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Organizational Behavior
(BUS 314 3.0 Cr)
Business & Management
Course Description
The management of complex organizations requires an understanding of the
nature of human behavior in corporate and other organizations, styles
of motivations, company leadership, power and authority, strategies of
organizational design and change, teamwork and collaboration, and the
measurement of organizational effectiveness.
Interacting with other people and in organizations is characterized by
complex dynamics. This course is designed to help students study these
very interesting complexities by both standing back and considering these
dynamics and by directly experiencing some of them throughout the course
activities. The combination of academic perspective and personal engagement
creates a powerful learning experience.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, students will be able to:
• Apply different concepts related to organizational behavior and
human perception
• Define the purpose and nature of the field of organizational behavior
• Differentiate between the dominant perspectives in the field of
organizational behavior
• Differentiate between various types of behavior modification theories
and techniques
• Identify specific steps managers can take to motivate employees
• Analyze different concepts related to leadership and decision
making
• Apply different concepts related to managing conflict, stress,
and communication
Breadth of Assignments
This course relies on a variety of assignments in exploring Organizational
Behavior including various readings, both online and in the textbook,
exams, writing assignments, discussions, and group projects that entail
collaborative learning, case studies, research projects, and written essays.
Required Resources
Vecchio, R. (2003). Organizational Behavior: Core Concepts (5th ed.).
Mason OH: South-Western. ISBN: 0-324-17072-6
Organizational Behavior
Business & Management
Module/Topics
Module 1: Organizational Behavior and Human Perception
• The purpose and nature of the field of organizational behavior
• Differentiating among the dominant perspectives in the field of
organizational behavior
• Defending the notion that perception is a complex and active process
• Evaluating commonly used techniques for measuring personality
attributes
Module 2: Changing Employee Behavior and Motivating Employees
• Analyzing different concepts related to learning and motivation
• Differentiating among various types of behavior modification theories
and techniques
• Identifying specific steps managers can take to motivate employees
• The advantages and disadvantages of employee empowerment
• Analyzing the effects of managerial expectations of job performance
Module 3: Power, Leadership and Decision Making
• Analyzing different concepts related to leadership and decision
making
• Differentiating among the five bases of power
• Recognizing and using different theories, or models, of leadership
• Evaluating evidence that the predisposition to obey authority
is strong
• Constraints on the decision-making process
• Identifying ways that groups and individuals can enhance creativity
Module 4: Conflict, Stress, and Communication within Groups
• Applying different concepts related to managing conflict and stress
• Differentiating among the various stages of group formation
• Ways a manager can induce desirable conflict
• Identifying roles people fill in an organization's communication
network
• Barriers to effective communication
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