The University of Texas at Dallas School of Management

OB 6301-501: Introduction to Organizational Behavior

Spring Semester 2005
Mondays - 7:00 - 9:45 pm, SOM 1.117

Dr. David L. Ford, Jr., Instructor Phone: 972/883-2015

Office: SOM 4.201 Office Hours: Mon., Tues. 5:00-6:30pm
E-mail: mzad@utdallas.edu (Other times by appointment)
Secretary’s Phone: 972/883-2703

Course Objective

The major focus of this course will be on understanding human behavior in organizational
settings. Emphasis will be on attempting to understand the causes and consequences of human
behavior in organizations, e.g., how the individual is affected by and affects the structure of the
organization; how reward structures and leadership processes are related to organizational goals;
and how all of these and other factors impact on managerial effectiveness in the organization.

This course is an overview course, designed to touch on a variety of concepts and topics relevant
to the effective utilization of human resources in organizations. As such, the coverage of these
topics will not be in great depth. Advanced elective course work in these areas is available for the
interested student.

Specific Learning Objectives include:

• Understanding and application of organizational behavior concepts - as demonstrated by

class discussions, problem sets, and exams

• Understanding of interpersonal and team interaction - as demonstrated by experiential

exercises, team-based projects, and classroom interactions

• Organizational analysis and problem solving - as demonstrated by case analyses and exams

• Mastery of vocabulary and concepts - as demonstrated by exams, class discussion, and

written assignments

• Application of technology in research and problem solving - as demonstrated by the use of

Internet, electronic classroom, electronic submission of written work, email.

Required/Recommended Texts and Materials

Stephen Robbins (2005). Organizational Behavior. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall (R1)

Stephen Robbins (2005). Self Assessment Library- Version 3.0 (included with textbook). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall (R2)

Prentice-Hall Publishing Companion Website (http://www.prenhall.com/robbins) / or

(http://www.coursecompass.com)

Life Languages Institute, Kendall Life Languages Profile, (purchase and take online at
www.lifelanguages.com) . Instructor will give instructions for completing this.

Wall Street Journal (recommended only)

Student Evaluation

Mid-term Exam 40%

Final Exam 40%
Class Participation & Discussion/
Group Write-up of Sociometric Analysis 20%
(due April 18, 2005) ______
100%

A Note on Technology

The use of the Internet and E-mail are integrated in this class so as to enhance communication and
access to information. Students are required to utilize email and Internet technology. All
students are eligible to use the computer labs in the new School of Management building or on the
4th floor of Jonsson and in McDermott Library, where each computer has a high speed
connection to the Internet. All students are eligible for e-mail accounts through the University.
For further information, contact the computer center. The use of the Internet for research
purposes greatly enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of the research process. The course
makes use of cases and requires students to gain access to current information on the company
featured in each case.

The textbook used in this course has a companion website developed by Prentice-Hall Publishing
and this website is an integral component of the course. Please visit the site at:
http://www.coursecompass.com and get familiar with the site at your earliest convenience.
Additionally, a course website will be available on the WebCT server:
http://WebCT.utdallas.edu .

A Note on Class attendance and Participation

Quality, not quantity, is operant for class and group participation. It is expected that the reading and
exercises assigned for each class be thought provoking tools to generate discussion. Class sessions
assume you have read the material and completed the exercises. Consequently, you will only be able
to participate if you have read and completed the assignments before class. Class attendance is not
taken after the first week and the instructor is aware of frequent travel requirements of some
employees which might preclude class attendance sometime. Nonetheless, where possible, students
should schedule their business-related travel around scheduled class dates.

POLICY ON MAKE-UP EXAMS

There will be NO makeup exams given. A student missing an exam with a valid and acceptable
excuse will have the remaining exam count double the score. However, students taking the first
exam and scoring well do not have the option of skipping the second exam unexcused. Persons who
miss exams unexcused will receive a zero for the exam. If necessary, arrangements can be made to
take an exam before the scheduled date. If you must miss the exam, please call my secretary at
972/883-2703, or call me at 972/883-2015 prior to the start of the exam and leave a message
indicating you will be absent.

DATE TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS

1/10 Introduction to the Course/ 21st Century Management Challenges

Read: Chapter 1 - "What is Organizational Behavior" (R1); Read Chapter 2 -
"Foundations of Individual Behavior" (R1);
Video: "Discovering the Future - The Business of Paradigms"
Procedures for the Semester and Housekeeping;

1/17 NO CLASS – UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY (MLK Holiday)

1/24 Perceptions & Personality; Workplace Emotions, Values & Ethics

Read: Chapter 4 – "Personality and Emotions" (R1); Read: Chapter 3 - "Values,
Attitudes, & Job Satisfaction" (R1);
Complete Self Assessments #1, 23, & 33 (R2);
Read: Chapter 5 - "Perception and Individual Decision Making" - pp. 132 - 142
(R1);
Video: “Doc Martins”
Formation of Class Groups

1/31 Motivation and Rewards - Basic Concepts

Read: Chapter 6 - "Basic Motivation Concepts" (R1); Read: Chapter 7 –
“Motivation: From Concepts to Applications” (R1);
Complete Self Assessments #7, 14 (R2);
Video: “Feeling Like Part of the Family: Kingston Technology”

2/07 Motivation and Rewards - Work Design & Job Stress

 Read: Chapter 7—“Motivation Applications -- Work Design” (R1); Read: Chapter 18 -
“Organizational Change and Stress Management” - pp. 569-579 (R1);
Complete Self Assessments #18, 49 (R2);
Video: “Ernst & Young”

2/14 NO CLASS – GROUP PROJECT WORK

2/21 Social Context of Behavior - Groups and Teams

Read: Chapter 8- "Foundations of Group Behavior" (R1); Read: Chapter 9:
"Understanding Work Teams" (R1); Complete Self Assessment #34 (R2);
Visit the website for SYMLOG Consulting Group at ww.symlog.com and
navigate the demonstration;
Video: "Teams and Groups: WNBA"

2/28 MID-TERM EXAM

Study all previous assignments

3/07 NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

3/14 Communication and Decision Making in Organizations

Read: Chapter 10 - Communication in Organizations (R1); Complete Kendall Life
Languages Profile (bring your Report to class);
Read: Chapter 5 –“Decision Making by Individuals” - pp. 143-160 (R1); Complete
Self Assessments # 28 (R2);
Video: “Johari Window”

3/21 Leadership and Influence Processes; Power & Politics in Organizations

Read: Chapter 11- "Basic Approaches to Leadership" and Chapter 12:
"Contemporary Issues in Leadership" (R1); Complete Self Assessments #29, 37;
complete Exercise: “Ethical Dilemmas” (R1 – pp. 350-351);
Read: Chapter 13 - "Power and Politics" (R1);
Video: “Change Masters”

3/28 Conflict & Negotiation in Organizations

Read: Chapter 14 - "Conflict and Negotiation" (R1); Complete Self Assessment
#40 (R2); Video: “Saturn”

4/04 Career Development & Dynamics; Managing Diversity in Organizations

Read: Appendix B – "Careers and Career Development" (R1); Complete
Self Assessments #9, 43 (R2);
Read Chapter 17- “Human Resource Policies and Practices” (R1 – pp. 536-539);
Complete KSS Exercise (R1 – p. 94);
Videos: “Park Place Entertainment” and “A Peacock in the Land of Penguins”

4/11 Cultures in Organizations; Managing Diversity in Organizations

 Read: Chapter 16 - "Organizational Culture" (R1); Complete Self Assessment #14
(R2); Complete Team Exercise – “What’s Your Class Culture” (R1 – p. 510);
Video: “Patagonia”

4/18 Organizational Change, Development, and Design

Read: Chapter 18 - "Organizational Change and Stress Management" (R1);
Complete Self Assessment #49 (R2);
Read: Chapter 15 - "Foundations of Organizational Structure" (R1); Complete
Self Assessment #42 (R2);
Videos: “The Power of Vision” and “Organizational Change”
Group Reports Due Today

4/25 FINAL EXAM

All assignments since mid-term exam
 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
INDIVIDUAL/TEAM PROJECTS

Individual Personal Awareness and Group Project Paper

The group project report involves developing a paper from the perspective of a self-analytic group
that focuses on its developmental processes and growth during the semester. The developmental
processes are to be the main focus of the paper because more intimate knowledge of each other
will be required to complete the project paper from this perspective. The group needs to generate
its own data around which it will build its paper. These data will result from a sociometric
analysis which the group is to complete with respect to two roles -- that of task leader and lunch
partner. The project report should focus on answering the following questions: To what level of
development has the group progressed? What is the prognosis in the near term for the group if
it were to continue its life beyond the end of the semester and this class? What factors have
facilitated or hindered the participation of group members in helping the group to coalesce
and/or gel? How do you explain the group's perception of its overall performance as well as
performance in specific areas based on the mean scores assigned by each member? In what
ways does the Kendall Life Languages Profile assessment help to explain your group’s
developmental process? All of this discussion should essentially explain why the sociometric
diagrams look the way they do. This analysis is to be accomplished by using the templates found
on the course WebCT website. These templates include: (1) conceptual framework, (2)
sociometric rating instrument, (3) relationship chart, (4) relationship ratings, totals, reciprocal
relationships, and group cohesion index, (5) diagnosing team effectiveness rating form, and (6)
ratings of satisfaction and task effectiveness. Templates #3 & #4 are to be developed for each
role of task leader and lunch partner.

The Project Report should be at least 8 - 10 pages with the focus on the team as a whole and
not the individuals comprising the team, although some discussion about specific individuals’
feelings about the way the sociometric diagrams turned out is permitted. GOOD LUCK.

Team Participation and Discussion

You will be assigned to a class team which will serve as the primary vehicle for class discussion of
the lectures and Internet exercises as well as the self assessments. You will be allocated class time
most weeks to meet with your teammates to share information about the week’s assignments.
The team should arrive at a consensus, if possible, concerning the issues in the exercises,
assessments, or cases. Teams will be called on at random to present to the rest of the class their
conclusions from their discussions. Therefore, your full involvement and participation in these
team discussions is important.