Summer 2014 (BUS 13F-C20)
Online 10 weeks
Jun 2nd – Aug 4th, 2014(Mon.)
Instructor: Krishna Brahmamdam or (Mr. B)
Phone number: 217-553-7772 (4pm – 8pm Mon - Fri)
Email Address: kbrahmamdam@ben.edu
Adjunct Office BUS Resource Center - by appointment only
Best way of communication is using email within Desire2Learn or in-class.
Responses to your email or voice mail messages
will be made within a reasonable time (within 24 hours during weekdays); during emergencies, please call and inform.
MGT303 – OL Management – Labor Relations
Pre Assignment to be done before 1st class meets:
1. To access this course online, you need to log-in at https://ben.desire2learn.com/ Please get log-in
2.
ID and password (if you don’t have already).
Read Chapter 1 Recognizing Rights and Responsibilities of Unions and Management
Officially class begins on Mon. June 2nd at 12:01 am and ends on Mon. Aug 4th 11:59 pm (CST)
I.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course focuses on the evolution of employer-employee relations in union and non-union
organizations. The emphasis is on union, governmental and workplace policies and practices, history,
functions, forecasted changes relating to labor and management in both public and private sectors. 3
credits
II.
TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS
The Labor Relations Process 9th edition
Holley Jennings Wolters South-Western CENGAGE Learning ISBN: 978-0-324-42144-6
Other Resources: Information Technology:
Students will use Desire2Learn as an instructional tool for this course. Prior to beginning of this class,
students must make necessary arrangements to have essential Information Technology resources for this
course. It includes but not limited to a Computer, internet connection (preferably cable modem or DSL
connection), MS Word XP, Desire2Learn User ID and Password. Prior experience or training in using
Desire2Learn is essential to succeed in this course.
III.
MISSION STATEMENT
Benedictine University is dedicated to the education of undergraduate and graduate students from
diverse ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. As an academic community committed to liberal arts and
professional education distinguished and guided by our Roman Catholic tradition and Benedictine
heritage, we prepare our students for a lifetime as active, informed and responsible citizens and leaders
in the world community.
IV.
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
A. Goals -This course is designed to:
1. Evaluate the role of economics and business in the social environment of our culture;
2. Articulate how the functional areas of business interrelate within organizations;
3. Improve skills in communication, analytical thinking and appreciating the human element in
organizations; and
4. Develop specific skills applicable to the various aspects of the functional areas of business
B. Common Student Learning Objectives
 Develop an understanding of the role of management and unions in our society
MGT 303 Labor Relations Syllabus
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 To reassess one’s attitudes toward labor movements based on new knowledge
 To understand the special topic of collective bargaining in the public sector.
V.
TEACHING METHODS/DELIVERY SYSTEM
This course is an On-line Course using Desire2Learn. (Discussion board for group discussions,
PowerPoint slides, Movies, Wall Street Journal, and other news source with regular labor relations
coverage; and reliable Web sites relating to management-labor relations)
Regular, brief quizzes will be administered to ensure that readings have been completed; these quizzes
may take place on paper or in discussion Q&A. This class is very interactive. In order to complete the
course successfully, students must visit course site on-line every day and must be prepared to discuss
the reading assignments.
VI.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance Policy
This course is highly accelerated, and students will need to take a great deal of responsibility for their own
learning outcomes. Attendance is required in each class meeting for the full period of time. Any absence
must be due to extraordinary circumstances and will require documentation for it to be considered
excused. Documentation must be provided immediately in order to determine what, if any,
accommodations are reasonable or possible. Class attendance will directly impact your final grade, and
each undocumented absence will be considered unexcused and will result in a 20% reduction in the final
grade for the course.
This is a 10-week course and the material will move in a faster pace than the traditional semester. Failure
to stay on course schedule will significantly impact the student’s performance. By enrolling in this class,
you acknowledge that you are fully aware of this course deliverables and expectations. Careful planning
and preparation are required to succeed in this course.
Since this is an on-line class, students are expected to visit course Desire2Learn on a weekly basis
(preferably on a daily basis during the 10- week Period). Every week, students may be asked to respond
to discussion questions and quizzes on Desire2Learn. This will also be used for attendance.
Reading Assignments
Every week students are required to read one or two textbook chapters. Please see the course outline for
more details. In addition to the assigned readings, it is expected that the students read current
publications for articles which are pertinent to this course.
Written Assignments and Projects
During the course period, students will be required to submit written responses to on-line discussion
questions, lessons-learned journal reports; Case analysis reports, Weekly quizzes, mid-term Exam, and
Final Exam.


Students are required to post discussion board questions
Quizzes, Mid-term and final exam will be a combination of multiple choice, True/False, and shortanswer type questions, in which students will discuss broad trends related to overarching course
goals and objectives; Final exam will not be cumulative. All quizzes and Exams will be on-line and
timed.
Detailed instructions for the weekly assignments will be posted on the Desire2Learn in the Assignments
Section. Please be aware of the due dates to avoid late penalties.
MGT 303 Labor Relations Syllabus
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Benedictine University at Springfield Student Academic Honesty Policy
The search for truth and the dissemination of knowledge are the central missions of a university.
Benedictine University at Springfield pursues these missions in an environment guided by our Roman
Catholic tradition and our Benedictine heritage. Integrity and honesty are therefore expected of all
University students. Actions such as cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, forgery, falsification,
destruction, multiple submission, solicitation, and misrepresentation are violations of these expectations
and constitute unacceptable behavior in the University community.
Student’s Responsibility
Though there is no formal honor code at Benedictine University at Springfield, students are expected to
exhibit academic honesty at all times. Violations against academic honesty are always serious and may
result in sanctions that could have profound long-term effects. The final responsibility for understanding
the Academic Honesty Policy of the institution, as well as the specific policies for individual courses
normally found in syllabi, rests with students. If any doubt exists about what constitutes academic
dishonesty, students have the responsibility to talk to the faculty member. Students should expect the
members of their class to be academically honest. If students believe one or more members of the class
have been deceitful to gain academic advantage in the class, students should feel comfortable to
approach the faculty member of the course without prejudice.
Violations of the Academic Honesty Policy will be reported to the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Along with a verbal warning, the following are consequences a student may face for academic
dishonesty:
 a failing grade or “zero” for the assignment;
 dismissal from and a failing grade for the course; or
 dismissal from the Institution.
Electronic Issues
Desire2Learn problems, computer failures, and ID/password issues ARE NOT valid excuses for
missed discussions, assignments, or assessments. The Resource Center (217-525-1420 X320)
has staff available to assist students even on the weekends. But, do not wait until the last minute
to try to login. Give the staff plenty of time to troubleshoot your problem prior to deadlines.
Lack of experience using Desire2Learn or having technical difficulties to submit or post
assignments on-line is not an excuse for late submittals. It is your responsibility to learn the
Desire2Learn system to submit the work in a timely manner. I will NOT be around during
weekends to help you.
Other
Changes to Syllabus:
The Instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus at any time. Such changes will be announced on
the Desire2Learn in the appropriate Week category of the discussions sections. Student is responsible to
keep up with the revisions.
VII.
MEANS OF EVALUATION
Learning is the responsibility of both the instructor and the students. Student performance will be
assessed in several ways during the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following elements:
Student performance
1. Use of exams, and in-class exercises to assess student’s mastery of the course outcomes (online discussion questions, on-line quizzes, Exams, case analysis reports)
2. Self assessment completed by student
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Instructor performance
1. Use of instructor evaluation surveys and comments as to whether or not objectives for class were
met
2. Self assessment by instructor to assess whether or not objectives for class were met
3. Outcomes Assessment Survey
4. Lessons Learned reports from students
Grades will be based on the following assignments:
1. Exams (3): 50%; (unannounced quizzes may be posted online)
2. Weekly Discussion Board Questions: 20%
3. Term paper: 30%
** The final grade cutoff points are found on the following scale:
90 - 100 Grade A;
80 – 89 Grade B;
70 – 79 Grade C;
60 - 69 Grade D;
59 and Below Grade F (Fail)
Note: Students are expected to attend on-line class each week to submit work when due date is
specified. No late or make-up work will be accepted without proper documentation (i.e. physician’s note,
obituary, police report, etc.). Unless excused, penalty of 20% will be applied for the late submittals.
Grade Appeal Process
If a student believes that an error has been made in reporting a grade, an appeal must be made in writing
to the instructor and must be initiated within 60 calendar days after the end of the term for which the
grade in question was reported. The appeal should contain specific information about why it is believed
the grade reported is inaccurate. See the Student Handbook for additional details.
Add/Drop Dates
Please refer to the current Academic Calendar for add/drop dates.
Incomplete Request
To qualify for an “I” grade, a minimum of 75% of the course work must be completed with a “C” or better,
and a student must submit a completed “Request for an Incomplete” form to the Registrar’s Office. The
form must be completed by both student and instructor, but it is the student’s responsibility (not the
instructor’s) to initiate this process and obtain the necessary signatures.
Student Withdrawal Procedure
It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course by completing the appropriate form,
with appropriate signatures, and returning the completed form to the Advising Office. Please refer to the
Student Handbook for important financial information related to withdrawals.
VIII.
TOPICAL COURSE OUTLINE
Please see the “Course Outline” page
Besides Desire2Learn, Students should use BU email account for the purposes of communications with
the instructor. It is your responsibility to check emails frequently. In general, any issue that the whole
class does not need to know is communicated using the BU email media.
IX.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
Benedictine University at Springfield provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to
participate in educational programs, activities, and services. Students with disabilities requiring
accommodations to participate in campus-sponsored programs, activities, and services, or to meet course
requirements, should contact the Resource Center Director as early as possible: springaccess@ben.edu
or (217) 525-1420, ext. 233.
MGT 303 Labor Relations Syllabus
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X.
ASSESSMENT
Goals, objectives, and learning outcomes that will be assessed in the class are stated in this syllabus in
Sections IV and VI. Instructor will use background knowledge probes, one-minute papers, reflective
essays and/or other Classroom Assessment Techniques as deemed necessary in order to provide
continuous improvement of instruction.
Course Outline
nd
Week# 1 June 2
Introductions and Course overview, Submit Student’s Bio-data online
Recognizing Rights and Responsibilities of Unions and Management (Chapter 1)
______________________________________________________________________
Week# 2 June 9th
Evolution of Labor-Management Relationships (Chapter 2)
Legal Influences (Chapter 3)
______________________________________________________________________
Week# 3 June 16th
Unions and Management (Chapter 4)
**********************Exam I (Chapter 1, 2, 3 and 4) due by Thursday June 19th 10 pm
______________________________________________________________________
Week# 4 June 23rd
Why and How unions are organized (Chapter 5)
Negotiating the Labor Agreement (Chapter 6)
______________________________________________________________________
Week# 5 June 30th
Economic Issues (Chapter 7)
Administrative Issues (Chapter 8)
____________________________________________________________________
Week# 6 July 7th
***********************Exam II (Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 8) due by Thursday July 10th 10 pm
_______________________________________________________________________
Week# 7 July 14th
Resolving Negotiation Disputes and the use of Economic Pressure (Chapter 9)
________________________________________________________________________
Week# 8 July 21st
Contract Administration (Chapter 10)
Labor Relations in the Public Sector (Chapter 13)
________________________________________________________________________
Week# 9 July 28th
Labor Relations in Multinational Corporation and in other Countries (Chapter 14)
________________________________________________________________________
Week# 10 Aug 4th
********************Term Paper Due by Monday Aug 4th 10 pm
********************Exam III (Chapter 9, 10, 13 and 14) due by Monday Aug 4th 10 pm
 Assignment may consist of Movie Review reports, Case Analysis reports, Lessons Learned
Journal, Short answer questions, Article Reviews, Term papers (group project).
 All Exams are timed and will be on-line using Desire2Learn.
 Weekly on-line discussion questions, assignments and respective due dates will be posted in the
Discussion/assignment section on the Desire2Learn.
 Stay tuned for weekly Plans in the Discussion Sections on the Desire2Learn.
MGT 303 Labor Relations Syllabus
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MGT303 Labor Relations
Term Paper
(Student’s Group / Individual Project)
Due: Monday, August 4th 10 pm
Points: 100
Instructions for submitting the answers file:
Type your answers using MS Word (Times New Roman Font #12, double spaced),
Save the file as “your lastnameTermPaper.doc” (ex. brahmamdamTermPaper.doc); and
then submit it on Desire2Learn using Assignments Link.
Prepare an in-depth analysis of a specific union including the history, structure,
membership, relationship with management / employers. The paper must be 10 to
15 double spaced typed pages. The page limit does not include the list of references
and the appendix with relevant exhibits, graphs, charts and other reference materials.
Try to get both the management and the union/members’ view points.
Include what you have learned from relevant topics in the text and the discussions.
Include your opinion, predictions, and recommendations on the future of the union and
what you consider to be the most important issues to impact this union/industry in the
future. Incorporate the implications of important business trends, cultural and
demographic changes.
Written analysis will be graded on:
1. the coverage of the history, structure, bargaining environment;
2. analysis, review and critique of the major issues / topics;
3. inclusion of topics discussed in the text and discussion questions;
4. analysis / predictions of the future of the union / management relations;
5. the professional appearance and style of the paper;
6. use proper citations and reference list (minimum 3 references)
This project can be done by individual student or Group of Students. However, group
shall not be more than 3 students. Each student in the group shall contribute equally.
Your Instructor will not resolve any conflicts that may arise within the group members.
KB Nov 11 2013
Jr 5/19/14
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