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: 
Christian Winther Farstad
Course name in Norwegian: 
Organizational Behaviour and Management
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Common Courses
Semester: 
2022 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:

  • Communicate, critically discuss and present main theories from the field in both academic and professional contexts.
  • 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.
  • Play the role of a 3rd party consultant in OB processes.
General Competence
  • Demonstrate a broad understanding of how and why different attitudes and behavior unfold in organizational settings.
  • Critically evaluate processes/methods used in organizations to influence the behavior of individuals and groups.
  • Develop a deeper awareness of one’s own organizational behavior and how it could affect others.
Course content

I. The organizational context

  • Explaining the Organizational Behaviour
  • Environment& Technology
  • Culture

II. Individuals in the organization

  • Learning
  • Personality & Communication
  • Perception & Motivation

III. Groups & Teams in the organization

  • Group formation & Structure
  • Individuals in groups and teamworking

IV. Management and organizations

  • Work design
  • Organization Design

V. Leadership Processes

  • Leadership, Change & Decision making
  • Conflict, Power and Politics
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, case-discussions etc.) The lectures are related to the 5 chapters of the textbook. 

You are required to know how to use BI´s learning support system, It's Learning, and to acquire 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.

Evaluation

This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course.

Specific information regarding student evaluation beyond the information given in the course description will be provided in class. This information may be relevant for requirements for term papers or other hand-ins, and/or where class participation can be one for several elements of the overall evaluation.

At re-sit all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

As of spring 2022 the type of examination will change to a continuous assessment with:

EXC 29533

  • In class presentation and discussion, Group, counting 10% to obtain final grade. 
  • 10 hour home exam, Group, Written submission, counting 90% to obtain final grade. 

A last re-sit in the previous exam version will be offered autumn 2021 and spring 2022. 
EXC 29531 –  1 hour, Individual, Structured test, Pass/Fail
EXC 29532 – 72 hour, Group, Written submission, counting 100% to obtain final grade.

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.

Teaching

Information about what is taught on campus and other digital forms will be presented with the lecture plan before the start of the course each semester.

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Activity
Form of assessment: 
Presentation and discussion
Weight: 
10
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 4)
Duration: 
20 Minute(s)
Comment: 
An in-class presentation and discussion. Students working in assigned groups of 4 students are required to deliver a 10 min presentation on a contemporary OB topic (theory). The presentation will be followed by 10min discussion, led by the group of students presenting the topic.
Exam code: 
EXC29533
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
90
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 4)
Duration: 
10 Hour(s)
Comment: 
(Detailed text is taken out 11.03.22, and students will be informed by email. Information is given in the exam paper.)
Exam code: 
EXC29533
Grading scale: 
Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade
Resit: 
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Continuous assessment
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
42 Hour(s)
Prepare for teaching
36 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
97 Hour(s)
Examination
25 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.