Course Outline1

Batch: 2014-2016

Term: II

Core Course: Dynamics of Group Behavior

Credits: 3

Course Instructor: Dr. Jagannath Mohanty, email jmohanty@imtnag.ac.in, PH: 9158046397

Other Course Instructor(s) : Dr. S Senthil Kumar
Meeting Hours: 2 to 4 PM (Wednesday only)

1.0.

Objectives of the Course:

The objective of the course is to develop the competency to effectively a) manage group behavior,
b) develop team, c) resolve conflicts through negotiation, and d) lead organizational change.

2.0 Student Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
1. Understand group processes and its impact on organizational effectiveness
2. Facilitate and lead in group decision making process
3. Become effective team player
4. Understand leadership styles, processes, theories and its impact on people and organization
5. Play positive politics in organizations.
6. Minimize and resolve conflict in groups effectively
7. Understand organizational culture and its impact on groups and organization
8. Implement organizational change

3.0 Prerequisites
Organizations by nature are living and dynamic systems. The modern corporate, unlike the
traditional organizations are less structured, less bureaucratic, flat and people friendly. Manpower
has become the single largest differentiator between the 'best' and 'not so best' organizations. Hence
a lot rests on behavioral dynamics and patterns that emerge out of human relations and group
behaviors within an Organization. Therefore understanding the group structures, its roots, purpose

Course Outline of Dynamics of Group Behavior, IMT Nagpur, Batch 2014-16, Course
Instructor Dr. Jagannath Mohanty

and behavior is a very important function of a manager aspiring to lead Organizations. Being a core
behavioral course, it does not mandate previous readings or particular expertise in a discipline.
However, the course expects a fair amount of understanding of concepts and applications of
individual behavior that has been adequately dealt in term one. The course also expects the students
to have an open mind to group tasks and assignments. The course being predominantly focused on
group dynamics would expect the students to learn, lead and achieve in groups.
The participants are expected to have a fair understanding of the concepts and applications of individual
behavior that has been adequately dealt with in term-I. Students are expected to have an open mind
towards, and wholehearted participation in group tasks and assignments. The course is predominantly
focused on group dynamics and hence students are expected to learn, lead and achieve in groups.

4.0 Basic Reference Material

Robbins, Stephen P., Judge, Timothy A. & Vohra, N., 15th Edition, 2014. Organizational Behavior.
Pearson Education, Prentice Hall, New Delhi.
For this course the instructor has decided not to use a textbook formally. Instead reading material
shall be provided at the beginning or end of the class. Such reading material needs to be read
thoroughly for class discussions, surprise quizzes and term exams. The students can expect up to 10
surprise quizzes.

5.0 Additional Reference Resources:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management

Organizational Dynamics, Elsevier Science
Group & Organization Management, Sage Publications
Schermerhorn, Osborn, Uhl-Bien, Hunt (2012). Organizational Behavior. 12th Edition. Wiley
India Pvt. Ltd.

6.0 Class rules/Expectations from students:

Case studies or case lets would be given as and when required for sessions, which
students need to discuss and analyze in groups and come prepared to the class.
The following factors would be considered for evaluation in case analysis:
Conceptual clarity.
Ability to relate the concepts and draw inferences from various aspects.
Self-analysis with reasoning and drawing conclusions from various tests.
Relevance of the textual contents (no superfluous or irrelevant information).
Information source, suitable referencing and bibliography.
Format and language.
Students original contribution and creativity

[Any plagiarism shall be viewed seriously and penalized appropriately .]

Course Outline of Dynamics of Group Behavior, IMT Nagpur, Batch 2014-16, Course
Instructor Dr. Jagannath Mohanty

Following factors would be considered for case presentations Formal and Neat Attire.
Clarity in thoughts and expression.
Synchronous and collaborative efforts by the team members.

7.0 Session Plan:

Session
Topic
No
1
Introduction to
Group Dynamics

Activity

Reading Material

Participant and Leader Behavior:

Group Decision Simulation(
HBS No. 9-301-049 A-F Series)
Simulation

Case of the unpopular pay plan (

HBS No. 92102)
What You Dont Know about
Making Decisions (HBS No.
R0108G)

Group
Group
Factors,
culture

Context,
Design Simulation
Group

Participant and Leader Behavior:

Group Decision Simulation(
HBS No. 9-301-049)
Managing Teams: Forming a
team that makes a difference,
(HBS No. 5139BC)

Group
making

Decision

Managing Teams

Case
Discussion

Case
Discussion

Mount Everest ( HBS No. 9-303061)

Organizational Traps: The
madness and wisdom of crowds
(HBS No. 6396 BC)

Mount Everest ( HBS No. 9-303061

The Hidden Traps of Decision
Making (R0601K)

Course Outline of Dynamics of Group Behavior, IMT Nagpur, Batch 2014-16, Course
Instructor Dr. Jagannath Mohanty

Managing
transnational teams

Case
Discussion

The Army Crew Team (HBS No.

9-403-131)

Managing your team (HBS No.

9-494-081)
6

Team Trust

Case
Discussion

The Army Crew Team (HBS No.

9-403-131)
Leadership Lessons from India
(HBS. No R1003G)

The cause, nature, Case

types
and Discussion
consequences
of
conflict

Thomas Green: Power, office

politics and a career in crisis
(HBS No. 2095)
Exercise - Know your conflict
Management Style (Do not
order)

Conflict and teams, Case

conflict resolution
Discussion

Donna Dubinsky and Apple

Computer, Inc. (A) (HBS No. 9486- 083)
Conflict Management, EBSCO
content( Need not order)

Power & Politics

Case
Discussion

Power and Influence: Achieving

Your Objectives in
Organizations (HBS No. 9-801425

Course Outline of Dynamics of Group Behavior, IMT Nagpur, Batch 2014-16, Course
Instructor Dr. Jagannath Mohanty

10

Organizational
power

Case
Discussion

Coach K: A Matter of the Heart

(HBS No. 9-406-044)
Coach Knight: Will to Win
(HBS No. 9-406-044
The necessity of power, You
cant manage without it (HBS
No. 5443BC)

11

Tapping power
sources

Case
Discussion

Coach K: A Matter of the Heart

(HBS No. 9-406-044)
Coach Knight: Will to Win
(HBS No. 9-406-044)
Influence: Your mechanism for
using power, (HBS No. 5467BC)

12

13

Political Behavior
in Organizations

Questionnaire
& Activity

LeadershipImportance,
Functions
Theories

Case
Discussion
and

Diagnose the political landscape,

(HBS No. 3277BC)

The Overhead Reduction Task

Force (HBS No. 9-400-026)
What Leaders Really Do? (HBS
No. R0111F)

14

Contemporary
issues in leadership

Case
Discussion

The Overhead Reduction Task

Force (HBS No. 9-400-026)
Leadership That Gets Results
(HBS No. R00204)

Course Outline of Dynamics of Group Behavior, IMT Nagpur, Batch 2014-16, Course
Instructor Dr. Jagannath Mohanty

15

Organizational
culture

Case
Discussion

Zensar: The future of vision

communities (A) (HBS No.
311024)
Zensar: The future of vision
communities (B) (HBS No.
311025)
What Leads to Cultural
Intelligence

16

Organizational
culture

Case
Discussion

Zensar: The future of vision

communities (A) (HBS No.
311024)
Zensar: The future of vision
communities (B) (HBS No.
311025)
Meeting the challenge of
disruptive change (HBS No.
R00202)

17

Managing Change

Case
Discussion

Robin Ash and Printzhof Press

(9-913-554)
Mastering the art of change
(HBS No. 9-389-168)

18

19

Managing Change

Managing Change

Case
Discussion

Make it stick: Embedding

change in organizational culture
(HBS No. 7539BC)

Activity
Leadership for change: Enduring
skills for change masters (HBS
No. 9-304-062)

20 -24
Group Project Presentations

Course Outline of Dynamics of Group Behavior, IMT Nagpur, Batch 2014-16, Course
Instructor Dr. Jagannath Mohanty

8.0 Evaluation Scheme (with Assessment Details, explaining each component,

where needed):
Sr. No.

Components*

Weightages

Learning
Outcomes

Class Participation

20%

Learning
outcomes 2, 3, 4 &
5

Group Project
Presentation

20%

Learning
outcomes 3, 4 & 5

Learning
outcomes 1, 2 ,3,4,
5, 6, 7 & 8

Class Quizzes

20%

End Term

40%
Learning
outcomes 1, 2, 3,
4, & 5

Course Outline of Dynamics of Group Behavior, IMT Nagpur, Batch 2014-16, Course
Instructor Dr. Jagannath Mohanty