Course III: Leadership and Organziational Behavior

RAC 9009

Course Description:

Students explore the role personality and individual style plays within organizations and begin to form a personal leadership philosophy. This course takes the traditional Organizational Behavior topics such as motivation, communication, collaboration, change, culture, the nature of groups and systems dynamics, and views them from the perspective of leadership. As well as learning how to apply this knowledge to improve organizational effectiveness, students examine the effect their own leadership approach has on organizational change.

The purpose of the course is to examine the role of leadership and the effect it has on how people and organizations behave and interact. Through the lens of leadership, students learn how to: 1) Describe the patterns of how people and organizations behave and interact; 2) Analyze why people behave and interact as they do; 3) Predict behavior based on our understandings of Behavioral research; and 4) Improve performances based on our knowledge of that behavior.

Students are presented with a balance of theory and practice. Particular attention is paid to translating the models and theories into viable and practical methods and techniques that leaders and managers may use in their current and future positions. Assignments and projects are designed to challenge learners to understand and resolve real organizational problems with an eye towards their own leadership capabilities. Primary skills to be gained in this course include organizational analysis and problem solving through class experiential exercises and case discussions.

Course Objectives:

1. Describe the fields of both Organizational Behavior and Leadership and develop a broad understanding of how they relate to, and influence each other.
2. Develop an appreciation for ones own personal development and that of others, while building a deeper understanding for how they respond to and lead others through change.
3. Develop a working knowledge of how individuals & groups behave within the context of an organization.
4. Distinguish between management and leadership, while developing a theory on the influence and impact of leadership on individual, group and organizational behavior.
5. Explore moral and ethical dilemmas that impact individuals and leaders in organizations.
6. Apply different concepts related to managing conflict, stress, and communication and explore what role of leadership has in these concepts.
7. Gain an understanding of how culture, structures and processes impact individual and group effectiveness and integrate how leadership influences these elements of an organization.
8. Develop and actively apply critical thinking skills, in written and oral communications.
9. Demonstrate group skills, oral and written communication skills, library research and application by locating materials that support the work in this course.

Breakdown of Topics

Week 1:
Personality and Human Perception

Week 2:
Motivation, Setting Goals and Expectations and Empowerment

Week 3:
Decision Making, Working in Teams and Managing Conflict

Week 4:
Communication and Stress

Week 5:
Power, Leadership and Organizational Politics

Week 6:
Cultural Issues and Managing Change

Week 7:
Personnel Management and Strategic Planning