Psychology 360
Introduction to Organizational Psychology
Fall 1999
Instructors: Lee, Boudens, Dixon, Myers, Worline
Course Description: Organizations are complex networks of social relationships--relationships between individuals, within groups, and between groups. In this course, we will examine individual, relational, and group behaviors in organizations. In the first half of the semester, we focus on individual and one-on-one (dyadic) relations. In the second half of the semester, we focus on dynamics within and between groups.
Prerequisites: (1) Psych 111, (2) Must attend third section (9/29-10/4).
Required Materials:
1. N&M: Nahavandi, A., & Malekzadeh, A. (1999). Organizational Behavior: The Person Organization Fit . New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
2. LCP: Lee Coursepack available at Dollar Bill Copying (611 Church Street).
Course requirements:
Exam I (25%) and Exam II (25%): Exams will be in the format of multiple choice, short identifications, and short essays. The best way to prepare for exams is to stay on top of the lecture material, section discussions, and readings.
Group Project (25%): The project requires groups to observe and analyze the interpersonal relations within an organization of your choice. There is a separate handout for details. The project is broken down into the following smaller assignments:
Project proposal: 5%
Midpoint report: 5%
Final report: 15%
Class participation (25%): You will have no problem performing well on participation if you satisfy the following PACT:
1. Prepare for class--complete readings for the week before lecture and section.
2. Attend class—show up for lectures and sections; because of the interactive format of the sections, you cannot make up for a missed section.
3. Contribute actively to discussions and exercises in sections.
4. Thoughtfully evaluate the readings and come to section meetings with comments, questions, and critiques.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Week 1:
9/9: Overview
Readings: N&M: Chapter 1
Week 2:
9/14: Personality Types
9/16: Managing Diversity
Readings: N&M: Chapter 4, LCP: "Give me an E. Give me an S"
Week 3:
9/21: Self presentation
9/23: Minority Influence
Readings: N&M: Chapter 5, LCP: "The tradeoff of social control and innovation in groups and organizations"
Week 4:
9/28: Rewards and reinforcement
9/30: Intrinsic Motivation
Readings: N&M: Chapter 6, LCP: "Why incentive plans cannot work", LCP: "On the folly of rewarding A…"
Week 5:
10/5: What is power?
10/7: Networks and networking
Readings: N&M: Chapter 11, LCP: "Managing up, down, and sideways"
Week 6: Communication
10/12: Barriers to Communication
10/14: Open communication
Readings: N&M: Chapter 12, LCP: "Good communication that blocks leaning"
10/11 Project Proposal Due
Week 7: Leadership
10/19: Theories of leadership
10/21: Functional leadership
Readings: N&M: Chapter 9, LCP: "Profiles of strategic vision: Levesque and Iacocca"
Week 8
10/26: Exam 1
10/28: Beyond individuals to groups
Week 9: Group development
11/2: Group beginnings
11/4: Stages of development
Readings: N&M: Chapter 7, LCP: "Airline cockpit crew"
11/5 Project Midpoint Report Due
Week 10: Group decision making
11/9: Content: What groups do
11/11: Process: Gains and losses
Readings: N&M: Chapter 10, LCP: "The trouble with teams"
Week 11: Group effectiveness
11/16:Conditions for effectiveness
11/18: Mood and group behavior
Readings: N&M: Chapter 15, N&M: Chapter 8
Week 12: Intergroup dynamics
11/23: Intergroup dynamics
11/25: THANKSGIVING
Readings: LCP: "An intergroup perspective on individual behavior"
Week 13: Reducing intergroup conflict
11/30: Process interventions
12/2: Negotiation
Readings: N&M: Chapter 13, LCP: "Managing conflict among groups"
Week 14: Culture in organizations
12/7: Culture in organizations
12/9: Exam 2
Readings: N&M: Chapter 3
12/17 Project Final Report Due