Units

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Sample subject outline - 6 Week Teaching Period - 1 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The success of an organisation depends entirely upon the actions of those within it. The individual's behaviour may be affected by many factors. The working environment, the groups he/she interacts with, the rules and roles within which he/she must operate, authority structures and the individual's own perspectives are but a few. The practicing manager needs to understand these factors if he/she is to accurately assess the needs of working individuals.

Aims

The mission of the MBA and associated programs is to provide world class graduate business education and a stimulating learning experience to current and future business leaders and managers. This unit promotes an understanding of organisational perspectives, the analysis of human behaviour at work; and exploration of individual differences, motivation and empowerment, managing groups in organisations; and examines topics such as power and politics, conflict and negotiation, job design, goal setting, alternative work arrangements, and stress in the workplace.

Objectives

Course Learning Goals (Postgraduate)

The Faculty of Business has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:

Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)

1.1 Well-researched knowledge and critical understanding applied to issues at the forefront of a specialised discipline area
1.2 Ability to select and use effectively a range of tools and technologies to locate and/or generate information appropriate to the disciplinary context

Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)

2.1 Apply logical, critical and creative thinking and judgement to generate appropriate solutions to problems in the disciplinary context

Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)

3.1 Ability to create and present professional documents and/or reports using high levels of analysis/synthesis/evaluation for a range of contexts and audiences
3.2 Ability to orally communicate and justify ideas and information, at a professional level, for a variety of contexts and audiences, including peers and discipline specialists

Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)

4.1 Operate effectively and with flexibility to achieve common goals in collaborative settings, using a range of skills, including leadership, negotiation, reflection, proactivity and support for team members

Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)

5.1 Apply knowledge of the ethical, social and cultural dimensions relevant to business situations, including appropriate standards or codes of practice, to provide courses of action

Discipline Knowledge

On completing this unit, you will be able to:

1. Understand the various perspectives of organisational theory and practice. (KS1.1 (MBA 1); CTA2.1 (MBA 5)).
2. Understand many of the factors which impact upon the behaviour of individuals at work. (KS1.1 (MBA 1); TW4.1 (MBA 6); PC3.1 (MBA 3)).

Content

Students will learn organisational behaviour concepts and theory, and how to apply them to understand and influence the behaviour of people in organisations. The unit provides students with an overview of key individual, group and organisational concepts within this field.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit presented to students is based on a variety of readings including journal articles and relevant chapters (available from the Blackboard site)

There is a commitment to critical inquiry and intellectual debate in regard to the material covered, and students are encouraged to relate the theories and research discussed to situations known to them. Expanding the awareness of Australian management policies and practices into intercultural and international perspectives is fostered.

Students are expected to have read the written material before each class meeting, to facilitate discussion.

Typically, students enrolling in this unit have extremely varied backgrounds. There is diversity of professional background and sociocultural backgrounds. Students are reminded that this is to their advantage and they have much to learn from one another. To this end, students are strongly encouraged to be sensitive to cultural, gender-related and international issues.

Note: The GSN409 Blackboard site can be accessed only with the use of your QUT access username and password.

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: Description: Each group will critically analyse a case using specific organisational behaviour theories covered in the first three sessions of class. The group will submit one report to the instructor. You will form groups in the first session of class. If you are unable to attend the first session, please contact other members of your cohort to join a group.
Length/Duration: 2,000 words
Formative/Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: 1,2 and AoL goals: KS 1.1, CTA 2.1, PC 3.1 and TW 4.1
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: After Module 3

Assessment name: Exam
Description: Description: You will be required to analyse a case. In the analysis you are expected to identify the problems and the causes, and the recommended solutions. The exam will be open book, open hard drive. The use of a laptop is encouraged.
Length/Duration: 2 hours + perusal
Formative/Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: 1,2 and AoL goals: KS 1.1, CTA 2.1 and SEU 5.1
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: After Module 6

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.

Resource materials

Prescribed text:
Wood, J., Zeffane, R.M, Fromholtz, M. and Fitzgerald, J. (2010) Organisational Behaviour: Core concepts and applications, 2nd Aust. ed., Brisbane: John Wiley & Sons.
Other resources:
GSN409 Organisational Behaviour 1 Study Guide. The study guide is available electronically on the Blackboard site.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the
view the Emergency video.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 19-Dec-2011