Dyrud, Grace
Psy 373
<dyrud@augsburg .edu>
VM 612-330-1190
INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Augsburg College
Winter 2012 WEC
Text:
Greenberg, J. (2011). 10th edition. Behavior in organizations. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
The class includes: description of major topics/concepts in the field, including historical development, and
application of those concepts. (Note syllabus headings).
Prerequisites: Psy 215 or Psy 105 and junior standing.
A satisfactory grade can be attained by satisfying the following:
1. Attendance with no more than 1 absence. Absences beyond that will have an automatic assignment of a 5 page
paper of material covered in class and in the reading for periods missed.
2. 75 % of possible points. Grades will be based on tests (60%); papers (40%).
3. 3 application papers: minimum 2 page double spaced typed organizational experience application paper which
relates experience to a minimum of 5 concepts/topics/principles in that portion of the syllabus. The third application
paper before the final needs to have 5 outside references in APA format. For all application papers underline the
names of the terms/concepts, define the concepts, and describe an organizational experience related to each of the
concepts chosen.
4. Students are expected to be familiar with Augsburg's Honesty Policy. Cheating/plagiarism may result in a
lowered or failing grade and a report to the Academic Dean for further attention and possible dismissal from class or
school.
5. Academic Alerts: Augsburg College makes student success a priority. As a result, this course is participating in
the Academic Alert initiative. As the instructor of this course, I may choose to refer you to your faculty advisor or
other campus resources such as attendance, class participation preparedness, and/or assignment/test preparation.
Academic Alert messages are sent via e-mail to your Augsburg e-mail address. Additionally, alert messages are
copied to your faculty advisor and other campus resources. Your advisor may choose to contact you to discuss ways
to improve your performance in these areas. You may also be contacted by campus resources regarding your
situation. Referrals and departmental outreach are designed to maximize your chances or academic success at
Augsburg, not a punishment.
Several types of speaking opportunities are provided with discussion groups (each student should participate) and
short individual presentations of application papers on organizational incidents/experiences, career areas, and
relationships to concepts in the course.
The course will cover: Characteristics and dynamics of human organization at the group level, current theories and
methods of understanding these social, political, or economic systems, the history of such systems, the relationship
between these systems and the student's responsibility in society, and cultural differences and diversity.
The objectives for student learning in this course which incorporate the above are as follows:
1. Describe typical organizational processes and alternatives with research support.
2. Name and define 20 variables in group/organizational structures.
3. Describe and give 5 examples of research methodology used in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
4. Summarize 5 major points of the history of organizational study of organizational processes, change in focus
over the years in U.S. and cultural comparison with other countries.
5. List 5 communication skills, list 3 methods for group decision making, and demonstrate these in a group setting.
6. State a main research finding on various groups, minorities, women, elderly, and disabled and how to facilitate
their inclusion in the workplace.
January 7
Unit I. The Field of Industrial/Organizational Behavior: What is it?
Read: Greenberg, Chap. l. Do Experiencing OB exercise p. 31, and note questions for discussion p.33.
Unit II. The Individual in the Organization.
Read: Greenberg, Chap. 2. Do Experiencing OB, group exercise p.68 and Practicing OB p.69.
Read: Greenberg Chap. 3. Do Experiencing OB p. 105.
Read: Chap. 4. Do Experiencing OB on p. 138 and Practicing OB p. 141.
Class topics: History of organizational psychology, introduction to topics, research approaches,
discussion/research groups on organizational experiences/job characteristics.
January 21
Due: Application paper #1, written and oral.
Read: Greenberg, Chap. 5, Experiencing OB p. 172,
Read: Chap. 6. Do Case on Domino's Pizza and questions for discussion p. 210.
Read: Chap. 7, Do Cases and discussion questions on p. 247-48.
Class topics: Psychology of the individual, discussion groups on case studies.
**One week between classes
January 28
Due: Application Paper #2 on group processes.
Unit III. Group Processes
Read: Greenberg, Chap. 8. Do Experiencing OB p. 286.
Read: Greenberg, Chap. 9. Do case and questions p. 331.
Class topics: Group dynamics/variables, group activity/communication.
February 11
Test 1 on text and classes for January 7, 21, 28.
Read: Greenberg, Chap. 10. Do Experiencing OB and questions p. 370.
Read: Chap. 11. Do Experiencing OB and questions p. 408.
Class topics: Decision making, nominal group decision making activity, groupthink.
February 25
Read: Greenberg, Chap. 12. Do Case in Point and questions p. 443.
Read: Chap. 13. Do Decision Making at Insomnia Cookies p. 478.
Class topics: Influence, leadership.
March 10
Due: Application paper/report #3 (with 5 outside references and citations), written and oral. Review.
Unit IV. Organizational Processes/Structure/Change
Read: Greenberg, Chap. 14. Do Case in Point and questions p. 514.
Read: Chap. 15. Do Practicing OB and questions p. 551.
Read: Chap. 16. Do Experiencing OB p. 584.
Class topics: Discussion groups on change experiences, organizational structure/processes, change and
management of change, effects.
March 24
Test 2 on text and classes February 11, 25, March 10.