BALH3000 Organizational Behavior and Leadership Course description

How and why do individual employees and groups of employees behave the way they do within an organizational setting? How do leaders achieve the best outcomes for their organizations? Organizational behavior and leadership theories address these questions and their possible answers from different angles. Such theories aim to understand, explain and improve attitudes of individuals and groups in organizations. This understanding is important for the facilitation of positive individual, group, and organizational functioning, success and competitive advantage. This course addresses these issues and is an introduction to psychological theory in an occupational perspective.

Students who participate in this course will acquire knowledge about how different psychological factors affect human behavior in organizations. An overview of contemporary research based knowledge and the most important topics, concepts, and contributions within this field is provided.

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After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The students will obtain a basic understanding of contemporary research based knowledge in organizational behavior and leadership. They will also become familiar with the most important topics, concepts, and contributions, which include:

• Individual differences and diversity
• Attitudes and decision making
• Communication
• Perceptions and learning
• Motivation and team processes
• Leadership;and organizational culture

Skills

The students will be able to:

• Critically examine and use different theoretical approaches and perspectives from the subject area to understand and analyze challenges and dilemmas relating to human behavior in organizations;
• Use knowledge from organizational behavior and leadership theories as well as empirical evidence when making and implementing decisions in organizations.

General competence

The students will:

• Be able to communicate and discuss the major theories and research findings from this field, orally and in writing.
• Acquire skills in critical reflection on the subject area's possibilities and limitations.
• Convey knowledge through presentation and discussion.

Various work methods will be used such as lectures, discussions about current issues, case analysis, and assignments. The students are expected to work on assignments both individually and in groups outside of the joint lectures.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

During the course, the students are required to, in groups of 2-5 people, give either (a) an oral presentation of a research paper, or (b) prepare a detailed written summary of a research paper. For the presentation, the time allocated for each article or case is about 20 minutes including class discussion. The presentation will be evaluated on content, critical reflection and discussion, presentation style, and one discussion question to be presented for class discussions.;

The students who participate in the course are supposed to sign up for a presentation group in Canvas.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If one or more coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version one time by the given deadline. ;

The students will write a semester paper in groups of 3 students. The paper must have a scope of; 4000 - 6000 words. Font and font size: Arial / Calibri 12 points. The term paper must be written in English.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Plagiarism will be penalized, so adhere to the university regulation.;

Grade scale A-F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner. At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Malte Runge