The University of Texas at Dallas

School of Management
Course Syllabus
OB 6301-521: Organizational Behavior

Course Information
Course Number/Section OB 6301/ 521
Course Title Organizational Behavior
Term Summer 2007
Days & Times Mondays, 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., SOM 2.117
Course Website webct6.utdallas.edu (please visit WebCT regularly for lecture slides and
course updates and announcements)

Professor Contact Information

Professor Dr. Kiran Ismail
Phone 972-342-4565 (Please see the note below***)
Email Address kiranismail@yahoo.com (Include “OB 6301-521” in the subject line of all
emails)
Office Location SOM 4.102
Office Hours Mondays, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Other times by appointment)
Other Information ***The fastest and easiest way to contact me is through email. I check my
emails more frequently than my voice messages.

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

None. This is a required core course for several School of Management graduate degree programs.

Course Description
This course is designed to provide an overview concepts and topics relevant to the effective utilization of
human resources in organizational settings. Emphasis will be on attempting to understand the causes and
consequences of human behavior and team dynamics in organizations in the light of contemporary challenges
and issues, such as globalization, continuing technological innovations, workforce diversity and ethical
dilemmas.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

Specific Learning Objectives of the course include:

1. Preparing students to apply organizational behavior concepts- as demonstrated by class discussions,

assignments and exams- to real-life organizational settings.

2. Helping students to understand the importance of effective and efficient interpersonal and team interaction-
as demonstrated by team-based projects and classroom interactions.

3. Introducing students to problems and challenges faced by real-life organizations, and helping students to
acquire practical skills required to address these challenges- as demonstrated by cases and class exercises.

Required Textbook
Hellriegel, Don & Slocum, John. Organizational Behavior. 11th edition. Thomson South-Western. ISBN:0-324-
42257-1

Suggested Course Materials

Nelson, D. L., & Quick, J. C. Organizational Behavior: Foundations, Realities and Challenges. 5th edition.
Thomson South-Western .

Yukl, G. (1990). Skills for Managers and Leaders: Text, Cases, and Exercises. Prentice-Hall.

Course Syllabus- OB 6301-521 Page 1

 ASSIGNMENTS & ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Date Lecture Topic(s) In-class Case Other Class Activities

Assignment
Ch. 1: Organizational Behavior and Foundation -Introduction and Student Surveys
May 14 Competencies Preview Case: -Class Exercise: “Managerial Challenges in the
“Jack Gherty of Land Twenty-First Century”
O’ Lakes” -Video: “Discovering the Future- The Business of
(p. 3) Paradigms”

Ch. 2: Understanding Individual Differences -Video: “Le Meridian 1”

May 21 Ch. 3: Perceptions and Attributions - Class Exercise 1: “Brady Lowry”
Ch. 7: Workplace Stress and Aggression - Class Exercise 2: “Workplace Stress
“Ethical Dilemma at
Diagnosis.”
Northlake”
-Formation of Groups and Selection of Cases for
(pp. 205-206)
Group Projects (final case assignments will be
posted on WebCT by May 23)

May 28 No Class- University Holiday

Ch. 4: Learning and Reinforcement -Class Exercise 1: “Motive Identification
June 04 Ch. 5: Fundamentals of Motivation Exercise”
Ch. 6: Motivation through Goal Setting and Reward “SAS Institute” -Class Exercise 2: “ Goal Setting Exercise”
Systems (pp. 147-149) -Video 1: “Buffalo Zoo”
-Video 2: “Connondale Corporation 1”

Ch. 8: Leading Effectively: Foundations -Class Exercise: “Foreign Auto Shop”

June 11 Ch. 9: Leading Effectively: Contemporary “Ashley Automotive- -Video 1: “Vermont Teddy Bear Company”
Developments Changing Times” -Video 2: “Connondale Corporation 2”
Ch. 10: Developing and Leading Teams (pp. 232-233) -Exam 1 Review

**EXAM 1 (120 minutes)**

Bring a Scantron form 882-ES, a #2 Pencil, a Pencil Sharpener, and an Eraser.
June 18
GROUP PROJECT WORK (take class time after exams to work on the projects)

Ch. 11: Managing Conflict and Negotiating -Video 1: “12 Angry Men”
June 25 Effectively -Video 2: “Machado & Silvetti 1”
“The Arrogant
Ch. 12: Interpersonal Communication in
Engineers”
Organizations
(p. 321)
Ch. 13: Managerial and Ethical Decision Making

Ch. 14: Designing Organizations -Video 1: “Le Meridian 2”

July 02 Ch. 15: Cultivating Organizational Culture “3M” -Video 2: “Machado & Silvetti 2”
Ch. 16: Guiding Organizational Change (pp. 475-476)

GROUP PROJECT PRESENTATIONS 1

1. Whole Foods Market (pp. 478 - 482) **ALL PROJECT REPORTS ARE DUE AT
2. The Road to Hell (pp. 482 – 485) 6:00 P.M. TODAY, INCLUDING REPORTS
3. A Novice Manager’s Tale… (pp. 485- 489) FOR JULY 16 PRESENTATIONS. LATE
July 09 ______
4. Bob Knowlton (pp. 489 – 492) WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR
5. Zelte USA (pp. 493 - 496) GRADED **
6. Telereach (pp. 496 – 501)

GROUP PROJECT PRESENTATIONS 2 -Video: “The Power of Vision”

7. Tick, Tock (pp. 502 – 505) -Professional Skills Assessment
8. EM, INC. (pp. 505 – 510) -Course Summary and Re-cap
9. It Isn’t So Simple (pp. 510 – 514) -Exam 2 Review
July 16 _______
Short Lecture:
Career Management

**EXAM 2 (120 minutes)**

July 23
Bring a Scantron form 882-ES, a #2 Pencil, a Pencil Sharpener, and an Eraser.
Special Office Hours from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Stop by to receive final course grade.
July 26
**PLEASE NOTE: I may not be available after this date to discuss your
(NOTE:
grades or provide feedback**
Thursday)

Course Syllabus- OB 6301-521 Page 2

 GRADING POLICY

1. Exam 1 25%
2. Exam 2 20%
3. Class Assignments (4 best out of 5) 20%
4. Class Participation & Attendance 10%
5. Group Case Study (Report and Presentation) 25%
100%

Your final score will be rounded off to the nearest whole number. The following ranges will be used to
determine your final grade:

90 to 100 A
80 to 89 B
70 to 79 C
60to 69 D
Below 59 F

Examinations (Exam 1: 25%; Exam 2: 20%)

Each exam will have multiple choice and short questions and will be based on lecture, text book chapters and all
the materials (including videos and exercises) covered during the class period.

The exams will be non-cumulative. I will provide an exam review in the class prior to the examination period.

There will be no makeup exams. Please see ‘Course Policies’ for further details.

Please bring a Scantron Form No. 882-ES (available at the University Bookstore and Off-Campus Books), an
eraser, a pencil sharpener, and a No. 2 pencil with you for each of the examinations.

Class Assignments (4 best out of 5, each 5 points; total: 20%)

You will be allocated class time most weeks to meet with your classmates to share information about the week’s
class assignment. The team should arrive at a consensus, if possible, concerning the issues in the cases.

Teams may be called on at random to present to the rest of the class their conclusions from their discussions.
Therefore, your full involvement and participation in these team discussions is important.

Each team will be required to submit a short written report of their discussion prior to the end of the session for
five grade points. Four best assignment grades (out of five) will be selected in calculating your final grade.
There will be no makeup assignments. Please see ‘Course Policies’ for further details.

Class Participation and Attendance (10%)

Students are expected to attend each session on time. Please bring your textbook to each session.

If you miss class unexcused, your participation grade will be affected. If you must miss a session due to
unavoidable reasons such as illness or work-related travel, please notify (e-mail) me in advance so that I can
inform you about any important changes in the agenda for the session that you must miss. However, it is your
own responsibility to stay current with the class. Therefore, I encourage everyone to exchange contact
information with at least one other classmate so that you are able to obtain lecture notes and other course
information should you miss a session. Also, you are encouraged to use WebCT to have discussions and stay in
touch with your classmates and group members. I will NOT be monitoring these discussions, so if you have any
questions for me, please see me during my office hours or send me an email.

Course Syllabus- OB 6301-521 Page 3

I strongly encourage student input during class discussion. It is expected that the reading, cases and exercises
assigned for each class be thought provoking tools to generate discussion. Consequently, you will only be able
to participate if you have read the chapters, cases and assignments before class.

The textbook is used as a supplement to the material presented or covered in class. For the exams, you will be
responsible for all material covered during the class period. Therefore, it is very important that you attend class
regularly.

Group Case Study (Presentation and Report: 25%)

The class will be divided into nine groups, each with 4-5 students. Each group will be assigned a case study
from the text book (pp. 478-510). Each group will be required to present its case analysis to the class and submit
a written report of the analysis. My requirements for each are as follows:

a. Written report (18%)

The report should be 4-7 pages (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-font), and should have the following
sections:

Summary of the case……….……………………………………………………………………...4 points

Answers to the specific questions following the case…………………………………………...10 points
Additional comments in the light of your own work-related or other relevant experience(s)…....4 points

**The report is due on the day of your presentation**

b. Presentation (7%)
-Each group will be given 25-30 minutes to present their case to the class. Please use Microsoft PowerPoint
slides to summarize/demonstrate key points of your presentation. A 5-10 minutes question and answer
session will follow each presentation, during which other class members will be given opportunity to ask
questions to the group or provide their own comments and feedback on the case.

-The presentations should have the same format as the written report.

-Each group member is required to present in front of the class.

-Please e-mail your presentation slides to me by 09:00 a.m. on the day of your presentation (July 9 or
July 16).

-Also, please submit a printed, hard copy of your presentation slides to me with your case reports.

COURSE POLICIES

Make-up exams
There will be NO makeup exams given, unless in case of an emergency (adequate documentation showing
proof of emergency, e.g. medical report or written excuse from the academic dean, will be required). Persons
who miss exams unexcused will receive a zero for the exam. If you must miss the exam, please contact me
prior to the start of the exam.

Extra Credit
There will be no extra credit assignments.

Late Work
Assignments should be turned in on or before the due date. Late work will not be graded or accepted.

Course Syllabus- OB 6301-521 Page 4

Class Assignments and Group Projects
You are expected to contribute effectively to class assignments and group projects. Avoid free-riding. Several
points will be deducted from your class participation and/or project scores if your team members report that you
did not contribute to group projects and other team activities.

If you miss a class session unexcused, your will not receive any points for the week’s class assignment. If you
must miss a session due to an unavoidable reason, you are expected to inform me and submit your individual
class assignment prior to the start of the session.

Classroom Citizenship
If you miss class unexcused, come to class late, or engage in “individual conversations” during the class (under
this circumstance, I will ask you to take the conversation outside the classroom), your class participation grade
will be affected.

You are expected to be courteous during class time. Please respect your classmates by turning off cell phones
and beepers before class.

Class Attendance
You are expected to attend each session on time, and follow these simple rules in order to do well in this course:
1. Read the assigned chapters and cases before coming to class.
2. Pay attention and take good notes during the class lecture, activities, discussions and videos.
3. Bring the textbook to each session.
4. Engage actively in class discussions.
5. Pay attention to the questions asked by other class members. Do not engage in conversations with
classmates unless we are doing a group exercise.
6. Avoid free-riding.
7. Come to class with an open mind and willingness to share knowledge and learn from others.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Field Trip Policies / Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities

Not Applicable

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the
orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student
organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities.
General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which
is provided to all registered students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and
established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents,
The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are
available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students
in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is
expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and
administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such
conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

Course Syllabus- OB 6301-521 Page 5

Academic Integrity
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of
an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is
imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for
enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or material that is not one’s own.
As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion
and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is
unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details).
This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over
90% effective.

Email Use
The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff
and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the
identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email
correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email
from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a
high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted
information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with
university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students
to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These dates
and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the
student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or
withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F"
in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the
university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic
responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the
instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the
respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If
the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a
copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the
respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the
School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate
Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic
Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff
members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semester’s
end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within
eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course

Course Syllabus- OB 6301-521 Page 6

and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed
automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services
The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to those
of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are
Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to
eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom
prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind.
Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral
presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may
have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services
such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation.
Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a
disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the
professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel to
and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax
under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence,
preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete
the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a
maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment
may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the
prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a
religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a reasonable
time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a
ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or
designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will
abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and University policies
and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information regarding these rules and regulations
may be found at the website address given below. Additional information is available from the office of the
school dean. (http://www.utdallas.edu/Business Affairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm)

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Course Syllabus- OB 6301-521 Page 7