PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY

PHILADELPHIA, PA

Spring 2009

MGMT-310 Organizational Behavior

Instructor - Harvey B. Lermack

Lermackh@philau.edu

Instructor's Web Site:  Faculty.philau.edu/lermackh

_____________________________________________________________________________

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare you for careers in today’s complex and demanding organizations.  The course includes an in-depth exploration of organizational behavior topics such as communication, group dynamics, group roles, team building, power and politics, leadership, and negotiation and conflict resolution.  In addition, issues of organizational culture and diversity are examined.  Through readings, discussions, class activities, and projects, you will learn how to be an effective organizational communicator, team member, and leader.  You will also gain an understanding of culture and diversity issues, and how to effectively manage them.

Course Objectives

Understand:

Develop your personal skills, including:

Course Methods

Lectures, discussions, written projects, oral presentations, in-class and out-of-class assignments (e.g., exercises, cases, problems, readings), videos

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are MGMT-301 (previously B123) and junior status.  It is each student's responsibility to make sure that he or she has successfully completed all prerequisites.  If, at any time during the semester, it is learned that a student has not successfully completed the prerequisites, he or she will be dropped from the course, without receiving credit or tuition refund.

Required Materials

·         George, Jennifer M. and Gareth R. Jones.  Organizational Behavior, 5th Ed.   Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Prentice Hall.

·         Troyka, Lynn Quitman and Douglas Hesse.  Quick Access:  Reference for Writers, Custom Handbook for Philadelphia University.  Boston:  Person Custom Publishing, 2007.  Note:  This handbook was required for your Writing Seminar I, History I, and Writing Seminar II courses.

·         Internet access and electronic mail are required

·         Contemporary readings and exam review slides are accessible on the university eRes (electronic reserve) system.  This may be accessed through the university library page http://www.philau.edu/library/blackboardanderes.htm.  Password is org. 

·         Daily Wall Street Journal is encouraged

·         Other handouts and reading materials will be supplied

Important Contact Information

Professor Lermack’s electronic mail – LermackH@philau.edu

Professor Lermack’s Web Site –  http://faculty.philau.edu/lermackh

My web site includes the course requirements and standards; updates to the course schedule and assignments; and resource links.  Be sure to become familiar with it.

Your telephone number and electronic mail address - Early in the semester, you should provide to me your contact information, including your Philadelphia University electronic mail address.  Be sure to keep them up to date and advise me of any changes.

Check your electronic mail every day - I will contact you via electronic mail In case of changes to the schedule or assignments, class cancellations, or other last minute information.  Also, I may add reading assignments, such as Wall Street Journal articles.  Be sure to check your Philadelphia University electronic mail every day! 

Your Expectations for the Course

Early in the course, we will discuss at length your expectations and my expectations for the course. 

We will write them down, and review our progress to them periodically during the course.

Course Policies

Undergraduate Course Policies – In addition to the policies outlined here, you will be expected to abide by the Undergraduate Course Policies outlined at the SBA web site, at www.philau.edu/sba/Misc/Ugrad_Policies.html .

Attendance and Participation - The success of this class depends on your active participation.  Come to each class prepared to discuss the subject matter assigned, and to actively contribute.   Plan to attend every class, and to stay for the entire class.  Missing more than two classes, or excessive lateness, will adversely affect your grade.  If you are absent, please contact another class member to find out what we did when you were absent, and any changes to the assignments.  You will be responsible for all assignments, even if you miss a class.  Please exchange contact information with at least two other class members after our first or second class.

Electronic Mail – Be sure to give me your PhilaU electronic mail address at the beginning of the semester, and to check it frequently.  I will use it to contact you during the semester.  I will not use any other address.

Be on time and stay in class – Be on time for every class, and take care of your personal needs before class.  You should leave class only for an emergency, in order to ensure you don’t miss anything important.

Cell phones - Cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA's), pagers, and other electronics are to be turned off and stored away during classes and especially during exams unless expressly permitted by the instructor. You are not to make nor receive telephone calls or text messages during class. Failure to abide by this policy will negatively affect your grade.  Using cell phone during exams may be construed as a violation of academic honesty.

Food and Drink – Please do not bring food and drink to class.

Recording classes – You may not record any part of any class – audio or video - without express prior consent from the instructor.

Academic Honesty - You will be expected to complete your work on your own or as assigned in teams, and according to the most stringent standards of academic honesty.  Cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated.  The first offense will result in a zero for the assignment, with no opportunity to redo or make up the work.  At the discretion of the instructor, additional sanctions may be imposed depending on the extent of the offense.  The second offense will result in failure of the course.  Please print, read and abide by the University Academic Integrity Policy at http://www.philau.edu/learning/pdf/AcademicIntegrityPolicy.pdf

Honesty Statement – For each written assignment you submit,, provide a cover page with the following information:  Title, date, your name, to whom submitted, course name and number. 

At the bottom of the cover page, type the following and sign it:.

"By submitting this paper, I affirm that this work is my own, except for where the words or ideas of others are specifically acknowledged.  I also affirm that this work did not exist before the beginning of this course; and that neither I nor anyone else has submitted or will submit this paper (or one substantially consisting of the same information) for credit for this or any other course."

If this is not provided, the assignment will be returned ungraded, and will be considered late when resubmitted.

Weekly Assignments - Prepare all assignments on the course schedule thoroughly.  Read all materials in advance, and come prepared to answer questions and participate.  You are responsible for all materials assigned, whether or not they are discussed in class.  Also, be sure to check my web site periodically for updates to the schedule of assignments.

Written Assignments – All written assignments must be typed on a computer, and follow accepted standards of style, spelling, organization and grammar.  This includes proper documentation of all research.  Writing standards and grading criteria are available at my web site.  Handwritten pages torn from your notebook will not be accepted.  While I do not specifically mark papers for spelling and grammar, I will consider these in your grade.  If you do not understand what I expect to be included in any written paper, be sure to ask for clarification before you start writing.  I do expect that your work be thorough, and that you apply the concepts described in the text and our classroom conversations.

§         Written homework will not be accepted electronically, unless specifically approved in advance by the instructor.

§         Late written assignments lose one grade for each class they are late. 

§         Assignments may not be accepted more than one week late.

Exams – The written exams will cover the materials in the text.  The exams will not cover specific company cases.  Specific details will be provided well in advance.

The final exam will be cumulative, essay style, and will cover experiential exercises, class discussions, and all other materials we have covered.

Per university policy, all final exams will be conducted during the assigned final exam period.

Make up exams will not be given.  In the case of extreme (and documented) emergency, I may choose to re-weight another exam or assignment, or make other arrangements.

Extra credit, or the opportunity to re-do assignments or re-take exams, is not available on an individual basis.

Retention – Written assignments will be returned to you promptly.  Exams will be retained 4 weeks into the subsequent (fall or spring) semester.

Term Project

You will complete a term project.  The objective is for you to apply what you have learned from this course.  I will give you further specifics about the project early in the semester.  At the project due date, you will do the following.

·          Submit an individual, detailed written paper to me, summarizing the project.

·          With your team, present your results orally to the class, using appropriate handouts and visual aids.

·          Assess the project activities, outcomes and results.

Instructions for the reports and presentations will be provided during the course.

Team Documents for the project are on the following pages.

MGMT310 Business Policy

Team Charter

Professor Lermack

Team Members and Contact Information

Date / Time of Movie Viewing ________________________________________

Signed ____________________            ____________________ _______________

Team Goals

(May include project assignment goals, group process goals, quality level goals, etc.)

What are potential barriers to the achievement of these goals?

Ground Rules

Meeting schedule, locations, attendance expectations, agenda, assignment completion, communication methods, etc.

Conflict Management

What are potential conflicts that might arise among or between team members during this course? How will team members deal with these and other conflicts?

Continue on reverse

MGMT310 Organizational Behavior

Team Peer Evaluation

Professor Lermack

Team                :           _______________________________________________________________

Assignment:                  _______________________________________________________________

§         Do not put your name at the top of this sheet.

§         Using the scale below, individually rate each member of your team, including yourself.

§         Your ratings will be confidential and anonymous. 

§         Please give your honest evaluation and comments.

§         Put your comments on the other side.

§         When finished, fold this sheet.

5=Excellent            4=Very Good         3=Average             2=Poor                   1=Unacceptable

Please Provide Your Comments on Reverse

Learning Center

The Learning Center offers assistance and peer tutoring for your individual needs.  Assistance is available for written assignments and presentations.  I expect your work to be professionally prepared and presented.  Take the opportunity to consult with the professionals at the Learning Center in order to do your best work.

Presentations

You will be required to make both formal and informal presentations to the class.  You should prepare carefully and practice your presentation thoroughly.  For formal presentations, you should use visual aids, and prepare handouts for the class.  For team presentations, you should practice together to assure the presentation is “seamless”. 

The Learning Center can provide assistance when preparing your presentation.

Audiovisual equipment is available.  It is your responsibility to assure the necessary equipment is in class for your presentation.  I will be glad to help if asked well in advance.

Tentative Grading Schedule

Quizzes                                                                                                                        30 points

Term Project                                                                                                      20 points

Final Exam                                                                                                        20 points

Value Added to Class                                                                                         30 points

- Attendance, preparation, participation, teamwork, assignments, attitude

Guidelines for Assigning Letter Grades