Universität Wien

040061 VK K ORPE: Organizational Behavior (2012S)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 30.03. 13:00 - 14:00 Hörsaal 11
  • Monday 16.04. 15:30 - 19:30 Hörsaal 3
  • Thursday 19.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal 3
  • Thursday 19.04. 16:00 - 20:00 Hörsaal 11
  • Monday 23.04. 09:30 - 11:30 Hörsaal 12
  • Monday 23.04. 12:00 - 14:00 Hörsaal 3
  • Thursday 26.04. 14:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal 3
  • Thursday 26.04. 17:00 - 20:00 Hörsaal 12
  • Thursday 31.05. 15:30 - 16:30 Hörsaal 12
  • Friday 29.06. 15:00 - 17:00 Hörsaal 12

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Organizational behaviour (OB) is an interdisciplinary field which is theoretically grounded in the academic disciplines like psychology, sociology, economics, organization theory, political science, and many others. This course aims at enhancing students’ understanding of the scope of OB as a field of study and its significance in today’s organizational life.

Topics

1. Introduction to organizational behavior
2. Understanding individual behaviour: Learning, perception, and attribution
3. Understanding individual behaviour: Attitudes, values and beliefs
4. Individual differences in Personality and emotions
5. Understanding motivation in the workplace
6. Dynamics of groups and teams
7. Power, influence and politics in organizations
8. Understanding conflicts in the workplace
9. Stress management
10. Leadership: Theories, styles and strategies
11. Organizational culture

Assessment and permitted materials

The final scores shall be calculated from Written Assignments, The Movie Project: Report, Presentation, Final Examination and Participation during the lectures.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The primary goal of this course is to improve students’ understanding of the dynamics/determinants of human behaviour in the organizations. It would mainly focus on the two levels of analysis i.e. the individual behaviour, and the group behaviour. Topics covered will help students to assess how the basic theories of human behaviour may be applied to organizational settings. Successful completion of this course will enable the student(s) to:

1. Explain how an understating of the organizational behaviour can impact the effectiveness and/or performance in the organizations
2. Describe factors (e.g. perception, attitudes, personality, emotions etc.) that influence individuals’ behaviour and performance in the workplace
3. Analyse and improve the motivation of subordinates and team members
4. Discuss the dynamics of groups and work teams including the stages of development, team norms, the elements required to build teams and the effect of individual behaviour on team performance
5. Identify the sources from which individuals in organizations draw their power and discuss the pro’s and con’s of various influence tactics (politics for power)
6. Learn how to anticipate and manage dysfunctional conflict and stress
7. Know what may be the secrets behind the success of various leaders
8. Understand how does an organizational culture promote (or discourage) desirable (individual and/or group) behaviours in the workplace

Examination topics

There will be an equal focus on the understanding and the application of theories of human behaviour.

The Written Assignment

Each student will be required to prepare short written assignments (5 pages) on any two of the following topics;

1. A critical appraisal of your own personality
2. Stressors and the stress management at the University of Vienna
3. An appraisal of the leadership approach/style of a person of your own choice
4. The culture of the University of Vienna

The Movie Project

It is a group assignment. The size of the group will be decided based on the number of enrolments in the course. However, it would be ideal to have 4-5 persons in each group. The group(s) will be assigned any one of the four movies: THE LAST SAMURAE, GLADIATOR, ARMAGEDDON or SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. The students are required to discuss the dynamics of the individuals’ and the group behaviour as discussed during the course meetings. Each group will compile a 20-30 pages report and will be required to make an oral presentation regarding the same in the last session of this course.

Reading list

Organizational Behaviour (10th Edition) by Stephens P. Robins, Prentice Hall
Organizational Behaviour by Fred Luthans (2006), McGraw-Hill

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:28