Overview Objective Materials grading Exam ELI Policies and Procedures Contacting the Instructor Beginning the Course
 
BUS 201 / PSY 126 - Organizational Behavior /
Psychology for Business and Industry - 3 Credits
Professor: Terri Swetnam

Overview

This course will focus on understanding of human behavior patterns and motivation, conflict management and resolution, group process and functioning, decision making, and the importance of recognizing and managing change.  Other considerations will be the application of psychological research on interpersonal communications, employee relationships and the selection, training, supervision and evaluation of personnel.

Prerequisites: The following are suggested skills that would assist you in being successful in this course:

    • Eligibility for (or completion of) English 111 or equivalent
    • Working knowledge of basic internet, email and Microsoft Word
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Objectives

 

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the characteristics common to all organizations and explain why organizations come to exist.
  • Describe how situational factors and group structure (i.e. size and task) affect group process, satisfaction and productivity.
  • Describe what it is that people bring to organizations.
  • Discuss motivation and its importance as it relates to topics such as leadership, stress, job satisfaction, and conflict.
  • Describe the similarities and differences between individual and group decision making processes.
  • Describe the concepts of roles, norms, status and how they affect and are affected by the organization.
  • Describe the concepts of power and influence and discuss how these affect organizational effectiveness, decision-making, leadership, etc.
  • Describe the process of selection, placement, supervision and evaluation and discuss the role of managers in maintaining the performance of effective employees.
  • Describe the probable effects of behavioral decisions on an organization.
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Materials

 

Required Texts
The required textbook for this course is:

  • Robbins, Stephen P. Organizational Behavior with Self Assessement CD , 12th Edition. Prentice Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ.

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Call before going to a campus bookstore to make sure the materials are in stock. If you don't see what you need, ask for assistance. Each bookstore has a separate section for ELI courses. Print this page and take it with you to avoid confusion.
 

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Grading
 

Please note: The number of points outlined for each assignment represents the maximum allowable points that will be awarded in terms of the quality, accuracy and promptness of each assignment. Failure to comply with these standards will result in a reduction of points.

ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
Introductory e-mail / Discussion Board
15
OB Journal Entries (5 @ 25 points each)
125
Case Study Assignments (2 @ 100 points each)
200
Writing Assignment
100
Quizzes (8 @ 10 points each)
80
Examinations (4 @ 100 points each)
400
Total
920

Case Studies:  For these application exercises, it is important that you provide not only your opinions about the cases, but also apply the theoretical concepts you have learned from your readings.  Your responses will not be complete without evidence of both theory as well as practical knowledge.

Exams :  Exam must be taken at NVCC Campus Testing Center .  They will cover material that is covered in your textbook and will consist of multiple-choice and true/false questions.

OB Journal Entries:  Your journal entries provide you with an opportunity to apply OB concepts and theories to your own personal/professional experiences.  It is my hope that this experiential learning process will assist you in mastering concepts and making real world connections to theories that you learn in this course.  In addition to making a concerted effort to applying concepts from relevant chapters, your entries must include a brief description of the personal/professional example you are using, a clearly stated link to an OB theme or concept as well as your reaction to the incident and a suggestion for an alternative outcome.

Quizzes:  Quizzes will cover material that is covered in your textbook. Quizzes will consist of multiple-choice and true/false questions.

Writing Assignments:  This assignment will consist of reviewing an article from a professional journal.  You are extended the opportunity to submit a draft in advance to ensure that the final version of the assignments will meet minimum grade standards.

Note :   Please discuss any special concerns or needs with your instructor during the first two weeks of the semester.  Students needing accommodations due to a diagnosed and documented disability should provide an accommodations request form which can be obtained from the Counselor for Students with Disabilities at your home campus counseling center.

Note : Students who do not send in the first assignment by the Last Date for Withdrawal will be administratively withdrawn.

Your final grade will be based on the following scale. Please note that you must also pass at least two of the three exams in order to pass the course, regardless of your scores on the other assignments.

Grades Points
A
828+ higher
B
827-736
C
735-644
D
643-552
F
551 or fewer points

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Exams

 

All exams are online and closed book.  Examinations will cover material that is covered in your textbook, your written assignments and any internet exercises that you may be given.  Exams will consist of multiple-choice and true/false questions. 

You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. Testing Centers will NOT let you take an exam if you bring your children.  This is an issue of liability.

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

At all Testing Centers, you will be required to show photo identification to take your examination. This may be an official driver's license, a DMV ID, or a military ID. You will also be required to provide the appropriate Exam Pass found on your course web site or in the Syllabus, and your NovaConnect ID (also called your Student Number and EmplID). To look up your NovaConnect ID before you go to the testing center, go to http://www.nvcc.edu/novaconnect /.

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ELI Policies and Procedures

  This is an Extended Learning Institute (ELI) course. ELI courses differ from campus courses in several important ways, including enrollment dates, communication with faculty, assignment completion requirements, and exams. You must follow ELI's policies and procedures if you take this course. Read (or review) ELI's Policies and Procedures before you begin the course. 
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Contacting the Instructor

 

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

BY EMAIL: tswetnam@nvcc.edu

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Beginning the Course
 

1. Use your web browser to connect to www. nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Log on to your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to your Blackboard account.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk.