EXC 2953 Organizational Behaviour and Management

EXC 2953 Organizational Behaviour and Management

Course code: 
EXC 2953
Department: 
Leadership and Organizational Behaviour
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Irina Nikolova
Course name in Norwegian: 
Organizational Behaviour and Management
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Core Courses
Semester: 
2021 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

In today’s organizations leaders, managers, and co-workers need to have a clear understanding of human behavior and social processes. Organizational Behaviour (OB) examines the behaviors of individuals and groups in organizations and the structures and processes which shape this behavior and the work environment. OB is a subject area that draws on several disciplines ranging from psychology to sociology. By studying OB we can explain how and why people behave the way they do in organizations.  This knowledge better equips us to manage others and ourselves in the work context.

This course is designed to give an introduction and overview of the important topics and concepts in the field of OB, and a good platform for further studies in applied social sciences.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • Describe and apply important OB theories and research to organizations
  • Explain drivers, structures and mechanisms which affect human behavior in organizations
  • Know the role of management in organizations
Learning outcomes - Skills

After completed course students will be able to:

  • Interpret and understand behaviour and attitudes of individuals and groups in organizations.
  • Define organizational problems and to apply OB theory, models and techniques, in order to diagnose and implement changes in organizations.
  • Communicate and discuss the main theories and research from this field.
  • Play the role of a 3rd party consultant in OB processes.
General Competence

Be aware of the notion that organizations have a responsibility to their employees and to the society that sustain them; and ultimately, the obligation to behave in ethical and moral ways.

Course content
  • What is Organizational Behaviour
  • Individual differences and Their relevance to Work
    • Perception, Personality and Values
    • Learning, reinforcement and self-management
    • Engagement of Employees in the Workplace
  • Managing the Oorganization
    • Changing Worlds and the Design of Work
    • Organizational structure and design
    • Organizational culture
  • People, Processes and Performance
    • Groups and teams
    • Leadership
    • Power, Politics and Decision Making in Organizations
    • Communication, Conflict and Negotiation in Organizations
    • Organizational Change
Teaching and learning activities

The course consists of 14 lectures each of 3 hours duration, and a number of active individual and group learning processes (role play, teambuilding and self assessment processes, video-case-discussions etc.) The lectures are related to the 12 chapters of the textbook. In the first lecture the students will, through the Internet, get access to a major case that exemplifies how the theory in each lecture may be applied. This approach will be the same throughout the course. The major case will also be the final, graded case for the group assignment. In order to get the necessary case training during the course period, it is important that the students try to establish a group of maximum three participants, already at the beginning of the course.

In order to help the students to help themselves, multiple-choice questions will be available after each lecture. These the students are recommended to answer, since at the end of the course, they will have to attend a one hour, closed book, multiple-choice quiz examination, consisting of 30 questions that have been chosen from the entire question database that has been available throughout the course.

You are required to know how to use BI´s learning support system, It's Learning, and to aquire skills in search processes necessary for dealing with case material and relevant case theory, both on the Internet and through BI´s library information systems.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Covid-19

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationSupport materialsGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Structured test
Exam code:
EXC29531
Grading scale:
Pass/fail
Grading rules:
Internal examiner
Resit:
Examination every semester
0Yes1 Hour(s)
  • Bilingual dictionary
Individual Must be passed in order to obtain final grade. Students that have failed in one of the two examinations, will only have to sit for the examination that they failed.
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
EXC29532
Grading scale:
ECTS
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
Examination every semester
100No72 Hour(s)Group/Individual (1 - 3)Must be passed in order to obtain final grade. Students that have failed in one of the two examinations, will only have to sit for the examination that they failed.
Exams:
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Structured test
Weight:0
Invigilation:Yes
Grouping (size):Individual
Support materials:
  • Bilingual dictionary
Duration:1 Hour(s)
Comment:Must be passed in order to obtain final grade. Students that have failed in one of the two examinations, will only have to sit for the examination that they failed.
Exam code:EXC29531
Grading scale:Pass/fail
Resit:Examination every semester
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:100
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-3)
Support materials:
Duration:72 Hour(s)
Comment:Must be passed in order to obtain final grade. Students that have failed in one of the two examinations, will only have to sit for the examination that they failed.
Exam code:EXC29532
Grading scale:ECTS
Resit:Examination every semester
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
42 Hour(s)
Prepare for teaching
36 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
97 Hour(s)
Examination
1 Hour(s)
Compulsory multiple-choice examination
Examination
24 Hour(s)
Final case assignment
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.