Micro and Macro Organizational Behaviour (CMR15157)
General information
Type: |
OB |
Curs: |
1 |
Period: |
S semester |
ECTS Credits: |
5 ECTS |
Teaching Staff:
Group |
Teacher |
Department |
Language |
|
François Collet |
Dirección de Personas y Organización |
ENG |
|
Katharina Schmid |
Dirección de Personas y Organización |
ENG |
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM
The major purpose of the course is to introduce you to some of the traditional as well as innovative topics of research in the micro and macro side of organizational behavior (OB). We have made an effort to incorporate very recent research into the course as well as making sure that you also read some of the more classic work.
Micro-level organizational behavior focuses predominately on individual- and group-level processes and phenomena in organizational contexts. It is rooted primarily in the field of psychology (especially social psychology), in addition to other disciplines, such as sociology, anthropology and political science. In the micro-level part of the course we will focus on some of the key topics in micro organizational behaviour, with the aim of providing you with a a solid foundation to understanding the interplay between individuals, groups and teams in organizations, as well as a critical understanding of applied research in this field.
The macro side of organizational behavior is largely sociological and aims to explain the origins, functioning, and disappearance of the institutional structures that order economic life (organizations, firms, networks, markets, and others). Contemporary perspectives emphasize the interaction between organizations and the environments in which they operate. This part of the course is organized around several topics. These topics draw from several social science disciplines: economics, history, psychology and sociology. These disciplines imply different epistemological and methodological approaches.
The course cannot cover all or even most of the substantive topics in OB. However, it aims to help you to develop a basic undersanding of some of them and how they compete or complement each other. In assessing different theoretical perspectives we will examine the mechanisms operating at the core of each of them. We will identify their scope conditions and their limitations. We will also evaluate the quality of empirical support for the different perspectives. Finally we will attempt to discuss means of strengthening both arguments and evidence.
Course Learning Objectives
The course has two main objectives: First, students will build the skills needed to critique current organizational behavior and research. Second, students will be able to identify promising areas for future research and designing effective means of addressing them.
The aim of this course is thus to equip you with detailed knowledge about various OB concepts and theories, to gain insights into OB research, and to provide you with skills to critically review extant OB research. By the end of this course you will therefore be in a strong position to further explore the field of OB in your own research if you are interested in pursuing this path. And even if you decide against pursuing a research career in OB, this seminar will nonetheless help you be a better researcher in other fields, such as strategy or marketing, since this seminar will encourage you to think critically about research more generally. In other words, the objective of this course is not simply limited to the educated consumption of OB literature. It also aims at contributing to the development of research skills more generally.
Competences
2. Become familiar with organisational and corporate learning theories |
1. Become familiar with knowledge creation theories (epistemology, philosophy of science, and reasoning) |
11. Skillful in the use of quantitative methods |
3. Acquire knowledge of behavioural theory within organisations |
27. Ability to work independently |
16. Information management skills |
20. Critical attitude and self-criticism |
30. Ability to adapt to change scenarios |
29. Focused on quality |
Relation between Activities and Competences
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2 |
1 |
11 |
3 |
27 |
16 |
20 |
30 |
29 |
Class preparation and participation |
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Final Exam |
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CONTENT
1. Motivation |
2. Perception and Attitudes |
3. Group Dynamics I: Identity processes |
4. Group Dynamics II: Teams |
5. Diversity and individual differences |
6. Behavioral Research in Macro OB |
7. Behavioral Research in Macro OB II |
8. Neo Institutional Theory I |
9. Neo Institutional Theory II |
10. Inter-personal Networks |
11. Status, power and influence |
12. Organizational Ecology |
Relation between Activities and Contents
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11 |
12 |
Class preparation and participation |
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Final Exam |
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Methodology
The goal of this course is to prepare you to engage in the central debates in organizational and economic sociology as well as organizational psychology. As such, it is important that you hone your skills in discussing and critiquing both arguments and evidence. You not only need to understand the arguments, you also need to be able to talk (and write) about them.
For this reason, this course is in a seminar format. To facilitate discussion, one or more students will assume the role of discussant each week.
Our responsibilities as instructors of this seminar are to be attentive to your needs, able to listen and answer your questions when possible, as well as help you in clarifying the big picture, and provide you at all times with clear expectations about the requirements of the course and especially how they relate to the exam. Your responsibilities include being curious, critical, open to learning, willing to participate in class, and committed to the course requirements.
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT BREAKDOWN
Description |
% |
Class preparation and participation |
45 |
Final Exam |
55 |
Assessment criteria
There will be an exam, based on the content of the readings seen in class as well as class discussions more generally. We will also assess participation both in terms of attendance to class and involvement in class sessions. Finally, students will need to do some prep work before each session, which will also be part of the grade. More details on grading will be decided close to the beginning of the course.
Bibliography
Robbins, S. and Judge, T. 2012. Organizational Behavior, 15E. International edition. Pearson education.
Bowditch, , J. L. & Buono, A. F. 2008. A Primer on Organizational Behavior. 7th ed. John Wiley and Sons.
Scott, W., G. Davis. 2007. Organizations and organizing: Rational, natural, and open systems perspectives. Prentice Hall.
Timetable and sections
Group |
Teacher |
Department |
|
François Collet |
Dirección de Personas y Organización |
|
Katharina Schmid |
Dirección de Personas y Organización |
Timetable