Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Description
Course Purpose
Organizational behavior is the study of the dynamics that emerge from human emotions and behaviors at the individual, group, and larger organization level. Leaders need the competencies and skill to understand why people think and act as they do for sustaining a healthy organizational climate. Topics covered in this course include managing stress, managing conflict, group cohesion, power and control, motivation, and engagement. Cultivating an understanding of self and recognizing how a leader should know and manage their own behavior is fundamental to this course.
Inclusive Leadership
In the Inclusive Leadership concentration, you will learn to apply principles of inclusion as a lens to view relationships, processes, and interacting systems. Emphasis is placed on developing leadership competencies for understanding the interacting components of the organization’s systems, applying appropriate ethical frameworks for solving problems, identifying the pro-social and anti-social nature of organizational behaviors, and effectively implementing strategies that create and sustain intercultural awareness. Inclusive leaders espouse pro-diversity beliefs and behaviors; support an organizational culture of belongingness; recognize the unique value of the individual and the collective value of groups, and envision an organizational environment based on morality, impartiality, fairness, and respect. Students will learn fundamental theories of leadership and theories that are relevant to the study of human relations for practical application.
My Pledge to You
As your teacher, it is my responsibility to (among other things):
- Answer any questions you might have that are not covered by the textbook or another reading
- Make assignments expectations and requirements clear
- Provide feedback to you about your work
- Grade your work as promptly as possible
- Update your grades on Canvas
- Inform you promptly of any alterations to the schedule, such as due dates and changes
Professor Availability
The professor will be available via zoom and e-mail to students before and after the class sessions.
Course Format
This course experience includes core learning activities that are foundational to Inclusive Leadership such as (2) research papers, discussion board interactions, reflective written assignments, and live zoom sessions.
Your contributions and participation are vital to the success of your learning experience. Success in the course requires active participation throughout the week in online activities, as well as thoughtful consideration of the materials provided.
Technical Requirements that may be required to utilize technology in this course:
- A headset or microphone.
- A webcam.
Required Course Materials[1] - See Files Section
- Organizational Behavior (see PDF)
- Gelfand, M.J. Erez, M., & Aycan, Z. (2007). Cross-cultural organizational behavior. Rev. Psychol., 58 479-514
- Gotsis, G., & Grimani, K. (2016). The role of servant leadership in fostering inclusive organizations. Journal of Management Development
- Oh, J., Cho, D., & Lim, D. H. (2018). Authentic leadership and work engagement: the mediating effect of practicing core values. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.
- Mitchell, R., Boyle, B., Parker, V., Giles, M., Chiang, V., & Joyce, P. (2015). Managing Inclusiveness and diversity in teams: how leader inclusiveness affects performance through status and team identity. Human Resource Management, 54(2), 217-239. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21658
- Adams, B.G., Meyers., M. C., & Sekaja, L. (2020). Positive leadership: relationships with employee inclusion, discrimination, and well-being. Applied Psychology, 69(4), 1145-1173, https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12230
Optional but Strongly Recommended
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) (6th edition), available at
http://www.apastyle.org/manual
Course Objectives
At the end of the course, students should be able to acquire the following learning objectives:
- To encourage introspection regarding your role as an inclusive leader and liberating organizational practitioner
- To evolve and broaden skills in applying knowledge to enhancing individual and organizational inclusive effectiveness in a complex global economy
- To refine our understanding of theories, policies, practices, and procedures associated with individual and inclusive organizational behavior
- To analyze relationships between various levels of culture in their dynamic of creation, maturing and change, and role of the inclusion in the everyday behavior of people and organizations
Course Expectations
My philosophy in teaching is to deconstruct many of the basic methods of teaching/education and to apply a revitalizing pedagogical approach to invite learners to engage in various dialogues. This course is my first of many attempts, each module has a variety of integrated learning modes that you will engage in such as pre-class learning activities that include online video lectures, readings, and homework assignments. In-class learning activities take place in weekly interactive lectures and weekly discussion sessions. One mode is not more important than another. My foundational point for providing excellence in teaching is to encourage peers, students, and institutions to have more dialogue about teaching and its promising practices to liberate ourselves from previous notions of excellence in teaching.
All assignments must be submitted on the designated date. Late submission will result in a point reduction for each day late. All written work in this course will follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) (6th edition). Besides the APA manual, additional guidance is available at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/. All written assignments are expected to be submitted without grammatical or typographical errors. Plagiarized work will receive a grade of zero. Plagiarism is the use of the ideas or words of another without attribution.
I welcome all feedback on well we are achieving these goals together.
Course Grades
Breakdown
|
Graded Activities & Assignments |
Individual Points |
Total Points |
|
Organizational Behavior Content Analysis (Descriptive) Week 2 (due Sunday) |
30 pts x 1 |
30 pts |
|
Organizational Behavior Content Analysis (Case Analysis) Week 6 (due Sunday) |
35 pts x 1 |
35 pts |
|
Discussion Board (6 pts – your initial response [due Wednesday]; 4 pts – response to an/other student/s [due Friday]) |
10 pts x 7 |
70 pts |
|
Chapter Quiz Weeks 1, 3-5 (due Sunday) |
5 pts x 4 |
20 pts |
|
Live (Zoom) Session (Monday) |
5 pts x 7 |
35 pts |
|
Self-Reflection Week 7 |
10 pts x 1 |
10 pts |
|
Total |
|
200 pts |
Scale
|
A = 180-200 pts |
|
B = 160-179 pts |
|
C = 140-159 pts |
|
D = 120-139 pts |
|
F = 119 or BELOW |
Course Components
Organizational Behavior Context Analysis
During this course, each student will utilize concepts and readings from various modules. This assignment asks you to critically analyze the effort of inclusiveness you are experiencing (or have experienced) within your organizational behavior. This assignment consists of two parts:
Inclusive Behavior (Descriptive)
Within the section, (about 800-1000 words) take time to identify and outline the level of inclusiveness within your organization. Provide the reader with an in-depth background related to your organization, instances of exclusion (inclusion), or limiting (innovating) behavior. The tone of the descriptive essay should be informative.
Here are some questions that can guide you:
- What is your current (previous) role within the organization? (how do you recognize (or lack thereof regarding inclusion)
- What is the problem? (How does this organizational behavior impact you? Colleagues? Team? Customers? Prospective hires?
- What are the causes of the problem? (identity the symptoms of the issue(s)
Case Analysis
This is the bulk of your organizational analysis (about 1000-1500 words). This section is dedicated to the alternatives/recommendations/plans of action to creating a move inclusive environment.
Here are some questions that can guide you:
- Which theories, policies, and practices should you apply when analyzing and solving the problem? (How can your evidence in the case support your theory, policy, or practice)
- What alternative, recommendation, or plan of action to create change do you recommend?
Use at least two of the resources from the Files section to relate to these sections. Used 3-5 resources, APA style.
Total 10 pages (Can be approximately half-and-half)
Discussion Board
Read discussion board post directions carefully. These posts will vary in length, but they are generally 300 words. In addition to your individual posts, you should also comment on at least other students’ posts with critical insight and support (evidence-based replies or peer-review articles). Remember that discussion board posts can be read by anyone in the class, so consider your audience carefully. Your posts should also be carefully proofread. You will lose points for spelling, grammar, and mechanics mistakes. (10 pts per discussion) 70 pts
Live (Zoom) Sessions
There are (7) required one-hour live sessions built into the course. Cameras should be enabled for the whole of the course (with exceptions for private moments [any exposure or likelihood of exposure to more visuals than one’s face]). Assure your audio is off if you are not speaking. A recurring Zoom link will be posted to the Canvas under the “Announcements” tab. (5 pts per session) 35 pts
Chapter Quizzes
These quizzes will cover the week’s textbook readings. Each quiz will be 10 questions with a mix of true/false, and multiple-choice questions. (5pts per quiz) 20 pts
Self-Reflection
This assignment asks you to discuss how at least two concepts presented in the course relate to your own personal and professional inclusiveness, and what you plan to do to improve your skills and competencies in these areas. Be specific, and take your insights seriously. 10 pts
Course Policies
Communication Plan
Please communicate via email (epps@ou.edu). If you need to meet face-to-face outside of office hours, send a calendar request for the date and time you have available. It is my attempt to respond to all messages within 24 hours if received Monday through Thursday, and within 48 hours if received Saturday or Sunday.
Late Policy
This class is seven weeks, starting on 5/17/2021 and concluding on 7/2/2021, which the last live Zoom session on 6/28/2021. Deadlines are treated seriously in this class, so all work is published; please work ahead of time in case issues occur. All assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. CST on the date of the deadline unless otherwise instructed. Having reliable, alternate sources of technology is highly recommended to assure timely submissions of assignments. Please send documentation if extenuating circumstances develop, which I will consider on a case-by-case basis.
University of Oklahoma Academic Policies and Student Support
I, Dr. Epps, have not written any of the details in this section.
Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalogue.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Schedule
(Subject to change)
|
Date |
Topics/Readings |
Deliverables Due |
|
Week 1 May 17th – May 21st Live session Monday 7:00-8:00pm CST |
Readings: Chapter 1: Organizational Behavior Chapter 2: Managing Demographic and Cultural Diversity
¨ Live Session #1 |
¨ Discussion Board: Post an introduction ¨ Discussion Board: What skills do you think are the most important ones for being an effective employee? ¨ Chapter Quiz 1
|
|
Week 2 May 24th – May 28th Live session Monday 7:00-8:00pm CST |
Reading: Chapter 3: Understanding People at Work: Individual Differences and Perception
¨ Live Session #2
¨ Inclusive Behavior (Descriptive)
|
¨ Discussion Board: If ethical decision-making depends on partially on personality, what can organizations do to increase the frequency of ethical behaviors?
|
|
Week 3 May 31st – June 4th Live session Monday 7:00-8:00pm CST |
Reading Chapter 4: Individual Attitudes and Behaviors
¨ Live Session #3 |
¨ Discussion Board: What are the major causes of absenteeism at work? ¨ Chapter Quiz 2
|
|
Week 4 June 7th – June 11th Live session Monday 7:00-8:00pm CST |
Reading Chapter 5: Theories of Motivation
¨ Live Session #4
|
¨ Discussion Board: Using examples, explain the concepts of expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. ¨ Chapter Quiz 3
|
|
Week 5 June 14th – June 18th Live session Monday 7:00-8:00pm CST |
Reading Chapter 7: Managing Stress and Emotions
¨ Live Session #5
|
¨ Discussion Board: Research shows that acting “happy” when you are not can be exhausting. Why do you think that is? How does burn out factor into managing stress/emotions?
¨ Chapter Quiz 4
|
|
Week 6 June 21st – June 25th Live session Monday 7:00-8:00pm CST |
Chapter 10: Conflict and Negotiations
¨ Live Session #6
¨ Case Analysis
|
¨ Discussion Board: Describe a situation in which not having enough conflict can be a problem?
|
|
Week 7 June 28th – July 2nd Live session Monday 7:00-8:00pm CST |
Reading Chapter 15: Organizational Culture
¨ Live Session #7
¨ Self-Reflection |
¨ Discussion Board: Have you ever observed a change process at an organization you were involved with? If so, what worked well and was in need of growth?
|
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|