Organizational Behavior and Issues

MGMT 6100

Instructor: Dr. Alan Hamlin

Office: Bus. 316 586-5417

e-mail: hamlin@suu.edu

Text: None

Course Description: MGMT 6100 (Advanced Organizational Issues) synthesizes material covered in the Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology) with basic business principles in an effort to understand why individuals and groups think and behave as they do in a corporate setting. Further, this understanding is then APPLIED to logical decision-making dynamics by analyzing contemporary issues. The roles of values and ethics, the concepts of individual and group dynamics, and the essentials of motivation, leadership, conflict resolution and overall corporate goal-attainment are emphasized.

PREREQUISITES: Admission into the MBA or Macc Programs

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1) To provide a framework for identifying and solving human and organizational problems in organizations, including global, ethical and socio-political issues.

2) To make the students more aware of the needs and attitudes of other individuals, and thus increase the student’s teamwork and leadership skills.

3) To enhance the student’s ability to think, feel and communicate both orally and in writing

            4) Develop the ability to use and integrate knowledge from the core areas of business.

POLICIES:

It is expected that you will attend class each session, that you will come prepared to discuss the issues and concepts covered, and that you will be tolerant of differing opinions. This is largely a discussion class, and I use the Socratic method to teach. Thus people of differing races, genders, ages and religions may disagree about how to handle “behavior” problems. Objectivity and a willingness to listen will help overcome these barriers.

GRADING CRITERIA:

Weekly two page readings 300 points

Thought Papers (2X100) 200 points

Book Reports (2X200) 400 points

Oral Presentations 200 points

Final Exam 200 points

Participation 100 points

Total Points Possible 1300 points

READINGS:

Each week we will focus on a different major business issue, and the student will be expected to have read ALL the reading assignments linked to the instructor’s webpage. A two-page summary of your reading, plus your particular feelings and thoughts about how to deal with the issue, will be turned in. Each of these readings will be worth 20 points. Remember to look at both sides of the issue, and be objective in your analysis.

THOUGHT PAPERS:

These are essays of original thinking about a controversial and contemporary topic with no universally accepted solution. The student is to choose a topic of interest to him/her, think through both sides of the issue, choose a position and defend it. The paper should be typed (double-spaced), grammatically error-free, and 3-4 pages in length. You will be graded on your LOGIC and ARTICULATION, and not on whether I as your instructor agree with your conclusion. For example, you may choose the topic “Should Employees Be Fired For Using Company Technology for Personal Reasons?” and after analyzing both sides of the argument, conclude that they should indeed be terminated. Even if I personally disagreed, you would be graded only on how logical your arguments were and how well you expressed yourself.

BOOK REPORTS:

Each student will read a book from each of the sections given below, and write a report on the topics listed (at least 8 pages in length, typed). The purpose of this assignment is to encourage each individual to become familiar with 1) general economic fundamentals, and 2) philosophical and ethical thought, as expounded by the great thinkers of past and present. Therefore, I am interested in mainly YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT AND REACTION TO WHAT WAS WRITTEN, not just a rehash of the author’s opinions. In class, we will try to see how these ideas can be incorporated in the business setting.

REPORT #1:

The Wealth of Nations (Adam Smith)

Free to Choose (Milton Friedman)

Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)

Das Kapital by Karl Marx AND The Communist Manifesto

Good To Great (Jim Collins)

The Earth Is Flat (Thomas Friedman)

*if you cannot find these books in the library, or get them through inter-library loan, you can buy them for under $10 at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.

REPORT #2:

Alvin Toffler: The 3rd Wave

PLATO: The Republic

ARISTOTLE: Happiness, Wisdom and the Golden Mean

EPICURUS: Critical Hedonism

MACHIAVELLI: The Prince

John Stuart Mill: Utilitarianism

Kant: Good Will and Duty

Nietzsche: The New Morality

Bloom: The Closing of the American Mind

Frankl: Man’s Search for Meaning

GROUP ASSIGNMENTS:

Each student will be assigned to a group, which will research out as much relevant data as possible on the topic for the week they are assigned. For example, those in Group 1 will be assigned the topic of Stockholder Assertiveness, which will be presented Week 6. The presentations will last about 30 minutes, during which time the group will introduce the topic, tell the class of the latest developments, and what they think ought to be done. You are free to determine HOW you want to present this, but I would suggest using Powerpoint slides, handouts or other aids. Use your imagination, but the goal is to INFORM the class about what you think is the central problem, and what should be done about it. For example, WHY are stockholder groups like pension plans and mutual funds becoming more proactive? Is this good for corporate America? What are the ramifications? Etc.

PARTICIPATION:

This class is, by nature and design, a participative course. You are expected to share your thoughts, insights and experiences when appropriate. This requires you to be physically (and intellectually) present. Thus, I am awarding up to 100 points to those with perfect attendance. Each unexcused absense will cost you 5 points. This is NOT extra-credit, but part of the pool of possible points.

EXAMS:

The exam in BA 6100 will be a comprehensive, take-home exam which will cover the lecture material and book content throughout the course. It will be designed to measure how completely you understood the material, and will be worth 200 points toward your final grade.

CALENDAR:

Week 1 Introduction

Fundamental Concepts of Management

Week 2 Historical Patterns of Leadership/Personal Communication

ISSUE: Contemporary Styles of Corporate Management

Week 3 Individual Differences/Personality & Perception

ISSUE: Human Resource Issues

Week 4 Motivation and Learning Theories

ISSUE: Unions

Thought Paper #1 Due

Week 5 Management Issues Today

ISSUE: Corporate Relocation and Expansion Dynamics

Guest Speaker

Week 6 Inter and Intra-Group Dynamics

ISSUE: Stockholder Assertiveness

Group 1

Book Report #1 Due

Week 7 Power and Authority, Ethics

ISSUE: Ethical Dilemmas

Group 2

Week 8 International Issues, MNCs

ISSUE: International Trade, Group 3

Group 3

Week 9 Problem-Solving Styles (Jung Model), Conflict Processes

ISSUE: Technology and the Rapidity of Change

Thought Paper #2 Due

Group 4

Week 10 Work Design and Performance Appraisal

ISSUE: Productivity Issues

Group 5

Week 11 Organizational Design and Structure

ISSUE: Downsizing, Re-engineering, Joint Ventures and M&A Activity

Book Report #2 Due

Week 12 Differences in Organizational Culture

ISSUE: Orient, Occident and Accident (or, Asian, European and American cultural attitudinal differences)

Group 6

Week 13 ARIP Model, Different Strokes and Dealing With Change

Week 14 Leadership in the Future

ISSUE: Government Regulation, Deregulation (domestic and worldwide)

Group 7

Week 15 Catch up

Take Home Final Exam

Other:

Business Week: The School of Business has incorporated Business Week into our curriculum. All juniors, seniors and graduate students will get a year’s subscription to Business Week and access to the Business Week on-line database for $15.00. Please pay for the subscription in BU 302 by Sept. 1, 2006. Faculty will incorporate Business Week’s resources into upper division and graduate course work, so all students will require a subscription.

ADA Statement: If you have a disability which may impair your ability to successfully complete this course, please let Student Support Services (SSS) know during the first week of class. Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations or auxiliary aids will need to contact SSS in Room 205K, Smith Center or phone 586-7848. SSS determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of these services and aids.

Academic Integrity: Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You are expected to have read and understood the current issue of the Student Handbook regarding student responsibilities and rights, and the intellectual property policy. All assignments except the weekly reading summaries must have a Turnitin receipt attached.

Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is required at all class meetings. Up to 100 points will be awarded for this factor. Attend and participate in classes. In-class activities, discussion and case analysis are important for learning this material. Please be on time for class.

Latecomers are distracting, annoying and RUDE.

Late Assignments and/or Makeup Work: No late assignments or other work will be allowed except in the case of medical problems, or other legitimate reasons as determined by the instructor. Get your work in on time, and in a professional manner.

Student Fees: All School of Business undergraduate classes have an $11 student fee, and all graduate classes have a $22 fee. These funds go toward funding mediated classes, computer labs, purchased cases, field trips and other student-related costs.