1339 Organizational Behaviour

COURSE AUTHOR
Professor Alan Saks, University of Toronto

COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Rachel Lau

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces concepts, theories and models of individual and group behaviour within
organizations as they affect organizational and individual outcomes. Multimedia lectures,
readings and case discussions are employed to develop theoretical frameworks and practice
their use.

REQUIRED TEXTS
Johns, G., and Saks, A., Organizational Behaviour: Understanding and Managing Life at Work,
12th Edition, Pearson Education 2023, ISBN 0137318146

Hoffman, R., and Ruemper, F., Organization Behaviour: Canadian Cases and Exercises, Seventh
Edition, Captus Press 2010 (Download cases from the course site.)

COURSE CONTENTS
Multimedia Lectures by Professor Alan Saks, University of Toronto

Unit 1: Introduction

Learning Objectives
To understand the role of individual and group behaviour within organizations and how
organizations are affected by the external environment.

Modules

 What is Organizational Behaviour?

 Organizational Behaviour and Effectiveness
 The Open Systems Concept of the Organization
 The External Environment

READINGS: Johns and Saks, Chapter 1

Case: Purpose And Analysis Of Case Studies

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Unit 2: Organizational Structure

Learning Objectives: To identify the structure of organization, recognize the characteristics of

different structural types, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

Modules

 Organizational Structure and the Division of Labour

 Departmentation
 Structural Characteristics
 Contemporary Organizational Structures

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 14

Unit 3 : Communication

Learning Objectives: To understand the importance, nature and components of

communication, its organizational purposes, and what factors determine its effectiveness.

Modules

 The Communication Process

 Communication in Organizations
 Communication Mediums
 Strategies for Improving Communication

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 10

Unit 4: Personality, Learning and Organizational Behaviour

Learning Objectives: To appreciate the role that personality plays in organizational behaviour.
To identify and understand the forms of learning that can and should take place within
organizations.

Modules

 Personality and Organizational Behaviour

 Personality Dimensions and Organizational Behaviour
 Recent Developments in Personality and Organizational Behaviour
 Learning and Organizational Behaviour

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 2

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Unit 5: Theories of Work Motivation

Learning Objectives: To appreciate that all conscious behaviour results from motivational
forces and to understand theories that explain the diverse behaviours, both functional and
dysfunctional with respect to the organization, that result from motivational states.

Modules

 What is Work Motivation?

 Need Theories of Work Motivation
 Process Theories of Motivation: Expectancy Theory
 Process Theories of Motivation: Equity Theory and Goal Setting Theory

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 5

Unit 6: Motivation at Work

Learning Objectives: To apply the contents of Unit 5 to assess the efficacy of various
organizational processes and policies to foster an effective motivational climate for its
employees.

Modules

 Money as a Motivator for Individuals

 Money as a Motivator for Groups
 Management by Objectives
 Flexible Work Arrangements

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 6

Unit 7: Leadership

Learning Objectives: To appreciate the role of a leader as the facilitator and mediator between
individual behaviour and organizational effectiveness; and to understand how the behaviour of
the leader (leadership style), the situation of the work group, and the motivational state of the
employees mutually interact to determine workgroup effectiveness.

 What is Leadership?
 Situational Theories of Leadership
 Advances in Leadership Theory
 Culture and Global Leadership

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 9

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Unit 8: Groups and Work Teams

Learning Objectives: To recognize the formally determined and informally generated dynamics
that occur within workgroups; and how these dynamics play a central role in workgroup
effectiveness and individual outcomes.

Modules

 Groups and Group Development

 The Structure of Groups
 Designing Effective Work Teams
 Virtual Teams

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 7

Units 9: Decision Making

Learning Objectives: To understand the nature and processes of the modes of decision-making
that occur within organizations and the impact of the selection of modes upon individual and
organizational outcomes.

Modules

 The Nature of Decision Making

 Individual Decision-Making
 Group Decision-Making
 Strategies for Improving Decision Making

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 11

Unit 10: Job Design

Learning Objectives: To identify the components of job design and the influence of job design
upon motivational states and performance.

Modules

 What is Job Design?

 Job Enrichment
 The Job Characteristics Model
 New Developments in Job Design

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 6

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Unit 11: Values, Attitudes, and Work Behaviour

Learning Objectives: To identify values, attitudes and perception and the role they play in
personal beliefs and interpersonal behaviour. To understand the nature and importance of job
satisfaction and organizational commitments; and how these qualities link to previous topics
covered in the course.

Modules

 Values and Attitudes

 What is Job Satisfaction?
 Theories of Job Satisfaction
 What is Organizational Commitment?

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 4

Unit 12: Organizational Change and Development

Learning Objectives: To identify organizational culture, its components and genesis, and to
understand how it mediates behaviour and organizational outcomes. To understand the
challenges, nature and roles of creativity and innovation. To develop an introductory
understanding of the factors affecting the success or failure of organizational change.

Modules

 What is Organizational Change?

 The Change Process
 Resistance to Change
 Organizational Development

READINGS: Johns & Saks, Chapter 15

Learning Aids
Self help quiz attached to each unit of the course.

Participation
Discussion board moderated and graded by the instructor. Students are required to post at
least 3 substantial submissions (400 words or more) during the course on assigned questions
(topical and case study based) that demonstrate knowledge and skills congruent with the
Learning Objectives. There will be instructor feedback on all submissions.

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There will also be a General Discussion Board moderated by the instructor in which questions
can be asked on any course topic.

Midterm Paper
A midterm paper of approximately 1500 words to be submitted online approximately 6 weeks
after the start of the course. The instructor shall grade and comment on each paper, which shall
be returned to the student.

Final Examination
Proctored, opened book, online examination consisting of essay question(s) dealing with a case
or situation. Any part of the entire course content may be examined. Government issued photo
identification will be required to verify the student’s identity.

Grade Weightings of Course Components

Participation in Discussion Board: Weighting 10%
Midterm Paper: Weighting 35%
Final Examination: Weighting 55%: (It is required to pass the final examination with a grade of
at least 65% in order to pass the course, regardless of grades earned in other components.)

Passing Grade for the Course: 65%