Faculty of Business Administration

Business 2038-WB-2017
INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR
(Cross listed as Business 2538-WB Entrepreneurial Human Resources)

CONTACT INFORMATION
Instructor:

Name Adam Shaen

Email ashaen@lakeheadu.ca
Office Location RB1015
Office Hours Available by appointment Thursdays between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.,
or walk-in on Thursdays between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m.
Phone Number Please contact via e-mail

Teaching Assistant:
Name Derek Smith
Email djsmith1@lakeheadu.ca

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course has been designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the study of
human behaviour in organizational settings. The overall aim is to familiarize course
participants with the many nuances of individual and interpersonal behaviour and the
complex factors which influence these behaviours. Particular emphasis is placed on an
individual perspective and the manner in which each individual relates to his/her
environment. The course provides an introduction to individual, group, and organization-
level organizational behaviour.

DELIVERY MODE/LOCATION
Course Location: RB 1022
Campus: Thunder Bay
Times: Thursdays 7:00 to 10:00 pm
Mode: Lectures and in-class activities.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES
The overall aim of the course is to introduce concepts and enhance your awareness of
human behaviour under the constraints imposed by organizations. To accomplish this,
theory drawn from research in the behavioural and management sciences will be
introduced to form a foundation for understanding the complexities of human behaviour
in modern organizations. The objectives of the course include:

To develop your knowledge of recognized concepts, theories and models of

organizational behaviour and benchmark organizational behaviour practices,
To enhance your understanding of human behaviour and its potential,
To improve your capacity to exercise critical thinking in resolving human issues
in business situations,
To be able to use theory and evidence to support an argument,
To develop group and communication skills by participating in discussion and in
class exercises,

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this course, students will:

Understand how individual characteristics affect behaviour at work.

Consider the influence of diversity and cross-cultural values in organizations.
How perceptions influence learning and work behaviours.
Understand the role of emotions, attitudes and stress in work behaviour and
performance.
Identify factors that contribute to improved motivation of people at work.
Understand ways in which organizations can impede or promote high
performance.
Identify factors that lead to improved decision-making and creativity.
Develop skills for working in teams.
Understand principles of effective communication, power and influence, and
leadership.
Apply ethical considerations in organizational decision making and leadership.
Understand the role of organizational structure and its relevance to organizational
performance.
Consider the influences of organizational culture on organizational outcomes.
Understand factors affecting the success of organizational change.

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 COURSE SCHEDULE
The following is the planned course schedule. In the event that a scheduled class is cancelled, a
make-up class may be scheduled and the course schedule adjusted accordingly.
Week Date Topic Material
1 Thurs. January 12 Introduction to Organizational Behaviour Chapter 1
2 Thurs. January 19 Individual Behaviour, Personality, and Values Chapter 2
3 Thurs. January 26 Perception Chapter 3
4 Thurs. February 2 Emotion, Attitudes, and Stress Chapter 4
5 Thurs. February 9 Motivation Chapter 5
Applied Performance Practices Chapter 6
6 Thurs. February 16
Decision Making & Creativity Chapter 7
READING WEEK FEBRUARY 20-25
7 Thurs. March 2 ** Midterm Exam (in-class)**
Communication Chapter 9
8 Thurs. March 9
Teams Chapter 8
Organizational Structures Chapter 13
9 Thurs. March 16
Power & Influence Chapter 10
10 Thurs. March 23 Leadership Chapter 12
11 Thurs. March 30 Organizational Culture Chapter 14
12 Thurs. April 6 Organizational Change Chapter 15

IMPORTANT DATES:

ITEM: DUE BY/DATE:

Mid-term Exam Thursday March 2, 2017
Final Exam in final exam period
Individual Assignment Thursday March 23 by 7pm

NOTE: Any important announcements, including changes in due

dates will be announced in-class and posted on
Desire2Learn.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Textbook:
McShane, S., Steen, S., & Tasa, K. (2014). Canadian Organizational Behaviour (9th
Ed.). McGraw-Hill.
The textbook is available in hard-cover and digital formats.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Other appropriate readings and additional materials intended to enhance your
understanding and practical application of course concepts will be posted on the D2L
course website.

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Additional materials may be placed on reserve in the library that may be useful in
preparing in class presentations.

EVALUATION

Assignment Value Due Date Individual/Group

Attendance &
10% Weekly Individual
Participation
In-Class Assignments 20% Throughout term Group
Individual Assignment 15% Thursday March 23 Individual
Mid-term Exam 25% Thursday March 2 Individual
Final Exam 30% TBD Individual

Class Participation:
The instructor will evaluate participation according to student attendance and
contribution in the class. Attendance in class is a necessary, but not sufficient element of
participation. In addition, students are required to be inclusive of all class members, and
therefore should encourage class members to participate, seek input from others and build
on the contributions of classmates. To get the most of the class you must read all material
before coming to class. You may be called upon to answer questions regarding the
readings. You must actively take part in discussions and ask questions that relate directly
to the material. Students will be invited to relate their own work and volunteer
experiences as they relate to the course content.

The quality of your in-class participation for EACH CLASS will be evaluated according
to the following guidelines:

Multiple contributions that demonstrate understanding of the topics

under discussion preparedness for class, and active participation in 5 points
class discussions and team work.

Multiple contributions that demonstrate preparedness for class and

4 points
active in-class participation.

Some contribution in class or in small group discussion. 3 points

In attendance. Limited individual classroom contributions/limited 1-2

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 participation in small group discussion. points

Absent * 0 points

* Note: If you will miss a class for a legitimate reason, you must notify the Instructor in
advance via e-mail in order to request that the Instructor excuse you from the class. A
valid reason must be provided. No more than two excused absences are permitted
without affecting a students overall participation mark. When no prior notification is
provided or a student misses three or more classes, the student will be marked as absent
and the overall participation mark will be affected accordingly.

In-Class Team Assignments:

Most weeks, there will be a team-based class exercise (e.g., mini-case analysis, exercise).
Class time will be provided for this assignment. Individuals will submit a team evaluation
with each assignment. Five of these will be graded. Teams will be formed by the
instructor and students will work in the same team throughout the term.

Individual Assignment:
Each student, working individually, will prepare a written report analyzing a short case.
The assignment will require students to answer questions about the case and support their
answers with references to scholarly sources (e.g., journal articles). Additional
information will be provided on D2L.

Mid-term:
The midterm exam will include multiple-choice and short-answer questions. The mid-
term exam will be written during class time in the week following reading week and will
cover material from the first six weeks of class.

Final Exam:
The final exam will include multiple-choice, short-answer questions, and essay questions.
It will be written in the formal exam period at the end of term and will cover material
from the last six weeks of class.

GRADING SCHEME:
A+ 90 to 100% Outstanding understanding of the course concepts including
A 80 to 89% integration of materials and ideas, ability to apply knowledge to

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 situations
Above average to excellent knowledge, ability to apply knowledge
B 70 to 79%
to situations
Satisfactory knowledge including ability to recognise and apply
C 60 to 69%
major course concepts, and to progress to next level of course
Some grasp of course concepts; will likely encounter difficulty with
D 50 to 59%
higher levels
F 1 to 49% Failed to meet minimum requirements of the course
F 0 Failure resulting from academic dishonesty

Students are advised to refer to the University Calendar to ensure that they have
adequate grades and/or average to proceed in their program. Some course
/program requirements require a higher average than the minimums stated above.

COURSE POLICIES
Absence Students must inform the instructor before class if they are going to be absent.
Assignment and project standards Weekly assignments may be submitted electronically
or in hard copy. The grade will be lower if the document is impaired by problems with
grammar, spelling, type-setting, neatness, etc.
Class requirements Students are expected to be adequately familiar with readings and
other assigned materials so as to be able to participate effectively in class discussions.
Communication with students In addition to the instructions regularly provided during
the class period, the instructor will make use of the Lakehead University email system.
Therefore, it is your responsibility to check your email account. Mail from your
university account can be forwarded to another address.
Changes to syllabus A syllabus serves as an instructional and study planning document
for both the instructor and the students. Although every effort will be taken to complete
the semester according to the syllabus and the document explaining course content and
schedule, it may become necessary to make certain changes to facilitate class needs. In
such an event, changes will be announced in class and students will receive clear notice
of the change.
Electronic devices and laptops students may use laptops to support their learning in the
class. Non-course related activities (and use of other electronic devices) have been shown
to impair learning of the user and those around them. Use of such devises will interfere
with students ability to earn participation grades.

Re-evaluation If you have complaints about the grade you received on an assignment or
project, write a paragraph describing your concerns and make an appointment with the
instructor to discuss your concerns. Please be aware that grades may be adjusted up or
down upon re-evaluation.

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Student Behaviour Please demonstrate respect for the learning process of others. Please
ensure mobile phones are off during class time. Healthy dialogue is encouraged in the
class, but students are expected to do so respectfully.

GENERAL REGULATIONS
ACCOMMODATIONS
Lakehead University is committed to achieving full accessibility for persons with
disabilities. Part of this commitment includes arranging academic accommodations for
students with disabilities to ensure they have an equitable opportunity to participate in all
of their academic activities. If you think you may need accommodations, you are strongly
encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and register as early as
possible. For more information, please visit: http://studentaccessibility.lakeheadu.ca

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
The University takes a most serious view of offences against academic honesty such as
plagiarism, cheating and impersonation. Penalties for dealing with such offences will be
strictly enforced.

A copy of the "Code of Student Behaviour and Disciplinary Procedures" including

sections on plagiarism and other forms of misconduct may be obtained from the Office of
the Registrar.

The following rules shall govern the treatment of candidates who have been found guilty
of attempting to obtain academic credit dishonestly.
(a) The minimum penalty for a candidate found guilty of plagiarism, or of cheating on
any part of a course will be a zero for the work concerned.
(b) A candidate found guilty of cheating on a formal examination or a test, or of serious
or repeated plagiarism, or of unofficially obtaining a copy of an examination paper before
the examination is scheduled to be written, will receive zero for the course and may be
expelled from the University.

Students disciplined under the Code of Student Behaviour and Disciplinary Procedures
may appeal their case through the Judicial Panel.

Note: "Plagiarism" shall be deemed to include:

1. Plagiarism of ideas as where an idea of an author or speaker is incorporated into

the body of an assignment as though it were the writer's idea, i.e. no credit is
given the person through referencing or footnoting or endnoting.

2. Plagiarism of words occurs when phrases, sentences, tables or illustrations of an

author or speaker are incorporated into the body of a writer's own, i.e. no
quotations or indentations (depending on the format followed) are present but
referencing or footnoting or endnoting is given.

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 3. Plagiarism of ideas and words as where words and an idea(s) of an author or
speaker are incorporated into the body of a written assignment as though they
were the writer's own words and ideas, i.e. no quotations or indentations
(depending on format followed) are present and no referencing or footnoting or
endnoting is given.

The University Regulations regarding academic dishonesty can be found at:

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/departments/services/provost-vice-president-
academic/academic-integrity-plans-policies/academic-dishonesty-regulations
The code of student behaviour and disciplinary procedures can be found at:
https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/policies/student-related/code-of-student-
behaviour-and-disciplinary-procedures

MISSED EXAMS
Make-up examinations will only be given with written documentation from a healthcare
practitioner using the official Student Health Certificate, available at
https://www.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/forms/Certificate%20of
%20Illness_Incapacity.pdf

Final examinations for the Winter 2017 term will be held run April 10-13, 15, and 18-23
(April 24 is the contingency date). There will be no rescheduling of examinations to
accommodate holiday travel or extracurricular activities. No one will be allowed to write
examinations prior to the scheduled date.