Last updated 12/14/06
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Important Information 
Organizational Behavior
 F2006
R 7:00-9:45
 

THE COURSE

The purpose of the course is to help students understand organizations and to take effective action in them. The field of organization behavior includes a number of different conceptual perspectives.  We will view organizations through four lenses (frames) that encompass much of the existing theory and research on organizations. The idea of "reframing"  guides our learning; the four major diagnostic points of views are: the structural, the human resource, the political, and the symbolic frames.  This organizing schema, developed by Lee Bolman of our Bloch faculty and Terrence  Deal, is the basis for their book, Reframing Organizations. Each frame derives from different assumptions about organizations and each advocates different avenues for action. These four frames encompass much of the existing theory and research about organizations and thus provide  comprehensive and integrated ways to understand behavior in organizations. The course builds on the idea that one's ability to diagnose and engage in successful organizational behavior is enhanced by  "multi-frame" thinking and action. The four frames provide perspectives  relevant across all kinds of organizations: churches, athletic teams, clubs, universities, sororities, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, businesses, and even this class.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE.

• TO UNDERSTAND AND THINK MORE CLEARLY ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF ORGANIZATIONAL LIFE.
• TO BECOME MORE SKILLFUL IN RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS

TEXT

• L. Bolman and T. Deal, Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership. (3rd ed.) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003. Be sure to purchase the third edition.   

HOW WE'LL OPERATE

This course website is deep and thick. Know what is here. Answers to most questions about the class can be found here. If you remain dumfounded, contact the prof.

Activities of the class are organized around the knowledge and skills of "four-frame analysis and action."

You will join others in a learning team and complete an Organizational Field Study (OFS), a major aspect of the course.  The learning teams face the challenging  task of using and integrating the frames by conducting a hands-on OFS where theory meets practice in a "real" organization. Someone in your group will identify the organization to diagnosis. The following links describe the OFS:

• Organization Field Study 
• Work Plan  
• OFS Presentation.
• The establishment of the criteria for grades is the responsibilities of the instructor. I chose to share that responsibility with you. You'll  provide  a portion of the grade for the OFS with your fellow group mates and they, you. See: On Sharing Part of the Grade with Others. 
• See also: Peer Assessment Form and Guidelines and Grading Instructions Summary. You will also take peer assisted assessment exams in your learning teams. See Exam1 and Exam2
• See policy: Attendance, Participation and Helpful Norms
• In some extraordinary circumstances a student may may be unable to engage in group graded activities. Call me for details no later than before the second class.

FORMAL REQUIREMENTS

• Guidelines and Grading Instructions Summary explain the expectations for the formal requirements for this course.  See also the table below, GRADE %'s and DUE DATES. Some of your grade is based on written work. See Writing  before turning in any written work. All deliverables are due at the start of class assigned. Grades are reduced for late submissions.  For help writing, see The Writing Center.
  
• The Schedule provides topics covered by date, required readings, things to prepare for class, downloads,  and due dates of formal requirements. 
  
• There may be a few changes or corrections week-by-week to the schedule of classroom activities. While I attempt to adhere closely to the schedule of class activities, it is sometimes necessary to change them as the course progresses. Review the Schedule weekly.  You are responsible for keeping up with any changes that are made to course requirements throughout the semester.  
  
• The Bulletin Board should also be checked regularly. Announcements and changes in schedule are found there. Additions to the bulletin board  are noted by date on the course Homepage. In some cases, an email may suggest that you  check the schedule and/or bulletin board, so check your email regularly. I will  use your UMKC email address. See: Email registry.
• Review Techno Stuff.
  
• Can't remember where you saw something? Try the Table of Contents.
  
• Office hours  are by appointment. Meeting with me just before class  is sometimes awkward as I'm usually making last minute class preparations.  My goal is 24 hour turnaround for e or voice mail. I prefer talking by phone or using  voice mail rather than writing long email. You may call me at home 913-722-6275 if you can't reach me at my office 816-235-2345.

GRADE %'s and DUE DATES  

• Twenty sections of BMA505 over the last 15 years show a grade distribution of 24% A, 64% B, 8%C, 3%D, 1%F (N=520). Basically this means that 1 in 4 can expect an A,  2 of 3 can expect a B, and the remaining small balance, to varying degrees, either don't belong or don't want to be in graduate school. UMKC policy prohibits publicly posting grades. They are available online. Let me know anytime during the course if you'd like to know your grade status.  I use +/- grading.  UMKC and Bloch have attendance and grading policies. Find and read copies. No changes will be made to final grades after they are submitted to Academic Records at the end of the semester. The only exceptions are if you have made prior arrangements with me to take an "incomplete" for the semester or I have made an error in calculating your grade. Of course, you may always appeal any instructor's grade if you believe "capricious grading" occurred by following Bloch and UMKC guidelines for appeal.

OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF 

• Special Notes: disabilities, weather and class cancellation, withdraw, academic honesty, grade appeal
• International Students and Cross Cultural Learning 
• Attendance,Participation, Helpful Norms
• Website and Course  Email