SMO 301: Behaviour in Organizations

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University of Alberta

Winter Term [January-April] 2018, lec X50

Faculty

Marne Turnbull Instructor

Phone: 780-436-6044 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: By appointment Class Information

Section Meeting Times Room

X50 Monday, 6:00pm – 7:25pm BUS 2-05

Wednesday, 6:00pm-7:25pm BUS 2-05 Course website: https://ulearn.ualberta.ca/

Course Objectives

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the field of organizational behaviour. Topics such as personality, employee attitudes, work motivation, teamwork, leadership, power, ethics, conflict, communication, and organizational structure will be discussed. This course will expose students to a set of conceptual frameworks, methodological approaches, and analytical skills for understanding and managing individual and group behaviour in work settings. Lecture, class participation, and experiential work will be the primary modes used to facilitate learning. The experiential activities will be based on the scheduled topic and should illustrate practical application of course concepts to the workplace.

Required Textbook

Colquitt, J.A., LePine, J.A., Wesson, M.J., & Gellatly, I.R. (2016). Organizational Behaviour: Improving Performance and Commitment in the Workplace. 3^rd Canadian Edition. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.

Evaluation Schedule, Weighting, and Final Grades

Weekly Quizzes and Group Exercises (Weeks 3-13) 20%

Mid-Term Exam (In-class: February 14th) 30% Final Exam (In class: April 11^th) 30%

Individual Assignment 10%

Group Presentation 10%

Total 100

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Evaluation Criteria

Weekly Quizzes and Exercises. When scheduled, the weekly quiz will require students respond to roughly 10 multiple-choice or fill in the blank questions. Each week that a quiz is scheduled, tested content will be the week’s assigned readings and information presented during the lecture. We will be scoring the quizzes, in class, thus providing everyone with a constant source of feedback. To have your quiz mark recorded it is important to hand it in with your name on it at the end of the class. When a quiz or exercise is not written at the scheduled time, a score of zero will be recorded for that week. There will be a minimum of twelve marked quizzes and exercises that will be marked in class. Your final mark for this component of the course will be based on your average score after the 2 lowest scores are deleted. This component of the course will be worth 20% of your final mark.

Participation, Group Presentations and Group Exercises. Each week, on Wednesdays, we will attempt to apply knowledge through class exercises, presentations, and/or class discussions. Students will be expected to prepare for these sessions, participate, and complete in-class assignments. Marks for this component will be based on individual attendance and the quality of input from groups and exercises.

This exercise component of the course is included in the minimum number of 12 quizzes and exercises throughout the course.

The group presentations will be assigned in week 3 and will be presented on Wednesdays and will be worth 10%.

Exams. There are two exams scheduled in this course, a mid-term exam and a final exam. The mid-term will cover any and all material up to the exam. The final exam is cumulative but will emphasize content covered after the mid-term. In terms of format, you could see a combination of short-answer questions, multiple choice, essay-style questions, and/or case analyses. The final exam will be a 3hr in class exam. Together, the two exams will be worth 60% of your final mark.

Individual Assignment. Each week we will be discussing a chapter. There is an OB Assessment at the end of text chapters. OB assessments are to be done weekly along with chapter reading. Choose the evaluation that most inspires (chapter 5 assessment is excluded from your choice) you to propose that that particular assessment be presented to your work team in work time. Your proposal must be submitted at the beginning of the class in which the chapter is being discussed. The brief proposal should be 2 pages and no more than 2 pages, typed, double-spaced in 12-point font. No proposals will be accepted after the chapter is discussed or after Mar 21. This component of the course will be worth 10% of your final mark.

Assignments will be returned before the last day of classes after all are in and marked. Please hand the paper in and sign that it was received on class list with Ms. Turnbull.

The University of Alberta Grading System

The University of Alberta uses a letter grading system with a four-point scale of numerical equivalents for calculating grade point averages. Grades reflect judgements of student achievement made by instructors. These judgments are based on a combination of absolute achievement and relative

performance in a class. Some instructors assign grades as intervals during the course and others assign marks (e.g., percentages) throughout the term and then assign a letter grade at the end. Instructors must adapt their approaches to reflect the letter grading system. Grade distribution should reflect those shown in this document. (EXEC 03 FEB 2003)

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Descriptor Letter Grade Grade Point Value

Excellent A+

A A-

4.0 4.0 3.7

Good B+

B B-

3.3 3.0 2.7

Satisfactory C+

C C-

2.3 2.0 1.7 Poor

Minimal Pass

D+

D

1.3 1.0

Failure F 0.0

Final grades in this class will be awarded on the basis of absolute student achievement and relative performance in the class. Final grades will be determined by cut off points rather than a particular distribution.

Consideration will be given to raw score out of 100, possible natural breaks, and any relevant factor that relates to student performance. The instructor has total discretion in awarding final grades, but generally, cut off points should fall quite closely to the following:

85-100=A category 70-84= B category 55-69= C category 50-54 =D

Academic Integrity and Honesty

The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty.

Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University. (GFC 29 SEP 2003)

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SMO 301 Section X50: Topic Outline

Topic Outline (a guideline and is subject to change)

Week 1 (January 8 and 10)

Defining Organizational Behaviour Read: Colquitt, Chapters 1and 15

Mon: Course Overview and Introduction (Chapter 1)(Westjet) Wed: Organizational Culture and Change (Chapter 15) and Case Week 2 (January 15 and 17) Communication

Read: Colquitt, Chapter 10

Mon: Lecture (Chapter13); Practice Quiz Wed: Exercises

Week 3 (January 22 and 24) Job Performance Read: Colquitt, Chapter 2 Mon: Lecture; Quiz #1 Wed: Exercise and Groups Week 4 (January 29 and Jan 31) Organizational Commitment

Read: Colquitt, Chapter 3 Mon: Lecture; Quiz#2

Wed: Group Work and Group Exercise Week 5 (February 5and 7) Personality, Cultures Values and Ability

Wed: Presentations1,2,3 and Case (Nexen) Week 6 (February 12 and 14) Job Satisfaction

Read: Colquitt, Chapter 5 Mon: Lecture; Quiz#4 Wed: Mid-Term Exam (February 15 to 26) Reading Week – no classes Week 7 (February 26 and 28) Stress

Read: Colquitt, Chapter 6 Mon: Lecture; Quiz#5 Wed: Pres 4,5,6 Case (Crew) Week 8 (Mar 5 and Mar 7) Motivation

Wed: Group Work and Exercise

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Week 9 (March 12 and 14) Trust Justice Ethics / Learning and Decision Making Read: Colquitt, Chapter 8,9

Mon: Lecture; Quiz#7

Wed: Pres 7,8, 9 Case (Nike) Week 10 (March 19 and 21) Power influence and Negotiation

Wed: Pres 10,11,12 Case (CP Railway) Week 11 (March 26 and 28) Team Characteristics and Processes

Wed: Pres 13, 14, Case (Rocket Men and Women) Week 12 (Apr 2 and Apr 4) Organizational Structure

Read: Colquitt, Chapter 14 Mon: Easter Mon

Wed: Org Structure / Change Week 13 (April 9 and 11) Leadership Styles

Read: Colquitt, Chapter 13

Mon: Leadership Styles/ Wrap Up Wed: Final Exam

Note 1: The Final Exam will be scheduled for 3hr

Note 2: Students can find the policy about course outlines in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.

(GFC 29 SEP 2003)

Note 3: Recording during class (e.g., video, audio) is permitted only with the prior written consent of the professor or if recording is part of an approved accommodation plan.