Course Syllabus

Course Information

BA 3361.003: Organizational Behavior

Fall 2006
Monday 2-4:45 p.m.
Room: SOM 1.107

Professor Contact Information

Professor Dr. JoyLynn H. Reed

Phone & Voice Mail 972-883-6562
E-Mail Please use WebCT internal e-mail only
Office MC 3.238 (Library, second floor)
Office Hours Most days 10-11 & 1:30-4 (call first) and by
appointment
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Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

This course fulfills the Core Curriculum requirement for Social and Behavioral Sciences

Course Description

Welcome to Organizational Behavior. This is a particularly important course

because in it you will learn how individuals and groups impact and influence
behavior in the places where you will work and spend a large percentage of your
time. Your knowledge of how and why people in work settings behave as they
do and your application of that knowledge can be key factors to your success as
future managers and executives. OB is a field of systematic study that focuses
on improving productivity, enhancing quality, and assisting practitioners to
develop methods to empower people and to enhance their functioning in their
workplaces. We live in a world characterized by rapid change, globalization, and
diversity. In this course, you will gain knowledge about these trends as well as
guidance for managers interested in creating an ethically and healthy work
climate. Get ready to learn how to challenge your intuitive assumptions about
workplace behavior by learning and applying the findings based on systematic
research.

Course Syllabus Page 1

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

At the end of this class, you will be able to:

1. Explain how personality and perception influence and are influenced by
behavior in organizations.
2. Explain the field of organizational behavior in terms of theories and types
of research methods.
3. Apply concepts associated with effective work design to suggest tactics for
enhancing work performance in organizations.
4. Apply theories and concepts of decision-making/problem solving to
develop strategies/design effective systems in organizations.
5. Apply theories and concepts of motivation to develop strategies for
improving work performance.
6. Apply theories and concepts of leadership to develop strategies for
improving work performance.
7. Apply theories and concepts of change to develop strategies for improving
work performance.
8. Apply theories and concepts of goal setting, feedback, and conflict
management to develop strategies for improving organizational
communication.
9. Apply theories and concepts from the behavioral sciences to develop
strategies for effective teamwork.
10. Explain and summarize the perspectives of guest speakers..

Required Textbooks and Materials

Organizational Behavior 12th edition

Stephen P. Robbins and Tim Judge (2006)
Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ

Website readings as noted in course calendar and/or announced in class.

Assignments & Academic Calendar

(Topics, Reading Assignments, Due Dates, Exam Dates)

Date Topic Readings Due

Week 1: Course Student info sheet in class

August 21 Introduction
What is
Organizational
Behavior?

Course Syllabus Page 2

 Date Topic Readings Due

Week 2: Foundations of Chapters 1 Final project teams formed—names

August 28 Organizational &2 and contact info for all team
Behavior members due before leaving class.;

Short Assignment #1: Is it OK to

Lie—read Ethical Dilemma on p. 37
and answer the 4 brief questions in
two pages or fewer, typed.
Week 3: Happy Labor Don't read, A good time
September Day do
4 something
fun instead
Week 4: Attitudes and Chapters 3 Quiz #1 (Chapters 1,2, 3, & 4)
September Job Satisfaction; &4
11 Personality and Short Assignment #2: Go to
Values http://www.2h.com/Tests/personality-
tests.html This is a test on
personality types form a medieval
perspective that are applicable to
our current world. Scroll down to
Kingdomality. Click on the site and
answer the 8 questions. Write an
one-page typed impression on how
the test applies to work today and
how accurate it is with your self-
perception.

Week 5: Perception and Chapters 5 Turn in team memo Failure to submit

September Individual &6 this information will result in a 5-
18 Decision Making; point deduction for your final written
Introduction to assignment score.
Motivation (Note,
we will not be
covering these
topics explicitly
today because of
the field trip.)
Week 6: Motivation; Chapters 7
September Emotions and &8
25 Mood
Week 7: Group Behavior Chapter 9 Quiz #2 (Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9)
October 2
Week 8: Groups and Chapters 9
October 9 Teams (review) &
10

Course Syllabus Page 3

Week 9: Guest speakers
October 16 from EDS—
please do not
come to class
late on this day.

Communication;
Leadership
Basics

Chapters
11 & 12
Week 10: More Chapters Quiz #3 (Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, &
October 23 Leadership; 12 (review) 14)
Power and 13 & 14
Politics
Week 11: Conflict and Chapter 15
October 30 Negotiation

Week 12: Organizational Chapters

November 6 Structure; 16 & 17
Culture
Week 13: HR Practices Chapter 18
November
13
Week 14: Organizational Chapter 19 Quiz #4 (Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
November Change and
20 Stress
Management
Week 15: Course Wrap-Up Team Movie Analysis Paper
November
27

Course Syllabus Page 4

Grading Policy
(including percentages for assignments, grade scale, etc.)

There are 100 possible points in the class. The following assignments will
contribute to your grade:

Assignment Due Date Points Instructions

Quizzes Sept. 11, Each quiz is worth Quizzes with multiple choice,
Oct. 2, 15 points for a total matching, fill-in-the-blank on scantrons.
Oct. 23, of 60 points. Quizzes will cover the readings,
Nov. 20 including those assigned for the day of
the quiz, as well as all notes and
outside activities. Bring a scantron to
class every day and especially during
quiz days. I WILL NOT HAVE EXTRA
SCANTRONS IF YOU FORGET
YOURS. If you take all four quizzes,
you may substitute your highest quiz
score for your lowest quiz score. This
means that if you talk all four quizzes,
your lowest grade will be dropped and
your highest grade will be doubled.

Movie Analysis Nov. 27 20 points—15 for All members of your team will receive
Team Paper the paper and 5 for the same number of points UNLESS
with self- and your self- and your teammates’ or self-evaluations
teammates’ teammates’ suggest that you did not contribute to
evaluations evaluations (Use the team effort in writing the paper. I
only the form reserve the right to deduct points as
provided.) You appropriate for team members who do
must turn in the not contribute to the assignment In
team memo (Due addition, realize that submitting a
9/18) to avoid paper with the name of a teammate
having 5 points who did not contribute is a form of
deducted from your academic dishonesty which will be
final grade on this reported to the Dean of Students for
assignment. appropriate academic penalties.

Ten Short Almost daily 20 points total--each These brief assignments will be listed
Assignments: in class and assignment will in the syllabus, given in class, and/or
Including self- often out of receive one of the posted in the "Assignments" Learning
assessments, class. See following scores: Module on WebCT and mentioned in
in-class syllabus for 0=did not do it at all; class. Some will be done outside of
exercises, and out-of-class 1=did not do it class (e.g. online surveys) and some
other brief assignment completely/correctly; will be done in class (e.g. brief written
written tasks due dates. 2=completed the answers to questions discussed in
assignment class). The purpose of these
correctly assignments is to help you think about
highlighted issues and to help you
become engaged in course materials.

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Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

Points Grade Points Grade Points Grade

98 – 100 A+ 77 – 79 C+ >= 59 F
94 – 97 A 73 – 76 C
90 – 93 A- 70 – 72 C-
87 – 89 B+ 67 – 69 D+
83 – 86 B 63 – 66 D
80 – 82 B- 60 -- 62 D-

If you are taking this course CR/NCR, you must complete ALL parts of all
assignments at a "B" level to receive credit

If you do not understand the reason you received a specific grade on any
assignment, I definitely want to talk with you about it. If you believe that a grade
should be reconsidered, take time to review my comments about your work and
follow these instructions:
1. You must wait at least 24 hours after you received the grade but no more
than one week to talk to me about it.
2. Write a memo specifying the grade you think you deserve and your
reasons for asking me to change the grade you received. Address this
memo to me.
3. Include your original evaluation and paper with your memo.

Course & Instructor Policies

Classroom Citizenship:
With approximately 100 students in this class, it is easy to distract others and
interfere with their learning. I expect all students to behave professionally and as
upper-level university learners. This means contributing to a positive learning
environment in the following ways:
Please do NOT:
♦ Forget to turn OFF your cell phones or pagers.
♦ Answer your cell phone in class.
♦ Read newspapers, magazines, other textbooks, etc.
♦ Study for another class or do other work during our class time.
♦ Surf the internet, engage in any form of video games, text messaging, etc.
♦ Talk to your neighbor while someone is speaking.
♦ Come in late and walk around the room--sit near the door you entered.

Please DO:
♦ Get plenty of SLEEP BEFORE class (if you snore out loud, we will laugh
out loud at you).
♦ Be prepared – bring the correct equipment – pen, scantrons, paper, etc
♦ Review your notes from our previous class session prior to class.

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 ♦ SKIM or READ the assigned reading.
♦ READ or RE-READ the assignments after class.
♦ Prepare for the exams a LITTLE EACH DAY.

Tips for Success after class:

♦ REWRITE your notes in a final neat format…this allows you to review the
information, elaborate on it, and fill in blank spots while the information is
fresh.
♦ Look up any terms, definitions, etc that you struggled with in class.
♦ Practice EXPLAINING the concepts from lecture to someone else.
♦ Study with your team…I suggest creating your own “test bank” file a little
♦ each class period, then you have a great study tool for exams.
♦ Remember: The secret to success in this class is simple: keep up.
♦ Ask me to clarify anything you do not understand.

REMEMBER:
As a courtesy to both your classmates and me, please turn off cell phones and
put them away; laptops should be used for taking class notes only. I will ask you
publicly to leave class if you are doing activities unrelated to class.

We will be using WebCT throughout the semester. Updates, documents, and

answers to frequently asked questions will be posted on WebCT. You are
responsible for any information posted on WebCT.

When calling my office, please leave a local phone number where you can be
reached, as I am unable to return long distance phone calls (i.e. to out-of-town
cell phones).

General PowerPoints from class will be posted on WebCT but these will not be
exactly the same as what you see in class. I will add/delete slides and
information to encourage and reward you for attending class.

No electronic gadgets (iPods, cell phones, computers, etc) are allowed in the
room during quizzes. No hats are to be worn and no papers are to be visible on
quiz days. Everything needs to be in your backpacks/bags or not brought into
the classroom at all. I will take up and hold anything on this list for the duration of
your quiz.

There will be several forms of each quiz. While yours might appear the same as
your neighbor's, it is unlikely that all questions are in the same order and all sets
of answers for each question are in the same order. If you are looking at each
others' quizzes to try to find the differences in versions, I will consider it an act of
academic dishonesty.

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Rules for Teams:
Your participation on a team for the film assignment is designed to help you put
into practice what you will learn in this class about working with others to
accomplish a common goal. There are various ways work teams are structured in
organizations and various levels of control that team members have over their
working situations. In this class, the following rules apply to your project teams:
1. You may fire any group member who is not contributing to your project.
If you decide to fire a group member, there is a procedure for doing so:
First, meet as a team and discuss with the member your
dissatisfaction with his/her level/quality of work. Give that person one
chance to recover the team's confidence.

After the one chance, meet with me to discuss the best way to
approach the situation.

Have a full team meeting and give effective and constructive

feedback to the member you are firing. Make sure that all members,
including the one you fired, sign a statement of understanding that
the person is no longer on your team. Submit the statement to me no
later than one week after it is signed.
2. With your team's permission and the permission of a new team, you may
switch teams. No team may have more than 6 members.

3. If you are fired, you may submit an individual project for 1/2 credit.

4. No individual papers for full credit will be accepted. That means is it to

your advantage to make sure you stay on a team.

5. You can control whether or not your team members are all contributing
If you do the intro team exercise provided in class, you increase your
chances of functioning together effectively. Please do not complain to
me about team members who are not meeting your expectations.
Instead, use your knowledge gained in this class to do something about
it. As future managers and executives, motivating and inspiring low-
performing team members is something you will do often.

Rules for Quizzes:

1. No electronic gadgets of any kind allowed during quizzes including cell
phones, iPods, computers, calculators.
2. No wearing hats during quizzes.
3. No food or drinks allowed during quizzes.
4. No wandering eyes. There will be multiple forms of the quizzes but you
do not get extra points for figuring out the differences among them.
5. No paper, notebooks, or books visible during the quiz. I will keep these
articles in the front of the room if I find they are causing a problem.
6. When you turn in your quiz, please put your initials by your name on the
quiz roster.

Course Syllabus Page 8

 7. Bring your own scantron for each quiz. I will not have extras for you.
You may not leave to get one after the quiz begins.
8. If you leave during a quiz, you will submit it to be graded. This means no
in and out during a quiz. Make sure you attend to issues before the quiz
begins.
9. You will receive your scores for your quizzes. If you would like to see
your own quiz, please make an appointment with me during my office
hours and you can review your quiz and your answer sheet. I will be
happy to discuss your answers with you.

Make-up Quizzes:
Because you are able to drop your lowest quiz grade, there are no make-up
quizzes unless you have documented proof of an extended hospital stay and/or
other lingering/extenuating circumstances. I rarely accept excuses so please
make sure that yours warrants my effort in constructing an individual quiz
(about 10 hours extra of my time).

Incompletes/Drops:
There will be no incompletes in this course. Please make sure you drop the
course if circumstances are such that you will not finish it. I will not drop anyone
from the course. It is your responsibility to drop. Failure to drop this course
could result in a failing grade.

Class Attendance:
It is fundamental to your success in this class that you attend regularly. Our time
in class will give you the opportunity to work through important topics with me
and your peers and help you to meet the objectives of the course. Although I will
not take attendance, you will have frequent in-class assignments that will be
collected and counted toward part of your grade. There are no excuses
considered for missing these assignments--you will receive zeros for missing
them.

Extra Credit:
There is a lot of work in this class. If you focus on doing it to the best of your
ability, you will not need or have time for extra credit. I do not give extra credit in
this class so please do not ask me to do so. However, at my discretion, there
may be more than 10 short assignments that could substitute for those you have
missed. I will let you know if these opportunities arise.

Problems? Questions?
I hope you enjoy participating in this course as much as I enjoy teaching it. If you
are having any problems, questions, or just want to talk, I encourage you to see
me before class, during my office hours, or call me. In any case, I WANT TO
TALK TO YOU!!! Don't let small problems during the semester grow to a crisis at
the end. It's always easier to fix anticipated difficulties than to untangle a mess;
please see me beforehand.

Course Syllabus Page 9

Field Trip Policies
Off-campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and
University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information
regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address
http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm. Additional information is
available from the office of the school dean. Below is a description of any travel and/or risk-
related activity associated with this course.

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations
for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and
each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern
student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained
in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic
year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and
Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and
in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating
Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the
Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship.
He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules,
university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the
standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or
criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because
the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the
student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual
honor in his or her scholastic work.

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 is 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.

Course Syllabus Page 10

Email Use

We are only communicating in this class via WebCT e-mail. However, the
following policy applies to any other regular e-mail you send to faculty and
students on campus:

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between
faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues
concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university
encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email
address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a
UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the
identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD
furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with
university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method
for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses.
These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures
must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any
class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork
to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the
class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities,
of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments
of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to
resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the
grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain
primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at
that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the
respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the
respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not
resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of
Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic
Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic
appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at
the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade
must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the

Course Syllabus Page 11

 required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the
specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services
The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities
equal to those of their 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 information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments
necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary
to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for
students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example,
a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes
enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities.
The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or
mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. 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 under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding
the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. 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 notifies the
instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. 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 a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of
observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has
been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the
student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or
his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative
intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief
executive officer or designee.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Course Syllabus Page 12