Organizational Behavior

BA 3361-001
Spring, 2007
Tu., Th. 10-11:15 a.m.
Room #SOM 1.217

Instructor: Ms. (Lori) Hatcher, M.A.

Office: SOM 4.215, by appointment
Phone: (972) 883-2703
E-Mail: WebCT – lph061000@utdallas.edu

Required Text: Organizational Behavior: Emerging Realities for the

Workplace Revolution, 4th ed., McShane and Von Glinow, McGraw-Hill
Irwin

Course Description:
(3 hours) – An integrated social science approach to administrative
problems using behavioral sciences theories and concepts. Behavior in
organizations is examined with attention given to such topics as
performance management, employee motivation, job attitudes,
workplace values and ethics, organizational communications,
leadership, group dynamics, decision making, power and politics,
conflict negotiation, organizational structure, and organizational
change. (3-0) S

WebCT:
Sign up for a WebCT account for this class. WebCT will be used to
post grades and events. With a newer university policy, to protect
student privacy, faculty are not required to answer student emails
unless they are a UTD account. Emails will not be responded to unless
they are through WebCT. WebCT is a free and simple sign up. If you
do not already have an account, go to McDermott Library.

Grades:

90-100%= A
80-89%= B
70-79%= C
60-69%= D
<60%= F

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Assignments Grade Percentage
Pop Quiz 15%
Case Study 20%
Paper: Current OB Topic 25%
Exams: Mid-Term & Final 20% each
100% total

Quiz:
There will be a random pop-quiz during the semester. The content of
the quiz will be of the day’s readings. The quiz will be comprised of
five questions to test that you completed the readings. The quiz may
include either true/false, fill-in-the-blank, or multiple choice questions.
You can earn a maximum of fifteen points (15% of your course grade)
on the quiz. There will not be a make-up quiz. The quiz will
provide you with a sample of what to expect for the exams.

Case Study:
The case study will be group activity in class. A one to two page write-
up is required of your perception of your group’s discussion/findings.
Case studies will also include class discussion. This paper will allow for
feedback of your writing prior to the final paper due for the course.
You can earn a maximum of twenty points (20% of course grade) on
the case study.

Papers:
You will have one paper assigned for this course. This paper serves
dual purposes. The first purpose is for the integration of concepts.
This is the ability to understand and reason concepts and how they
relate. The second purpose is for the practice of writing presentation.
The paper is an individual assignment. The paper is twenty percent of
your course grade. The paper’s due date is listed on this syllabus.
Late papers will be not accepted, including by email. If you will
not be in class for the paper’s due date, make alternate arrangements
to submit your paper to the Instructor before the due date.
Papers are to be no more than seven pages in length, including
bibliography. Students should pay particular attention to use of
paragraphing, punctuation, grammar, and spelling. Any concerns
should be discussed with the Instructor. The Instructor, or a student,
can refer to the university Writing Lab for additional support.

Exams:
There will be two exams in this course, a mid-term and final. The
exams may include true/false, fill-in-the-blank and essay questions.
Each exam is twenty percent of your course grade and may be

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comprehensive. The exams will be during class session and are closed
book and notes. There will be an exam review the class session prior
to the scheduled exam. The exam questions will be reflective of class
lecture and discussion. If you should miss an exam, for any reason,
any make-up exam must be complete by the end of the semester.
Make-up exams are all essay questions. If you are aware of a
scheduling conflict, notify the Instructor within one week prior to the
exam. If notification is not given to the Instructor within one week
prior to the exam, the make-up exam will be all essay questions, at
the end of the semester.

Academic Integrity:
“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. Plagiarism, especially from the
web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other
source in unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s
policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will
use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible
plagiarism and is over 90% effective.”

Class Meeting Topic

January 9, 2007 Syllabus discussion

January 11, 2007 Ch. 1: Introduction to the Field of

Organizational Behavior

January 16, 2007 Ch. 2: Individual Behavior, Values, and

Personality

January 18, 2007 Ch. 2 continued

January 23, 2007 Ch. 3: Perception and Learning in

Organizations

January 25, 2007 Ch. 3 continued

January 30, 2007 Ch. 4: Workplace Emotions and Attitudes

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February 1, 2007 Ch. 4 continued

February 6, 2007 Ch. 5: Motivation in the Workplace

February 8, 2007 Ch. 5 continued

February 13, 2007 Ch. 6: Applied Performance Practices

February 15, 2007 Ch. 6 continued

February 20, 2007 Ch. 7: Work-Related Stress and Stress

Management

February 22, 2007 Ch. 7 continued

February 27, 2007 Ch. 8: Decision Making and Creativity

March 1, 2007 Ch. 8 continued

March 6, 2007 SPRING BREAK

March 8, 2007 SPRING BREAK

March 13, 2007 Mid-Term review

March 15, 2007 Mid-Term Exam

March 20, 2007 Mid-term exams returned/discussion

Ch. 9: Foundations of Team Dynamics

March 22, 2007 Ch. 10: Developing High Performance Teams

March 27, 2007 Ch. 11: Communicating in Teams and

Organizations

March 29, 2007 Ch. 12: Power and Influence in the Workplace

April 3, 2007 Ch. 13: Conflict and Negotiation in the

Workplace

April 5, 2007 Ch. 14: Leadership in Organizational Settings

April 10, 2007 Ch. 15: Organizational Structure and Design

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April 12, 2007 Ch. 16: Organizational Culture

April 17, 2007 Ch. 17: Organizational Change

April 19, 2007 Ch. 17 continued

Papers Due

April 24, 2007 Final exam review

April 26, 2007 Final Exam

Disability Services:
“The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities
educational opportunities equal to those of the non-disabled peers.
Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union.
Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.;
Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The contact telephone number is (972) 883-2098
(voice or TTY). 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.”

Religious Holy Days:

“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. 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 fails to complete the exam or
assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for
that exam or assignment. If an instructor disagrees about the nature
of the absence…, the…instructor may request a ruling from the chief
executive officer of the institution…”

These descriptions and timelines are subject to

change at the discretion of the Instructor.