Lahore University of Management Sciences

ORSC 201 Organizational Behaviour

Fall Semester 2015
Instructor Muhammad Osama Nasim Mirza
Room No. Room No. 421, SDSB Building.
Office Hours TBA
Email osama.nasim@lums.edu.pk
Telephone Ext: 8469
Secretary/TA Mr. Hassan Haider
TA Office Hours TBA
Course URL (if any) Suraj.lums.edu.pk

COURSE BASICS
Credit Hours 3
Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 Duration 75 Minutes
Recitation/Lab (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week - Duration -
Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week - Duration -

COURSE DISTRIBUTION
Core Yes
Elective -
Open for Student Category -
Close for Student Category -

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Organizational Behavior is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior
within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge towards improving an organizations effectiveness. This course
focuses on such topics as leadership skills, personality, interpersonal communication, motivation, team building, organizational
change and culture.

COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)

NIL

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The course is designed to develop knowledge and skills in the field of organizational behavior. It will provide the
understanding of how and why individuals behave in specific patterns in organizational context.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES
After taking this course you will:
Learn some of the most important organizational theories
Understand the drivers of human behavior in organizational context.
Understand various organizational change initiatives.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS & OBJECTIVES

General Learning Goals & Objectives
Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral Communication
Objective: Students will demonstrate effective writing and oral communication skills
Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and Reasoning
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify and address ethical issues in an
organizational context.
Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to identify key problems and generate viable
solutions.
Goal 4 Application of Information Technology
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to use current technologies in business and
management context.
Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and Multicultural Environments
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they are able to work effectively in diverse environments.
Goal 6 Understanding Organizational Ecosystems
Objective: Students will demonstrate that they have an understanding of Economic, Political, Regulatory,
Legal, Technological, and Social environment of organizations.
Major Specific Learning Goals & Objectives
Goal 7 (a) Program Specific Knowledge and Understanding
Objective: Students will demonstrate knowledge of key business disciplines and how they interact
including application to real world situations (Including subject knowledge).
Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science behind the decision-making process (for MGS Majors)
Objective: Students will demonstrate ability to analyze a business problem, design and apply appropriate
decision-support tools, interpret results and make meaningful recommendations to support the decision-
maker

How the course learning objectives specifically relate to program learning goals and objectives.

PROGRAM LEARNING GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Effective Written and Oral
Communication
Goal 2 Ethical Understanding and
Reasoning
Goal 3 Analytical Thinking and
Problem Solving Skills
Goal 4 Application of Information
Technology
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Although not a core learning objective of this
course, written and oral communication will
be frequently used and tested.
Major Goal: CLO # 3 (Prepare students for
taking decisions to solve human related
problems)
COURSE ASSESSMENT ITEM
Written: Project, Quizzes, & Exam.
Oral: CP, & Presentations.
Fair and Ethical treatment and
grading of students.
CP and Project
Preparing and delivering project
and presentation.
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Goal 5 Teamwork in Diverse and Although not a core learning objective of this Group Project & Group
Multicultural Environments course, students will work in diverse teams to Presentation
complete group project & presentation.
Goal 6 Understanding Organizational Major Goal: CLO # 2 (Familiarize students All Instruments
Ecosystems with the factors at personal, group and
organizational level that affect human

Goal 7 (a) Discipline Specific
Knowledge and Understanding
Goal 7 (b) Understanding the science
behind the decision-making process
Major Goal: CLO # 1 (Expose students with All Instruments
the theoretical underpinnings of the field of
organizational behavior).
CLO # 2 (Familiarize students with the
factors at personal, group and organizational
level that affect human behavior in
organizational settings)
Major Goal: CLO # 3 (Prepare students for All Instruments
taking decisions to solve human related
problems.

GRADING BREAKUP AND POLICY

Project: 20%
Quiz(s): 15% N-1 policy applies for grading
Class Participation: 10%
Attendance: 05% Maximum 3 absences (including petitions) allowed. From 4th absence, there will be 1% negative
grading in place.
Midterm Examination: 25%
Final Examination: 25%

EXAMINATION DETAIL
Yes/No: Yes
Midterm Combine Separate: Separate
Exam Duration: 90 minutes
Exam Specifications: TBA
Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate: Separate
Final Exam Duration: 90 minutes
Exam Specifications: TBA

COURSE OVERVIEW
Recommended Objectives/
Lecture Topics
Readings Application
1 Intro to the course Intro to course outline.

2 What is Organizational Behavior? Chapter 1 Getting students familiar with OB.

3 Attitudes and Job Satisfaction Chapter 3 Explaining why these attitudes are important.
Briefing students about the research on these topics.
4 Emotions and Moods Chapter 4 Explaining why emotions are important in organizational
context. Introduction of emotions taxonomy.
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5 Emotional Intelligence What Makes a Introduction to the concept of EQ, its dimensions and
Leader (Goleman) its importance in managing people
6 Personality and Values Chapter 5 Explaining the role of personality as a predictor of human
behavior.
7 Personality and Values Case or Exercise Case / Exercise Explaining the role of personality as a predictor of human
behavior.
8 Perception and Individual Decision Chapter 6 Explaining how individuals interpret and process
making information and use it for decision making.
9 (C/E)
Motivation Concepts Chapter 7 Explaining why motivation is important in organizational
contact.
10 Motivation Application Chapter 8 Introducinghow
Explaining the motivation
classical motivation theories
theories can to the in the
be applied
students.
organizations.
11 Motivation Application Case / Exercise Explaining how motivation theories can be applied in the
organizations.
12 Foundations of Group Behavior Chapter 9 Explaining why individuals exhibit specific behavior when
in teams/ groups.
13 Understanding Work Teams Chapter 10 Explaining the stages in team formation and their
performance patterns.
14 MID TERM EXAM
15 Brief Project Presentation All groups will prepare and give a 5 minute presentation
on their group projects
16 Leadership Chapter 12 Explaining the importance of leadership in organizational
context.
Introduction of Leadership theories.
17 Leadership Case / Exercise Explaining the importance of leadership in organizational
context.
Introduction of Leadership theories.
18 Power and Politics Chapter 13 Introduction to the concepts of power and politics in
organizational context.
Introduction to various sources of power.
19 Diversity in Organizations Chapter 2 Issues in the management of a diverse workforce.
Understanding the dynamics of a diverse workforce.
20 Conflict Chapter 14 Introduction of various factors that initiate / influence
conflicts.
21 Negotiation Chapter 14 Introduction to the factors that affect the negotiation
process and its outcomes.
22 Organizational Culture Chapter 16 Explaining how organizations acquire and retain specific
cultures.
23 Organizational Culture Case / Exercise Explaining how organizations acquire and retain specific
cultures.
24 Organizational Change Chapter 17 Explaining why organizations need change. Introduction to
various organizational change initiatives.
25 Stress Management Chapter 17 Introducing the important sources of stress, methods to
deal with stress and the effects of stress.
26 Project Presentations Students will present group project findings.
27 Project Presentations Students will present group project findings.
28 Project Presentations Students will present group project findings.
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USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE METHOD OF INSTRUCTION, GRADING INSTRUMENTS AND SOME USEFUL HINTS.
Presentation / Project:
To be discussed in the class. A detailed guideline for group project will be shared through email.
Method of instructions:
Class will consist of lectures, discussions, videos, cases and activities to enrich learning.
As class discussions play a significant role in learning and understanding of the subject, it is your responsibility to adjust your
personal schedules and ensure your active presence in all the class sessions. It is essential that you:

1. Prepare for the classes. Please read the assigned reading(s) before each class.
2. Attend all classes.
3. Actively contribute to class discussions and activities.
4. Thoroughly and thoughtfully complete assignments.
In addition to reading each chapter before it is covered in class, to enhance your learning you should do the following:
1. After reading the chapter opening (a one to two page incident at the beginning of each chapter), think about what
occurred and why. When you are finished reading the chapter, you should be able to explain what happened, using the
concepts in the chapter.
2. Complete, and when possible, score, the experiential exercise at the end of each chapter. Think through how this
information can be helpful to you on a personal and professional level.
Group assignments / project
To be discussed and decided in the class
Class participation
Class Contribution is and can be:
Making observations that integrate concepts and discussions, Citing relevant personal examples,
Being an active participant in group discussions,
Working with others to come to a common understanding of the topics.
By extension, contribution is not continuously dominating the class and group discussions. It also means listening to what others
say they have a right to contribute (and you may learn something!). Contribution is not coming to class unprepared and
illequipped to intelligently discuss the topic of the day. Contribution is not repeating the points others just made to get the CP
credit.
Working in Teams
Students frequently complain about having to work on group assignments. The primary reasons for these complaints are (a) often
some members will "drag their feet" and force others to pick up the slack, and (b) interpersonal conflicts arise in the group context.
Although there is certainly some merit to these complaints, we insist on incorporating the group projects as a significant element in
the course because of two major considerations.

First, this course is about human behavior in organizational settings. Learning about the concepts in this course (as is true of the
concepts in most any course) is facilitated by permitting direct experience with them. Thus, by forming miniorganizations in each
class meeting, you are given a greater chance to directly experience some of the things you are trying to learn about. Second, the
vast majority of you will find yourself if you haven't already done so working in groups at some time or another (in fact, many
of you will spend the majority of your working lives as members of a group). There is no chance whatsoever that you will avoid
slacking group members and interpersonal conflict after college. Why not face the music and start now to learn how to cope with
these frustrating elements of group work?
Plagiarism
Universitys ethics code applies.
Helpful hints
As a leader in an organization, you are going to have to be clear and precise in both your oral and written communications. People
with whom you communicate will continually be suffering from information overload. Therefore, you will have to organize your
thoughts clearly and make your points logical, brief and with supporting rationale. This leads to the following suggestions:
1. Organize your presentation well. What is the main point? How will you support it?
2. Link your ideas to class concepts. Integrate with other readings, speakers, etc.
3. Show your own independent thinking. Focus on new understandings.
Present your ideas cleanly, clearly, and logically. Style is important.
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TEXTBOOK(S)/SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Stephen P. Robbins, Timothy Judge & Neharika Vohra, Organizational Behavior, 15th edition (Pearson Education 2013)

The course will also comprise of readings and articles from other sources, such as business magazines, national dailies / journals,
classics in OB and management, popular media, best sellers etc. These will be announced in class and material will be made
available either electronically (via LMS) or through LUMS photocopier.