PLYMOUTH STATE COLLEGE Spring '03



BU 511- Managing Organizational Behavior


INSTRUCTOR : DANIEL P. MOORE

OFFICE : #116a Hyde Hall

MAILING ADDRESS: Business Department / Hyde Hall / PSC / Plymouth, NH 03264

HOURS : 11:00 a.m. to noon, Tuesday & Thursday and by appointment

PHONE: Office- (603) 535-2525; Home- (603) 968-2309 
E-mail- dmoore@mail.plymouth.edu 



COURSE OBJECTIVE: To review of a number of approaches for understanding human behavior in organizations with an emphasis on work environments. The focus will be on investigating and applying these conceptual frameworks in practical classroom situations. 



REQUIRED TEXTS: (1) Schermerhorn, Jr., J. R., Hunt, J. G., & Osborn, R. N.,
Basic Organizational Behavior. John Wiley & Sons Inc.1998, Second Edition; 

(2) Osland, J. S., Kolb, D. A., & Rubin, I. M., The Organizational Behavior Reader. Prentice Hall, 7th Edition, 2001. 

(3) Photocopied handouts to be distributed in class.




GRADING: Case Abstracts: 40%
Reading Abstracts: 30%
Richardson's Report: 20%
Participation 10%


DATE ASSIGNMENT


Thurs. 2/27 Introduction to the course, a discussion of the goals, requirements, and the assignment of projects. 
Discussion: Do we behave differently in and around organizations?
Readings: SH&O Chapters # 1 & 2 (pp. 1-30).
Mitchell & Scott (a handout).
In class case: What is right?
Total of 41 pages of reading.

Thurs. 3/6 Discussion: Investigating individual behavior.
Readings: SH&O Chapters # 3 & 4 (pp. 33-62).
OK&R Conger (pp. 9-20);
Teal (pp. 47-55);
To be handed in: Case abstract (Pro Line Company- a handout).
Reading abstract: a choice from the assigned readings in OK&R.
Total of 46 pages of reading.

Thurs. 3/13 Discussion: The motivation to work.
Readings: SH&O Chapters # 5 (pp. 64-76).
OK&R McClelland (pp. 94-96);
Nadler & Lawler (pp. 96-103);
Schermerhorn et. al.(pp. 497-507);
To be handed in: Case abstract (Richardson's Bros.- a handout).
Reading abstract: a choice from the assigned readings in OK&R.
Total of 32 pages of reading.

Thurs. 3/20 Discussion: The design of work.
Readings: SH&O Chapter # 7 (pp. 97-110).
OK&R Kerr (pp. 508-514);
Thompson (pp. 515-524);
Miles et.al. (pp. 540-550).
In class exercise: Performance Dilemma.
To be handed in: 
Case abstract: (Austin Electronics- a handout).
Reading abstract: a choice from the assigned readings in OK&R.
Total of 37 pages of reading.

Thurs. 3/27 Discussion: Managerial problems & decision-making.
Readings: SH&O Chapter # 16 (pp. 242-255);
OK&R Quinn (pp. 58-66);
Leonard & Traus (pp. 251-260);
Sternberg et. al. (pp. 242-249).
In class exercise: A film.
To be handed in: 
Case abstract (Alleged sex discrimination- a handout).
Reading abstract: a choice from the assigned readings in OK&R.
Total of 42 pages of reading.

Thurs. 4/10 Discussion: Groups and such.
Readings: SH&O Chapters # 8 & 9 (pp. 111-143).
OK&R Wageman (pp. 231-242);
Lipnach & Stamps (pp. 242-249).
In class exercise: Rating employees.
To be handed in: 
Case abstract (United Chemical- a handout).
Reading abstract: a choice from the assigned readings in OK&R.
Total of 51 pages of reading.

Thurs. 4/17 Discussion: Why leaders can't lead.
Readings: SH&O Chapter # 14 (pp. 210-223).
OK&R Goleman (pp. 371-381);
Namus (pp. 381-383);
Manz & Sims. (pp. 383-397). To be handed in: 
Case abstract (Citicorp- a handout).
Reading abstract: a choice from the assigned readings in OK&R.
. Total of 39 pages of reading.

Thurs. 4/24 Discussion: Power and politics.
Readings: SH&O Chapter # 13 (pp. 194-208).
OK&R Conger (pp. 451-461);
Cohen & Bradford (pp. 461-469). 
To be handed in: 
Case abstract (RJR Nabisco- a handout).
Reading abstract: a choice from the assigned readings in OK&R.
Total of 32 pages of reading.

Thurs. 5/1 Discussion: Reducing equivocality.
Readings: SH&O Chapters # 10 & 11 (pp. 144-176).
OK&R Senge (pp. 74-92);
Neilson et.al. (pp. 551-560);
Pascale. (pp. 576-588).
To be handed in: 
Case abstract (Tucker Company- a handout).
Reading abstract: a choice from the assigned readings in OK&R.
Total of 63 pages of reading.

Thurs. 5/8 Discussion: Communication: passion and pragmatics.
Readings: SH&O Chapter # 15 (pp. 227-240); 
OK&R Rogers & Farson (pp. 185-195);
Tannen (pp. 200-214). 
To be handed in: 
Case Report (Richardson's Timber Products Co.- a handout).
Reading abstract: a choice from the assigned readings in OK&R.
Total of 25 pages of reading.