Sonja Scobie
Business School
The University of Adelaide, AUSTRALIA 5005
Ph : 0412 373 204
Fax : +61 8 8223 4782
e-mail: sonja.scobie@iqapplications.com.au
Skype: scosen24

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from the Course Planner at https://access.adelaide.edu.au/courses/search.asp

The course seeks to provide a learning environment in which students can:

1. Develop a thorough knowledge and understanding of organisational behaviour;
2. Research, analyse and evaluate information from a wide variety of sources;
3. Analyse and apply theories, concepts and models in relation to organisational environments, cases and issues;
4. Communicate findings in an appropriate and effective format;
5. Engage in collegial online learning and constructively communicate in group discussions; and
6. Develop lifelong tools for problem solving.

Robbins, SP, Judge, TA, Millett, B & Boyle, M 2011, Organisational Behaviour 6th edn, Pearson, French's Forest, NSW.

Students are encouraged to read beyond the textbook to enhance the learning experience. Journal articles can be accessed using the online databases.

Two useful databases are:
EmeraldFulltext
Business Source Complete

The following list provides useful academic journals for further research.
Academy of Management Executive
Academy of Management Journal
Academy of Management Perspectives
(formerly Academy of Management Review)
Administrative Science Quarterly
Harvard Business Review
Human Relations
Journal of Applied Psychology
Journal of Organizational Behavior
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Organization Science
Organization Dynamics
Personnel Psychology

Material available through online management system - LEARN.

This course will be taught online. Students are expected to contribute to online discussions and complete the required reading and exercises for each week.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The University expects you to commit approximately 9 hours for a three-unit course

This course will be taught as 3 modules with an introductory topic.

Module	Category	Topic
Introduction		What is OB?
Module 1	The Individual	Attitudes and Job satisfaction Personality and values Emotions and Moods Perception and decision making Motivation and empowerment
Module 2	The Group	Communication/ Conflict and negotiation Groups and Teams Leadership Power and politics
Module 3	The Organisation	Change and Stress management Organisational culture

Collegiality is an important component of the online learning environment. It is expected that students actively participate in the online discussions and contribute to activities to ensure the course functions effectively.

Assessment	Due date	Weighting	Related course learning outcomes
Reflective journal	3 x 500 words Journal 1 due – Day 7/Week 4 Journal 2 due – Day 7/Week 7 Journal 3 due – Day 7/Week 10	45%	1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Case Study	2000 words Due Day 7/Week 8	40%	1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Discussion contribution	Ongoing	15%	1, 3, 5 and 6

All assignments are to be lodged prior to the due date and time. A late assignment where no extension has been granted will be penalised by a reduction of 5% of the mark given for each day, or part of a day, that it is late.

Reflective Journal
The reflective journal provides an opportunity to reflect on your behaviour, analyse course material that relates to your behaviour and develop strategies that may increase your effectiveness as a current or future manager.

The journal assesses your understanding of OB concepts and how you analyse and apply them to your own behaviour.

Assignment Instructions
There are three reflective journals to complete and each journal is based on a specific topic area in the course.

Journal 1 – Decision making

Journal 2 – Motivation

Journal 3 – Organisational culture

Each reflective journal is 800-1000 words and must include the following parts:

1. Reflection
   A brief overview of a situation in which the relevant concept was demonstrated (for example, a situation in which there was a barrier to effective communication). A workplace situation is preferred, however, you may choose a personal example if necessary.
   
   Do not provide too much detail in this section, a brief overview of the situation only (approx 10% of word count).
2. Analysis
   Integrate theories and concepts you have covered in the course and your research that can be used to analyse your behaviour in the situation (approx 50% of word count).
3. Implementation
   An overview of strategies drawn from the analysis to improve your behaviour and a brief action plan for the implementation of the strategies. For example, it is not sufficient to state that you need to improve your communication skills, rather, you need to address in which area of communication you have difficulty and discuss methods for improving these. It may be useful to develop a table for your implementation strategies that includes what needs improving, how you will improve it and an opportunity when you can implement the strategy. The more specific the action plan the more likely it will be implemented (approx 40% of word count).

A minimum of four references is expected for each reflective journal (these may include the textbook and suggested readings). Please note, if you use the same reference for more than one journal then that reference can be included in the reference count for only one journal.

Reflective Journal Grading Criteria	Weight
Reflection Choice of relevant situation	10
Analysis Choice of appropriate concepts and/or theories Integration of referenced theories/concepts with the situation Conclusions drawn from analysis, for example, how effective was your behaviour in the situation	40
Implementation Development of relevant and specific strategies Realistic and relevant action plan(s)	40
Format Overall quality of presentation (spelling, grammar, clarity and appropriate referencing )	10
Total	100%

Case Study
The case study provides an opportunity to see organisational behaviour in action and analyse the consequences of behaviour in a specific workplace.
The case study will assess your ability to analyse a workplace situation and integrate relevant theory with case examples.
The case study should be written as a short structured 2000 word essay.

Include the following sections in your essay:

1. Introduction
   Ensure you include a brief overview of the case study and key issues.
2. Discussion
   This section should provide an analysis of the questions. The analysis should follow the order of the questions.
   
   Do not use the questions as headings. Headings and sub-headings should reflect the core concept or process under discussion.
3. Conclusion
4. Reference list

A minimum of eight references is required.

Case study Grading Criteria	Weight
Overview of case and statement of key issues	5
Demonstrates an appropriate choice of course concepts relevant to the case study questions.	20
Demonstrates critical thinking and insight in addressing the questions.	60
Format Overall quality of presentation (spelling, grammar, clarity and appropriate referencing ) Consistent flow between case study questions	10 5
Total	100%

Discussion contribution

Students are expected to contribute to the class discussion in a substantive way each week. Substantive participation includes responses to discussion questions as well as discourse between students related to the subject matter. Substantive responses must be based upon the course content, theory or personal experiences, not mere opinion. A simple "I agree" will not count. Examples of substantive participation do not include posting of assignments or a question you might have for the facilitator or the group. Posting assignments or emails to students and/or teaching staff outside of classroom threads does not count as discussion participation. Substantive responses should also include appropriate documentation/citation where appropriate.

As a general rule, students need to post at least 2-3 substantive responses each week beyond the posting of assignments. However, students should not be limited in the number of discussion postings that they contribute each week. Quantity is considered important, but the quality of the responses is even more important.

Students are expected to read all discussion area postings. The quality of the student responses will be graded. Students will earn participation grades based upon the quality of their responses to both weekly learning activities and discussion questions.

 Discussion Contribution: Grading Criteria

Criterion	Weight
Discussion
Response demonstrates critical thinking and insight.	15
Response indicates you understand the assignment and the underlying concepts.	20
Student response to question met minimum substantive expectations	15
Demonstrated appropriate writing style and language choice.	10
Participation
Posted required subsequent responses to posts of your classmates, or to responses to your initial post—responses are substantive in nature (at least 100 words).	15
Responses indicate critical thinking and constructive feedback and meaningful inputs to the discussion.	15
Demonstrated quality of writing and concise language choice.	10
TOTAL	100%

1. Extensions to the due date of individual assessment may be granted under special circumstances. An extension request based on illness or on exceptional personal circumstances must include the "Supporting Statement / Certification Form" that is page 4 of the Supplementary Assessment application available at: www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/pdfs/supp_applic.pdf
2. Students applying for an extension based on medical reasons must visit their medical practitioner, with that approved University form, and have the medical practitioner complete it. A normal doctor's certificate will not be accepted. For supplementary examination on compassionate grounds refer to: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/pdfs/supp_applic.pdf
3. Quality of English expression is considered to be an integral part of the assessment process. Marks may be deducted because of grammar and spelling.

Presentation of Assignments

• Please must retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
• Assignments are to be submitted in soft copy formats. Soft copies should be submitted via the DropBox function. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that soft copies of assignments have been received by the teaching staff.
• Lecturers can refuse to accept assignments, which have not acknowledged the University’s policy on plagiarism.

Assignment Guidelines including Referencing Details
A copy of the Postgraduate Programs: Communication Skills Guide will have been given to you at the beginning of your program. This guide will assist you structure your assignments. A copy of the guide can also be downloaded from the “Assignment Requirements and Supplementary Resources” section or from http://www.adelaide.edu.au/professions/hub/downloads/MBA-Communication-Skills-Guide-2014.pdf

This publication also provides guidelines on a range of other important communication skills including writing essays and management reports, making oral presentations etc.
In preparing any written piece of assessment for your postgraduate studies it is important to draw on the relevant ‘literature’ to support critical analysis. Also essential is to reference the literature used. Correct referencing is important because it identifies the source of the ideas and arguments that you present, and sometimes the source of the actual words you use, and helps to avoid the problem of plagiarism. (Further information on plagiarism is provided later in this course outline.)
The Harvard system is widely used in the Business School. Guidelines for the use of this style of referencing can be found in the Communication Skills Guide.
Further assistance with referencing is available from the Faculty’s Learning Support Advisors. The contact details are provided on page 6 of the Communication Skills Guide.

Late Assignment Submission
Students are expected to submit their work by the due date to maintain a fair and equitable system. Extensions will generally only be given for medical or other serious reasons. All requests for extensions must be emailed to the lecturer in charge of the course before the due date. Each request will be assessed on its merits. A late assignment (without prior arrangement) will be penalised by a 5% mark reduction for each day that it is late.

Return of Assignments
Lecturer’s aim to mark and return assignments to students within two (2) weeks of the due date with written feedback.