INSTRUCTOR:          Dr. Fidelis C. Ossom

Phone:                                (918)-444-2926
E-mail:                                ossom@nsuok.edu

COURSE TITLE AND NUMBER:   Management 3253 – Management of  Organizational Behavior

COURSE OFFERED: Fall 2008

CLASS DAYS, TIME, AND LOCATION: MWF   11:00 a.m to 11:50 a.m. in Tahelequah  B&T Building Room 102
       
CLASS TEXT: Kreitner, R. & Kinicki, A., (2008). Organizational Behavior. 8^th ed. Mc Graw Hill Companies Inc. New York. NY.      

PREREQUISITES:   Junior Standing and MGMT 3183 (Principles of Management).
       

CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF COURSE:

Organizational behavior (OB) is the study of individual and group behavior in organizations. In this course we will explore how such topics as personality, attitudes, motivation, group dynamics, power, leadership, conflict management, and organizational culture affect individual and organizational performance. This will be done through class discussions, written assignments, and classroom activities. A substantial work in this class will involve individual, group, and team interaction and presentation.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1.      To impress upon you that there are numerous factors that affect how and why we behave the way we do in organizations.

2.      To gain a better understanding of cause and effect of human behavior so you cannot only manage people, but better understand and manage your own behavior.

3.      To develop the ability to see how the topics in this course are related to the functioning of organizations of which you read about, come in contact with, or are a part of.

Exams. There will be 3 exams. Each exam will contain questions dealing with both the assigned reading and the in-class lectures and discussions. Any conflict with exam times needs to be taken care of prior to the exam. Failure to take the exam without a pre-approved explanation will result in a score of “0” on that exam.

Semester Group Course Project. This capstone project will give you the opportunity both individually and as a group to explore in depth some concepts or issues relating to OB as well as provide a context on which a thorough evaluation and enumeration of the processes involved in group work. More detailed instructions dealing with this project will be provided in a handout.

Make-up exams.  Make-up exams will be given if I authorize your absence prior to the exam. Make-up exams will comprise 100% essay type questions and will usually take longer time to complete than the original exam.

Grade appeals. You should arrange a conference with me concerning final grade appeals. If no settlement is reached, either your or I may refer the matter to the Dean of the College of Business and Industry by a written statement. If mediation fails, the matter will go to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The last date for initiating a grade appeal is four (4) months after the initial grade was assigned.

Case. There will be 3 cases assigned during the semester. Your answers to the Case assignment must represent careful deliberation, scholarly analysis and an evident use of business terminology and ideas.  One case will require individual effort and the other two will be group involvement.

Article Review. An article review and analysis is required in this class. This would provide a basis for the student to access current thought and practice related to OB from scholarly journals. This article can also be retrieved via the Internet.

Attendance. Attendance is important for several reasons. Material will be covered in class that is not in the text. Also, you will participate in group and individual activities in the classroom to help you better understand organizational behavior. Failure to attend class sessions would inhibit your ability to benefit from class lectures and group discussions and projects. You will also jeopardize your attendance points for the course. There is a total of 25 points towards attendance. Absences of 7 or more days in the semester will result in a one letter grade drop in your overall course grade.

In Class Participation. Having knowledge of organizational behavior includes an understanding of the dynamics involved in group or team participation. You will have opportunities to demonstrate your willingness to learn this aspect of management by becoming involved in team projects. This will present you with the reality of the feelings, responsibilities and benefits involved in accomplishing a project through teamwork. This will be a good place to practice and assess organizational behavior. Points will therefore be accumulated through such projects. You will also garner points through attendance and participation in on-campus special events, in-class exercises, and other out-of-class assignments that may not be designated specifically in the grading criteria above. 

IMPORTANT POLICIES.

Academic dishonesty.  Dishonesty on assignments will not be tolerated. If you cheat, copy, or in any way attempt to present work as your own which is actually the product of someone else on an assignment (e.g. exams, the case assignment, the research paper, etc. ) you will receive a “0” for that assignment. In addition, you will be reported to the office of Student Conduct and Development. A meeting with the director of that office must be scheduled before you will be allowed back in class.

Late Policy. The case will not be accepted late. No points will be received for the case if turned in late. The article summary/analysis may be turned in late with a penalty attached. An assignment is considered late when I receive it after the papers have been collected. Papers will be collected at the beginning of class and if you arrive late, your assignment will be considered late. You will not be able to skip class to finish an assignment. If you place it in my box and I receive it after I have collected the papers during class, it will be late. The article summary will receive the following late penalty:

  - 20%    1 school day late (until 5:00 p.m. of the day after the due date).
  - 10%    For each additional school day the assignment is late.
  - 100%  After 4 school days the assignment will not be accepted.

 This means if you hand in the assignment one-week after it was due it will not be accepted. If an assignment is late, you must turn it in to me personally or at the business office with one of the secretaries with date, time and her signature initialed on the paper.

Returned Assignments. If you have a dispute over a grade received on an assignment that was returned to you, you must provide the original assignment as evidence. Consequently, please keep a file of all assignments returned to you during the semester.

Dropping the course. The last day to drop the course with an automatic “W” is Tuesday November 12th, 2008. If you drop the course after this date, you will receive the grade that you have earned up to that point. A “W” will be assigned if your grade is a “D” or higher. If you stop attending and do not drop, your grade will be an automatic “F”. Likewise, if you drop the course after failing to turn in assignments or missing examinations, your grade will be an “F”.

ADA Statement. If you feel that you have a disability and need special accommodations of any nature whatsoever, I will work with you and the University Office of Student Affairs to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class. Please advise me of such a disability and the desired accommodations at the first day of class.

INCLEMENT WEATHER / DISASTER POLICY:

The following are basic premises for the inclement weather policy at Northeastern State University:
_          Classes will be held if at all possible.
_          It is the student's responsibility to access information when weather is questionable.
_          Neither students nor faculty are expected to risk life or limb.
_         Faculty members are obligated to hold classes if the University is not closed, unless the faculty member is unable to get to
           campus.

Policy:         During times of inclement weather, decisions concerning day classes will be made by 6:00 a.m. in order for the media to be notified and for students to receive the announcement before they leave home. The automated attendant message on 918-456-5511 will be modified to include information concerning campus operations during inclement weather. Decisions concerning night classes will be made by 3:00 p.m.  The following media will be notified regarding closing of the campus: