finder link on the
library’s home page. You can access these electronic journals from off campus using your ONYEN user ID
and password. A document is also available on Canvas with links to these publications via the UNC Library.
In addition to sharing one article, you are also required to engage in discussion related to articles your classmates
share. At a minimum, please make one substantive (at least 3-4 sentences) comment on an article one time per
month, or four times total. Your comment may be a reaction to the article itself or a response to another student’s
comment. I ask that you comment at least once per month so as to avoid a flurry of comments on the last few
articles of the semester. Again, this is the minimum requirement and you are free to comment more frequently if
you choose to. Be sure to actually read the articles you choose to comment on, and please ensure your comments
are courteous and professional.
This requirement is worth a total of 6% of your final grade. Half of these points will come from selecting and
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sharing an appropriate, relevant article, while the other half will come from making substantive comments at four
other times during the semester.
Research Requirement (-30 points – 6% – if not completed): Participating in research is a valuable
way for you to gain first-hand experience with research methods in the field and to learn more about the research
conducted at KFBS. In addition, your involvement in these research projects will help faculty and graduate students
at KFBS continue to develop state-of-the-art management thought, which ultimately is brought back into the
classroom.
You are expected to complete three research activities over the course of the semester. There are two ways for
you to complete this requirement:
1.
Research participation: This option involves participating in academic research projects at KFBS as a
member of the Organizational Behavior Subject Pool (OBSP). As a member of OBSP, you can sign up to
participate in research projects conducted by KFBS faculty and Ph.D. students. These projects might
require you to fill out a survey and/or be a participant in a research experiment. Each research project is
designed to require no more than one hour of your time, and each of these experiences counts toward
meeting one of the three research requirements. Additional information as to how you sign up to
participate in these studies is available on Canvas.
If you choose this option, please appreciate the timing/scheduling issues of your research project
participation. I would suggest that you not wait until the end of the registration period for each study to
schedule your research participation. Your inability to participate because there are no more time slots
available that fit your schedule and/or the semester is ending will not excuse you from this requirement.
In addition, do not schedule your participation times during your classes.
2.
Research review: If you are unable to participate in one or more of the OBSP research opportunities, you
can reduce the number of points you might lose for not fulfilling the research requirement by writing an
acceptable review/critique of an academic research article to replace each research opportunity. You may
review and critique articles published in the last three years in one of the following journals: Academy of
Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology or Organizational Behavior and Human Decision
Processes. The article(s) you choose to review must be relevant to topics we cover in BUSI 405. Hard
copies of these journals are available in Davis Library. You can also find electronic versions of the journals
by searching on their titles at the UNC Library E-Journal Finder link on the library’s home page. You can
access these electronic journals from off campus using your ONYEN user ID and password.
Please make sure that the article(s) you choose to review are research articles, not opinion pieces,
analyses of past research (literature reviews or meta-analyses), case studies, or letters to the editor, and
that they are drawn from one of the journals identified above. That is, the article you review must have
descriptions of the information required below to qualify for a review. Your research review should
contain the following information (at a minimum):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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The full citation for the article you reviewed (author(s), article title, journal, vol. number, page
numbers) (This information does not count against the assignment word limit.)
A statement in your own words of what you thought the author(s) hoped to discover.
A brief description of the research approach that was used including the nature of the sample, the
way key variables were measured, and the type of analysis used. For example, did the author make
observations, use a survey, and/or do an experiment or something else?
A summary of the results of the study.
A description of what you think the results of the article suggest for how organizations and/or their
managers might change the way they operate in the future.
6
6.
Your overall evaluation of the article. What did you like about the article? Why? What did you not
like? Why?
The body of each review (i.e., items 2 through 6 above) should not exceed 750 words. Please use 12-point
font and one-inch margins. Reviews should be submitted to me via Canvas no later than 5:00 p.m. on
Monday, April 20, but you may also submit these to me anytime during the semester.
A well-written review will be treated as a completed research study so that you would not lose any points.
A poorly written review and/or a review that does not follow the required format could mean that you
might still lose some number of points even though you submitted a review. Simply submitting a review
will not necessarily keep you from losing points from the total points earned in class.
In summary, you can fulfill this course research contribution requirement by completing any combination of three
research studies and/or article reviews. Ten points will be SUBTRACTED from your final point total for each
missed subject pool opportunity or article review not submitted. This is a requirement that you have known
about since the beginning of the semester. Therefore, there is no provision for an extension of the due date for
your course research contribution requirement.
Feedback and Questions
I am committed to making this course a valuable learning experience for you. After the first segment of the course,
we will spend part of a class session evaluating our progress, and I will make any necessary changes to keep us on
track. However, I welcome your feedback regarding the class at any time in the semester. Also, please feel free to
ask questions as they arise. It is easiest to reach me by email, but I am always happy to set up an appointment with
you. Additionally, if you have a disability which requires special accommodation, please let me know ASAP so that I
can be helpful to you.
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Tentative Course Schedule
Note: I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus and schedule, including test dates. Changes, if any, will be
announced as early as possible.
Class
Day
Date
1
Wed
Jan 7
Topic
Reading Due
Introduction to OB
Mon
Jan 12
3
Wed
Jan 14
Mon
Jan 19
4
Wed
Jan 21
5
Mon
Jan 26
6
Wed
Jan 28
Motivation 1: Basics of
Motivation
Motivation 2: Goals and
Justice
7
Mon
Feb 2
Motivation 3: Rewards &
Job Design
8
Wed
Feb 4
9
Mon
Feb 9
• Chapter 2 (pp. 31-48)
• Chapter 3 (pp. 63-83)
NO CLASS – MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
Human Nature 3: Attitudes
and Emotions
• Chapter 4 (pp. 93-110)
• Chapter 5 (pp. 123-139)
• Case: Hausser Food
Products (Canvas)
• Chapter 5 (pp. 139-148)
• Chapter 6 (pp. 157-180)
• Emotions Exercise
• Mini Case Discussion
• Case Discussion
• Goals Exercise
• Equity Exercise
• Behavior
Modification
Exercise
EXAM 1
10
Wed
Feb 11
Leadership 1: Basics of
Leadership
Leadership 2: Involvement
and Empowerment
11
Mon
Feb 16
Groups and Teams 1
12
Wed
Feb 18
NO CLASS – SNOW DAY
13
Mon
Feb 23
Groups and Teams 2
14
Wed
Feb 25
Team Decision Making 1
15
Mon
Mar 2
Team Decision Making 2
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• Personality Exercise
• Values Exercise
• Personality Test
(Canvas) by 5:00
p.m. on 1/9
• Discussion Topic
sign-up (Canvas) by
5:00 p.m. on 1/9
• Bring completed
Values Handout
• Chapter 1 (pp. 3-25)
Human Nature 1: Behavior
and Personality
Human Nature 2:
Perceptions and
Attributions
2
In-Class Events
Assignment
Due/Bring to Class
• Course Feedback
• Chapter 12 (pp. 341-360)
• Chapter 7 (pp. 206-210)
• Case: MacGregor (Canvas)
• Case Discussion
• Return Exams
• Chapter 8 (pp. 219-241)
• Team Exercise
• Chapter 7 (pp. 187-201)
• Chapter 8 (pp. 241-244)
• Decision Making
Exercise
8
Class
16
Day
Date
Wed
Mar 4
Mon
Mar 9
Wed
Mar 11
17
Mon
Mar 16
18
Wed
Mar 18
19
Mon
Mar 23
Topic
Power/Influence
Conflict/Negotiations
• Chapter 11 (pp. 311-332)
• Negotiation Exercise
EXAM 2
Wed
Mar 25
21
Mon
Mar 30
Organizational Structure
Apr 1
• Case Discussion
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
20
Wed
In-Class Events
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
Human Resource
Management 1: Selection
Human Resource
Management 2:
Performance Management
and Appraisal
22
Reading Due
• Chapter 10 (pp. 283-304)
• Case: Ann Lindner
(Canvas)
Assignment
Due/Bring to Class
Organizational Culture
• Selection Reading
(Canvas)
• Chapter 13 (pp. 369-391)
• Selection Exercise
• Return Exams
• Bring completed
Selection Exercise
• Performance
Management
Exercise
• Chapter 14 (pp. 397-418)
• Chapter 15 (pp. 425-447)
• Simulation materials:
Change Theory; Player’s
Guide; Stakeholder
Interviews Packet
• Culture Exercise
• Change Simulation:
Stakeholder
Mapping
• Change Simulation:
Tactics Planning
23
Mon
Apr 6
24
Wed
Apr 8
Leading Organizational
Change 1
Leading Organizational
Change 2
25
Mon
Apr 13
Leading Organizational
Change 3
• Change Simulation:
Simulation Day!
26
Wed
Apr 15
Leading Organizational
Change 4
• Change Simulation:
Debrief
27
Mon
Apr 20
Stress and Well-Being
28
Wed
Apr 22
Course Wrap-Up
• Chapter 4 (pp. 110- 116)
• Course Evaluation
• Self-Evaluation
• Bring completed
Culture Search
Exercise
• Bring completed
Individual
Stakeholder Map
• Bring laptops
• Bring laptops
• Bring laptops
• Simulation runs
due (by midnight)
• Simulation peer
evaluation due (by
5:00 p.m. pm on
Canvas)
• Stress Assessments
(Canvas) by 5:00
p.m. on 4/17
• Research reviews
due (by 5:00 p.m.
on Canvas)
• Bring laptops
**The final exam will be on Monday May 4th at 8 a.m.**
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