Creating Productive Relationships
MGMT 402
Summer 2013
COURSE OVERVIEW
This is a non-typical course that explores interpersonal relationships at work through a variety of
experiential learning exercises. It is intended to develop understanding and skills that will aid the
student in a work environment and develop productive working relationships.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Catalog Description: A practical and theoretical course dealing with behavior. Emphasis will be
on identifying and classifying behavior in order to better understand behavior and to develop
strategies for effectively managing interpersonal relationships. Exercises and role-playing are used
to illustrate major points. Prerequisite: MGMT 302 & Junior Classification.
Expanded Course Description: The overarching objective of this course is for each student to
learn how to assess, develop, carry out, and evaluate strategies that develop productive work
relationships. To get to this objective, we will review theories of work and human relationships. We
will make extensive use of experiential learning exercises. There will be lots of student interaction,
and some student presentations. The course explores one or more theories of human
personality and how various personality types interact with each other. Strategies for working with
different personality types are developed. Interpersonal behavioral issues like trust, fear, difficult
people, making work fun, goal setting, motivations, teamwork, team functioning and other relevant
issues are explored. Strategies for working with others around these issues are also developed.
Throughout the course experiential exercises and activities are used to show students how to work
with others to achieve goals and objectives and to learn.
INTENDED STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES & COMPETENCIES
Knowledge:
Upon completion of this course the student will have an understanding of concepts,
principles, and practices of work relationships that result in productive organizations.




Various types of personalities and their characteristics
Characteristics of productive and effective teams
The concept of trust between co-workers
The impact of fear in the workplace
MGMT 402 Syllabus
 The use of fun to enhance effective working together
 Procedures and techniques for dealing with difficult people
Skill
Upon completion of this course the student will have developed basic skills in or be able
to:
 Apply concepts, skills and processes through participation in various behavioral &
relationship related activities.
 Recognition of the personality type of others
 Applying appropriate strategies for working with different personality types
 Teamwork
 Trust building
 Using fun and humor to enhance the work environment
 Applying appropriate strategies for dealing with difficult persons.
 Setting goals with fellow workers
 Developing working relationships
#INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS & SUPPORT RESOURCES
Required Course Materials
Bolton, Robert and Dorothy Bolton (1996). People Styles at Work: Making Bad
Relationships Good and Good Relationships Better. New York, American
Management Assn. ISBN 0-8144-7723-2. (Required).
Covey, Stephen R. (1989). The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. New York,
Free Press. 0-671-70863-5.
Lloyd, Ken (1999). Jerks at Work: How to Deal with People Problems and Problem
People. Franklin Lakes, NJ, Career Press. ISBN 1-56414-396-1. (Required).
Reina, Dennis and Michelle L. Reina (1999). Trust & Betrayal in the Workplace:
Building Effective Relationship in Your Organization. San Francisco, Berrett-Koehler,
Publishers. ISBN 1576750701.
(Required). There is also a paperback version printed in Jan 06 that will work.
Yerkes, Lesile (2001). Fun Works: Creating Places Where People Love to Work. San
Francisco, Berrett-Koehler, Publishers ISBN 1-57675-154-6. (Required)
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MGMT 402 Syllabus
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Name:
Mr. James Bondi
Office Admins.:
Charlotte Wesley
Phone: (254) 519-5762
Email: cwesley@ct.tamus.edu
Shawn Kelley
Phone: (254) 519-5725
Email: s.kelley@ct.tamus.edu
Home Phone:
254-291-0646 (Killeen, TX)
E-mail Address:
James.bondi@ct.tamus.edu
Office Hours:
Usually before or after class.
EXAMS
Two exams will be administered during the semester as indicated on the last page of the
syllabus. Exams represent the independent work of students; teamwork will not be
permitted. Exams will be administered through BLACKBOARD.
ACADEMIC HONESTY#
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of
personal and scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonestly are subject to
disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an
examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion (working together), and the
abuse of resource materials, including faculty designated resources. The faculty member is
responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonestly. More information
can be found at www.ct.tamus.edu/StudentConduct.
DROP POLICY
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for the
necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the
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MGMT 402 Syllabus
student. The record’s office will give a deadline for which the form must be returned, completed,
and signed. Once you return the signed form to the records office and wait 24 hours, you must go
into DuckTrax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. If you are still enrolled, you should
FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure is
complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the
procedure, you will receive an F in the course.
LIBRARY SERVICES
INFORMATION LITERACY focuses on research skills which prepare individuals to live and work in
an information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development of critical
reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research techniques.
Help may include, yet is not limited to: exploration of information resources such as library
collections and services, identification of subject databases and scholarly journals, and execution
of effective search strategies. Library Resources are outlined and accessed at.
http://www.tarleton.edu/centraltexas/departments/library/
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:#
Texas A&M University – Central Texas complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. TAMUCT promotes the use
of the Principles of Universal Design to ensure that course design and activities are
accessible to the greatest extent possible. Students who require reasonable
accommodations based on the impact of a disability should contact Gail Johnson,
Disability Support Coordinator at (254) 501-5831 in Student Affairs, Office 114E. The
Disability Support Coordinator is responsible for reviewing documentation provided by
students requesting accommodations, determining eligibility for accommodations, helping
students request and use accommodations, and coordinating accommodations.
#YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR YOUR LEARNING OUTCOMES
Each student is responsible for his/her own learning outcomes.
#SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
(1) Quality Work: All work submitted for grading shall be of graduate level quality: Depth of
analysis, grammatical structure, etc.
(2) Identifying Submissions: Submissions must clearly identify the student and the title of
the assignment.
(3) Submission Style Requirements: Submissions will be in accordance with The
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5 th ed., will be used as
reference regarding format issues.
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MGMT 402 Syllabus
(4) Non-compliance: Submissions that fail to comply with the above will receive no more than
half credit.
(5) Late Submissions/Resubmissions: Cases and other assignments that are submitted
late will receive no more than half credit. Resubmissions will not be accepted.
#E-MAIL GUIDELINES
E-Mail Address:
Use my TAMUCT e-mail address for all e-mail correspondence.
James.bondi@ct.tamus.edu
Identification: For course related messages identify them with MGMT 402 and your name in the
subject line.
Response: I will endeavor to response to your message within 48 hours.
PROJECTS & ASSIGNMENTS
Team Member Performance: Students will be formed into teams for the various Exercises that are
integral to the course. Students are expected to fully carry their load during these exercises.
Research Activity and Presentation: Students will work in teams of two or three to present a 15
minute briefing on an assigned topic directly related to the development of effective work
relationships. The research and presentation will be based one of The Seven Habits of Highly
Effective People. This is considered to be a business/professional briefing, and students are
advised that neatness and poise are considered in the grading process. Although students may
wear BDU for this presentation, athletic clothing is not considered to be appropriate dress. Also,
remember that time is important and points will be deducted for short or long presentations.
CLASS POLICIES
Classroom Policies
a. Men shall not wear caps in the classroom.
b. Cell phones and pagers shall be OFF.
c. Laptop computers and recording devices may be used consistent with Ft Hood Education
Services policies, No internet or wireless connections are permitted.
d. No food or drink is allowed in Ft Hood classrooms. Water in enclosed plastic bottles is
permitted.
Individual Participation:
Regular participation is expected. Reading assignments will be in accordance with this syllabus
and as assigned in class. It is important for students to become familiar with materials/assignments
prior to scheduled class session. Lectures are generally based on text readings and current issues.
Preparation for discussion will have a major impact on credit awarded for participation; late
assignments will be downgraded 10% per day, unless otherwise approved by the professor.
Assignments are expected to be completed by the individual student as independent work.
Changes to Syllabus:
This syllabus serves as an instructional and study planning document. Although every effort will be
made to maintain the schedule and activities presented herein, it may become necessary during
the course of the semester to make changes to the syllabus. In such events, changes will be
announced and students will receive written notice within one week of the change decision.
#GRADE COMPUTATION
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MGMT 402 Syllabus
Course Element
Percent of
Course
Grade
Mid-Term Exam
Point Grade
40%
Final Exam
Point Grade
40%
In-Class Exercises
Letter Grade
20%
Total
100%
Grade
Equivalents:
If Grade is
Computed
Numerically
If Grade is
Computed
by Letter
90.0 - 100 %
=A
A=
95%
80.0 - 89.9%
=B
B=
85%
70.0 – 79.9%
=C
C=
75%
60.0 – 69.9%
=D
D=
65%
0 – 59.9%
=F
F=
0%
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week
Dates
1
Jun 5
2
Jun
10-12
3
Reading
Assignment
Topic
Course Orientation
Kersey-Bates Personality Types
Course Orientation
Administer K-B.
Covey H-1,
Bolton P-1,
Teams & Teamwork
Habit 1, Understanding People
Teambuilding
exercises
Jun
17-19
Covey H-2,
Bolton P-2,
Habit 2,
Style Flex: the key to
productive relationships.
Teambuilding
exercises
4
Jun
24-26
Covey H-3,
Lloyd 1-9
Habit 3,
Jerks
Team exercises
5
Jul
1-3
Covey H-4,
Lloyd 10-19
Habit 4
Jerks
Mid-Term Exam
6
Jul
8-10
Covey H-5,
Reina 1-5.
Habit 5
Understanding Trust & Betrayal.
Team exercises
7
Jul
15-17
Covey H-6,
Reina 6-11
Habit 6,
Understanding Transactional
and Transformative Trust.
Trust games
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MGMT 402 Syllabus
8
Jul
22-24
Covey H-7,
Habit 7,
Penny Toss Exercise
Penny Toss Exercise
Final Exam
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