Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Course Information
Course Number/Section OB 6301-502
Course Title Introduction to Organizational Behavior
Term Spring 2007
Days & Times Tuesdays 7:00-9:45 p.m.
Course Description
This class is an introduction to the field of Organizational Behavior. Over the
semester we will cover a number of topics at the individual, group, and
organizational levels of analysis. The objective of the class is to provide you with
theoretical frameworks and a vocabulary to help you understand and analyze
happenings in organizations. The class will be conducted using a variety of
methods including lectures, exercises, cases, class discussions, and videos.
Since this is a graduate course, I expect a great deal of participation from you in
the form of written assignments and class discussions.
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Jan 9, 2007
Session 1: Introduction and Course Overview
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Hackman, J., Oldham, G., Janson, R., and Purdy, K. 1975. “A New Strategy for Job
Enrichment”
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Zimbardo, P. & Leippe, M. 1991. “The Psychology of Attitude Change and Social
Influence”
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Feb 6, 2007
Session 5: Commitment and Socialization
Schein, E. 1968. “Organizational Socialization and the Profession of Management”
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“Decision Traps”
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EXAM 1
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Bies, R. & Tripp, T. 1998. “Two Faces of the Powerless: Coping with Tyranny in
Organizations”
Martin, J. & Meyerson, D. 1998. “Women and Power: Conformity, Resistance, and
Disorganized Coaction”
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Neale, M. & Bazerman, M. 1992. “Negotiating Rationally: The Power and Impact of
the Negotiator’s Frame”.
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Apr 3, 2007
Session 12: Diversity and Ethics
Bell, M., McLaughlin, M., & Sequeira, J. 2004. “Age, Disability, and Obesity:
Stroh, L., Langlands, C., & Simpson, P. 2004. “Shattering the Glass Ceiling in the New
Millennium”
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EXAM II
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Course Requirements:
I expect that you will come to class each week ready to discuss the readings and
your personal experiences related to the readings. Because we come from
different backgrounds and have different bases of experiences, the readings will
help us find a common ground. This is a reading intensive class! If you are
unable or unwilling to do the reading required on a weekly basis, you will fall
behind and your grade will suffer.
Class Contribution:
Your class contribution will be measured by counting your participation in the in-
class exercises. There will be an in-class exercise most weeks. The in-class
While I will not be directly evaluating verbal participation due to the large size of
the class, it is encouraged that you participate in class discussions. Active
participation in the class discussions is essential for this class. A great deal of
learning takes place when you share your experiences with others. However, I
realize that due to the large class size and personal inclinations, sometimes your
participation in the discussion will be limited. Therefore, the tangible component
of the contribution grade will be the in-class exercises.
Class contributions will count for 20% of your grade, broken down as follows:
If you come to class regularly and read the materials ahead of time, and
participate on a regular basis, it should not be difficult for you to earn the
maximum 20 points. However, if you are unable to or choose not to attend class
then your grade will suffer.
You will be expected to post a minimum of 10 times over the semester. In order
to get full credit for your blog, you will need to discuss the question from your
experiential standpoint and use the assigned readings to inform your
understanding of the situation. Let me make this clear – the blog is about BOTH
your personal opinions/experiences and the readings for the week. It should
include a description of your experience and a careful analysis of how the
material from our class helps you understand your experience from a
broader perspective.
Blog postings are due online by the day the topic is discussed. So, if you want to
write on personality and perception, it is due on the evening of Jan 23rd, the night
we are discussing the topic. Blog entries should be a miniumum of 600 words
and a maximum of 1200 words. I will consider content when grading blogs –
spelling and grammar are not going to be graded. Your blog will count for 20% of
your class grade. I will not grade each one individually, but will consider it as a
body of work. I will give you individual feedback in the beginning to help you
conform to my expectations.
Exams:
There will be two exams. The exams will consist of short essay questions and a
longer case analysis. Both exams will be weighted the same, and the final exam
is comprehensive. The exams will be in-class, closed note and closed book, and
will last for two hours. Each exam counts for 30% of your grade. If you attend
class on a regular basis and participate in the discussion and in-class exercises, I
do not expect that you will have a problem.
My make-up policy is simple. If you miss an exam for any reason, you will need
to take an entirely case based comprehensive make-up at the end of the
semester. If you know of a conflict ahead of time and need to reschedule an
exam for a different time, please discuss it with me at least one week before the
exam date. If you do not contact me one week prior to the exam date, you will
need to take the make-up at the end of the semester.
Re-grading:
I do not want to make mistakes in my grading and I want to be fair to all of the
students in the class. However, I do not want to grade every paper or exam
twice. Therefore, there are two rules I use for re-grades: 1) all requests for re-
grades must be presented in writing with a description of what you want me to
consider in the re-grade process; 2) when I re-grade a paper or exam, I re-grade
Course Grading:
The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of
each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and
regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student
conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is
provided to all registered students each academic year.
The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the
Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1,
Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the
university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations
are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are
available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-
6391).
A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of
citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the
Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to
discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or
off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.
Academic Integrity
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty.
Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the
work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a
high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related
to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s
own work or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty
involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying
academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary proceedings.
Email Use
The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication
between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises
some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange.
The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a
student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from
students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the
university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual
corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each
student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university
personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method
for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.
The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level
courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog.
Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle
withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any
student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final
grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.
Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean
of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules
and regulations.
Disability Services
Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example,
it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals
(in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment
requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral
presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with
mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or
university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or
mobility assistance.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations.
Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or
during office hours.
The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose
places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Code Annotated.
The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible
regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so
excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a
reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a
maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed
exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to
complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing
grade for that exam or assignment.
If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the
purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about
Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law
and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities.
Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address
given below. Additional information is available from the office of the school dean.
(http://www.utdallas.edu/Business Affairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm)
*These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the
Professor.