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Unit of study_

WORK2218: Managing Organisational Behaviour

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit aims to give students the ability to understand how organisations operate. As an introductory organisational behaviour unit, it covers key debates across a range of social science disciplines including business, management, psychology, sociology, and communication studies. Key topics explored include power, control, networks, and organisational culture.

Unit details and rules

Unit code WORK2218
Academic unit Work and Organisational Studies
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
24 Junior credit points
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ju Li Ng, juli.ng@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam Final exam
Written and MCQ. The written exam will be a take-home format
40% Formal exam period 3 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Individual assignment
Written task
20% Week 07
Due date: 08 Apr 2020 at 17:00

Closing date: 22 Apr 2020
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment Group report
Written report
20% Week 08
Due date: 22 Apr 2020 at 17:00

Closing date: 06 May 2020
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Presentation group assignment Group presentation
Oral presentation
20% Week 12
Due date: 20 May 2020 at 17:00

Closing date: 29 May 2020
15 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Individual assignment: This written assignment involves you reflecting on various activities in tutorial classes. The overall aim of this written assignment is to help students engage in self-assessment and self-reflection. Specifically, it is aimed at helping students apply and extend the unit materials into directly relevant personal experiences. Students will use selected activities in tutorials to self-assess and self-reflect.
  • Group report: This first part of the group assignment requires each group to conduct research on the allocated topic. Students will be allocated to groups in week two’s tutorial. Each group will be allocated a topic, which will form the basis of the group report and group presentation.
  • Group presentation: This second part of the group assignment requires the group to do a presentation on the allocated group topic.
  • Final exam: This final exam will consist of both written and multiple choice questions. The questions will cover a broad range of materials in the unit. The written exam will be a take-home format. Please see Canvas for more information. 
Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Please note the University of Sydney Business School's policy regarding late penalty, word length and academic integrity:https://business.sydney.edu.au/student/policy). The policy may be different from the other faculties that you are familiar with. Please also note the additional marking rubrics and information posted on Canvas regarding penalties.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 What is organisational behaviour? Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Attitudes and job satisfaction Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Group allocation Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 03 Self-leadership and learning Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Self-assessment and reflection activities Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 Individual decision-making Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Self-leadership assessment and profile Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Politics and negotiation Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Decision-making activities Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Foundations of group behaviour Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Case study: "Managing Up (A): Grace" Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Trust and team building Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Time allocated for group work Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Work and organisational design Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Trust building in teams activities Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Organisational change Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Presentation guidelines and tips Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 1. Managing diversity (online module); 2. Tutorial: Online module and discussion Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Reading week: No Lecture or tutorial (group presentation preparation) Independent study (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Organisational culture Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Group presentation 1 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 Unit review and exam discussion and preparation Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Group presentation 2 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Robbins, S., Judge, T., Edwards, M., Sandiford, P., Fitzgerald, M., Hunt, J. (2020). Organisational Behaviour (9th Ed). Melbourne: Person.

All other readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas. There are also additional resources that may be cited during the lectures, so also please pay attention to these too.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. explain and evaluate the main models of organisational behaviour
  • LO2. apply theories and frameworks to analyse and provide solutions to real problems in organisational behaviour
  • LO3. reflect and apply the theoretical concepts into the relevant personal experience and engage in experiential learning, that is, learning by doing
  • LO4. work collaboratively to complete tasks and recognise and value the input of group discussions and individual autonomy and accountability to the delivery of outcomes.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Additional support for students' assessment preparation will be provided.

More information can be found on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.