The University of Texas at Dallas School of Management

BA 3361-005: Organizational Behavior

Spring Semester 2006
Saturdays, 9:00 a.m.-11:45a.m., SOM 1.217

Instructor : Kiran Ismail

SOM 4.406
Office Phone: 972-883-4468
E-mail: kiranm@utdallas.edu and kiranismail@yahoo.com

Office Hours: Thursdays. 2:00-5:00pm (Other times by appointment)

Course Web Page: www.utdallas.edu/~kiranm

Required Textbooks
1. Nelson, D. L., & Quick, J. C. Organizational Behavior: Foundations, Realities and
Challenges. 5th edition. Thomson South-Western (NQ)
2. Yukl, G. (1990). Skills for Managers and Leaders: tests, cases, and exercises.
Prentice-Hall. (Yukl)

Course Objectives
This course is designed to provide an overview of a variety of concepts and topics relevant to the
effective utilization of human resources in organizational settings. Emphasis will be on
attempting to understand the causes and consequences of human behavior in organizations in the
light of contemporary challenges and issues, such as globalization, workforce diversity and
ethical dilemmas, faced by organizations and employees in the twenty-first century.

Specific Learning Objectives of the course include:

1. Preparing students to apply organizational behavior concepts- as demonstrated by class

discussions, assignments and exams- to real-life organizational settings.

2. Helping students to understand the importance of effective and efficient interpersonal and team
interaction- as demonstrated by team-based projects and classroom interactions.

3. Introducing students to problems and challenges faced by real-life organizations, and helping
students to acquire practical skills required to address these challenges- as demonstrated by cases
and class exercises.

STUDENT EVALUATION AND GRADING

 1. Exam 1 20%
2. Exam 2 15%
3. Final Exam 15%
4. Quizzes (5 out of 6) 15%
5. Class Participation & Attendance 10%
6. Group Case Study (Report and Presentation) 25%
_____
100%

Your final score will be rounded off to the nearest whole number. The following ranges will be
used to determine your final grade:

97 and above A+
93 to 96 A
90 to 92 A-
87 to 89 B+
83 to 86 B
80 to 82 B-
77 to 79 C+
73 to 76 C
70 to 72 C-
67 to 69 D+
63 to 66 D
60 to 62 D-
Below 59 F

Examinations (Exam 1: 20%; Exam 2: 15%; Final Exam: 15%)

The exams will have multiple choice, true-false and short questions and will be based on lecture,
text book chapters and all the materials (including videos and exercises) covered during the class
period. The exams will be non-cumulative. I will provide an exam review in the class prior to the
examination period.
There will be NO makeup exams given, unless in case of an emergency (adequate documentation
showing proof of emergency, e.g. medical report or written excuse from the academic dean, will
be required). Persons who miss exams unexcused will receive a zero for the exam. If you must
miss the exam, please contact me prior to the start of the exam.

Quizzes (5 best out of 6, each 3 points; total: 15%)

Each short quiz will consist of seven simple multiple choice and/or true-false questions. Students
will be required to answer six of the questions. Each question will be worth ½ a point. The
questions will be based on assigned chapters and/or class discussion. If you have read the chapter
and pay attention in the class, you should have no problem answering the questions.

There will be no makeup quizzes. Five best quiz grades (out of six) will be selected in calculating
your final grade.
Class Participation and Attendance (10%)
I strongly encourage student input during class discussion. It is expected that the reading, cases and
exercises assigned for each class be thought provoking tools to generate discussion. Consequently,
you will only be able to participate if you have read the chapters, cases and assignments before class.
The textbook is used as a supplement to the material presented or covered in class. For quizzes and
exams, you will be responsible for all material covered during the class period. Therefore, it is very
important that you attend class regularly.
If you miss class unexcused, come to class late, or engage in “individual conversations” during the
class (under this circumstance, I will ask you to take the conversation outside the classroom), your
class participation grade will be affected.
You are expected to be courteous during class time. Please respect your classmates by turning off cell
phones and beepers before class.

Group Case Study (Presentation and Report: 25%)

The class will be divided into twelve groups, each with 3 students. Each group will be assigned a case
study. Each group will be required to present its case analysis to the class and submit a written report
of the analysis. My requirements for each are as follows:

a. Written report (17%)

The report should be 4-7 pages (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-font), and should have the
following sections:
Summary of the module text………………………………………………………..….2.0 points
Background/ Summary of the case………………………………………….…….…....2.0 points
Answers to the specific questions following the case…………………………………..6.0 points
Additional comments in the light of other OB related topics and/ or your experience...4.5 points
Grammar, spellings and structure……………………………………………………....2.5 points
The report is due on the day of your presentation.

b. Presentation (8%)
Each group will be given 20-30 minutes to present their case to the class. The presentations
should have the same format as the written report. Each group member is required to present in
front of the class. A 10 minute question and answer session will follow each presentation, during
which other class members will be given opportunity to ask questions to the group or provide
their own comments and feedback on the case.
Please submit a print copy of your presentation slides to me with your case reports.

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 exercises 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.
Scholastic Dishonesty
Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including
possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the university. "Scholastic dishonesty includes
but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or
materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another
person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts"
(Regents' Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22).
At a minimum, I will assign a score of “zero” to any project, assignment, quiz, or exam upon which
cheating occurs. You may also be asked to verify your identification during examinations and class
projects. I strongly encourage you to let me know if you suspect that cheating is taking place. Visit
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/TitleV.html for further information on this topic.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

Date Lecture Topic(s) Group Case Study Other Class Activities And
Presentations And Assignments
Reports Due

Jan Ch. 1: Organizational Introduction and Housekeeping

Behavior and Opportunity
(NQ) Video Clip: Mr. Baseball

Ch. 2: Challenges for Workplace Video: Merrill Lynch:

_____
Managers (NQ) Telecommuting

Exercise 1.1: "What's Changing at Work?"

(NQ, pp. 28)

Jan Ch. 3: Personality, Perception, Video Clip: The Breakfast Club

and Attribution (NQ)
Exercise 4.2: “Is this Behavior Ethical?”
Ch. 4: Attitudes, Values, and (NQ, pp. 143)
_____
Ethics (NQ)
Video: “Discovering the Future- The
Business of Paradigms”

Jan Ch. 5: Motivation at Work Formation of class groups/ QUIZ 1

(NQ) Selection of cases for
group case study Video Clip: For Love of the Game
Ch. 6: Learning and
Performance Management Module 2: Motive Identification Exercise
(NQ) (Yukl, pp. 51)

Module 6: Goal Setting Exercise- Parts 1

& 2 (Yukl, pp. 143)

Feb GROUP PROJECT WORK

Feb Ch. 7: Stress and Well-Being
at Work (NQ)
Ch. 8: Communication (NQ)
Case 1: Allied Industries Video Clip 1: Meet the Parents
(Yukl, pp. 121)
Exercise 7.2: Workplace Stress Diagnosis
Case 2: Rejected Plans (NQ, pp. 240)
(Yukl, pp. 117)
Module 5: Exercises in Supportive
Communication (Yukl, pp. 125)

Video Clip 2: Patch Adams

Review for Exam 1

Date Lecture Topic(s) Group Case Study Other Class Activities And
Presentations And Assignments
Reports Due

Feb EXAM 1

Feb Ch. 9: Work Teams and Case 3: Sterling Products QUIZ 2

Groups (NQ)
Ch. 10: Decision Making by
Individuals and Groups (NQ)
(Yukl, pp. 189)
Module 4: Decision Case Exercise
Case 4: Alvis Corporation (Yukl, pp. 93)
(Yukl, pp. 101)
Video Clip: Apollo 13

Workplace Video: Cannondale

Corporation: Teamwork in
Organizations

Review Exam 1 Answers

Mar Ch. 11: Power and Political Case 5: Sporting Goods QUIZ 3
Behavior (NQ) Store (Yukl, pp. 73)
Video Clip: Scarface
Case 6: Westgate Hospital
(Yukl, pp. 79) Workplace Video: Buffalo Zoo:
Leadership in Organizations

-Mar Ch. 12: Leadership and
Follower ship (NQ)
Case 7: The 60-Hour Week QUIZ 4
(Yukl, pp. 243)
Exercise: Foreign Auto Shop, Parts 1&2
Case 8: Henley Department (Yukl, pp. 33 & 35)
Stores (Yukl, pp. 239)
Workplace Video: The Vermont Teddy
Bear Company: Liz Robert- CEO

Review for Exam 2

Mar NO CLASS- SPRING BREAK

Mar EXAM 2
Date Lecture Topic(s) Group Case Study Other Class Activities And
(From Nelson & Quick) Presentation And Report Assignments
Due

Apr Ch. 13: Conflict and Case 9: Torando QUIZ 5

Negotiation Electronics (Yukl, pp. 299)
Video Clip 1: The Guru
Ch. 15: Organizational Design Case 10: Computer
and Structure (NQ) Peripherals Inc. (Yukl, pp. Workplace Video: Fallon Worldwide:
303) Managing in a Global Environment

Video Clip 2: Casino

Review Exam 2 Answers

Apr Ch. 16: Organizational Case 11: Potholes and QUIZ 6

Culture (NQ) More Potholes (Yukl, pp.
149)
Ch. 18: Managing Change
(NQ) Case 12: ABZ Corporation
(Yukl, pp. 270)
Exercise 16.1: Identifying Behavioral
Norms (NQ, pp. 555)
Video Clip: Backdraft

Exercise 18.1: “Organizational

Diagnosis of the University” (NQ, pp.
628)

Apr Ch. 17: Career Management Professional Skills Assessment

_____
Video: “The Power of Vision”

Review for Final Exam

Apr FINAL EXAM

HOW TO DO WELL IN THIS COURSE

1. Attend each session on time.

2. Read the assigned chapters, cases and exercises before coming to class.

3. If your group is not presenting in a particular session, it does not mean that you are not
required to read the assigned cases. Please read each case assigned for each session so that
you can follow the presentations of your classmates in other groups and are able to ask
questions and/or contribute your own comments and ideas to the case. Remember that you
may be tested on anything that is discussed during the class period.

4. Pay attention and take good notes during the class lecture, activities, presentations and videos.

5. Bring both the textbooks to each session as we will be doing multiple exercises from these
books in each class.

6. Engage actively in class discussions.

7. Pay attention to the questions asked by other class members. Do not engage in conversations
with classmates unless we are doing a group exercise.

8. Contribute effectively to teamwork. Avoid free-riding. Several points will be deducted from
your class participation and/or project scores if your team members report that you did not
contribute to group projects and other team activities.

9. Come to class with an open mind and willingness to learn.