BUS 407 Organizational Behavior
Credits: 3
Instructor: Tom Hirons, Ph.D.
Dates: January 3rd to February 7th
Winter Term 2007

Instructor: Tom Hirons                                                                        
Location:  Webct
Email: thirons@linfield.edu      
Email: thirons@yahoo.com

Course Description:
The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the field of Organizational Behavior.  The emphasis is on developing an understanding of Organizational Behavior theories/principles/practices and developing a better understanding of managing people at work. The primary topics include: Managing People in a Global Economy, Organizational Culture, Motivation, Leadership, Power, and Managing Change.    

Textbook: Kinicki/Kreithner, Organizational Behavior 2nd edition. (2006) McGraw-Hill Irwin.
 
Course Objectives

 

Instructor Biography:
Tom Hirons is an industrial sociologist who teaches, researches, writes, lectures, and consults about human resources information technologies, adult learning, and social intelligence. His work explores the possibilities of organizational transformation and meta-social change through electronic interactions. 

He holds faculty appointments at Portland State University, Linfield College, and Marylhurst University. At the University of Phoenix he serves as a lead faculty member, faculty counsel, and was awarded the honor of Distinguished Faculty Member for the state of Oregon.

He serves as director of college relations on the Oregon State Council for the Society of Human Resource Management, and is chair of Human Resources Information Technology group. Hirons is a certified applied sociologist and lectures widely on the evolution of human resources information technologies, organizational culture and social intelligence. He holds a B.S. in sociology from Fitchburg State College, B.S. Degree in social science from Portland State University, MS in organizational Design and Effectiveness from the Fielding Institute, and Ph.D. in industrial sociology from LaSalle University, he also holds professional certifications in human resource management form Portland State University, and electronic business process management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tom and his wife Kathleen have two children, Tip and Katie. His hobbies are long walks, socializing at the Newberg coffee shop, reading, and following the Boston Red Sox.                           

Assignments

  1. Introductions (10 points)
  2. Four Section Summaries Postings (5 points each)
  3. Four Discussion Questions/Postings (5 points each)
  4. Four Direct Question (5 point each)  
  5. Final Project  (15 points)

                                     ASSIGNMENT BREAKDOWN


Week Number

Assignment Type

Location

Completion 

Possible Points

1 (1/3 to 1/9)

Introductions

Discussion

1/9

10

 

 

 

 

 

2 (1/10 to 1/16)

Discussion Question   1

Discussion

1/15

5

2

Direct Question  1

Drop Box

1/16

5

2

Section Summary 1

Discussion

1/16

10

 

 

 

 

 

3 (1/17 to 1/23)

Discussion Question   2

Discussion

1/22

5

3

Direct Question 2

Drop Box

1/23

5

3

Section Summary 2

Discussion

1/23

10

 

 

 

 

 

4 (1/24 to 1/30)

Discussion Question 3  

Discussion

1/29

5

4

Direct Question 3

Drop Box

1/30

5

4

Section Summary 3

Discussion

1/30

10

 

 

 

 

 

5 (1/31 to 2/7)

Discussion Question  4 

Discussion

2/5

5

5

Direct Question 4

Drop Box

2/7

5

5

Section Summary 4

Discussion

2/7

5

5

Final Project

Drop Box

2/7

15

Total

 

 

 

100

 

Reading Assignments

Week

Readings

Discussion Topics

Points

1  (1/03 to 1/09)

Chapters  1,2,3

Managing People in a Global Economy

10

2  (1/10 to 1/16)

Chapters  4,5,6,7.8

Managing Individuals

10

3  (1/17 to 1/23)

Chapters  9,10,11

Making Decisions and Managing Social Processes

10

4  (1/24 to 1/30)

Chapters  12,13,14

Managing Organizational Processes

10

5  (1/31 to 2/07)

Chapters  15,16

Managing Evolving Organizations

5

 

Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is highly valued at the Linfield College. You must always submit work that represents your original words or ideas. If any words or ideas used in a class posting or assignment submission do not represent your original words or ideas, you must cite all relevant sources and make clear the extent to which such sources were used. Words or ideas that require citation include, but are not limited to, all hard copy or electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an identifiable source.

Grading

100-95 A

 

 76-74 C

94-90

A-

 

73-70

C-

89-87

B+

 

69-67

D+

86-84

B

 

66-64

D

83-80

B-

 

63-60

D-

79-77

C+

 

59 <

F

 

Six things students can do that will really work in this class.

  1. Check-in to the Discussions postings the beginning of each week (Wednesday’s)
  2. Check-in/pick up the “Direct Question” in Assignment Drop Box on Wednesdays, the directions and due dates will be written on each Direct Question assignment.
  3. Try to begin the Discussion Questions early in the week. Directions will be provided on the assignment each week.
  4. Start working your final project early, it’s designed to follow the work flow of our class and will be due on the last class.
  5. Try making your post mindful of the topics, supportive in nature, and try to relate class content to real examples whenever possible.
  6. Follow my lead. What? I’ll post up exactly what’s due, when and where each week. By the third week the flow of the class will become obvious. Basically I’ll post up all the assignments and due dates on Wednesdays. I’ll grade your work each week and send it to you when I grade the direct question.  Hope you enjoy the class and learn lots.