Course Description
This course explores the international variability of organizational behavior, including variability in organizational conflict and power, work motivation, work attitudes, teamwork, organizational culture and leadership. Drawing on a range of theories about cultural differences and their effect on behavior, the course examines the extent to which ideas that have been formulated in developed western countries are sufficient to explain organizational behavior in other areas of the world. As part of the course, students research a major topic in organizational behavior and analyze the differences between Canada and one country outside of the economically developed, western world.
Learning Activities
The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:
- lectures
- group projects/discussions
- case studies
- seminar presentations
- library research papers
Means of Assessment
Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will include some of the following: quizzes, exams, research paper, case study assignment, group project, oral presentation, participation, etc. The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
An example of an evaluation scheme:
Mid Term Exam 25%
Case Study 20%
Article Review 20%
Research Paper 35%
Total 100%
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
- Analyze international variability and universals in organizational behaviour
- Explain how culture affects organizational behavior
- Describe a range of theories of cultural variation and evaluate their ability to explain variations in organizational behavior between countries.
- Evaluate the applicability of common theories of organizational behavior outside of economically developed western countries
Textbook Materials
Texts will be updated periodically. Typical examples are:
- Francesco A.M and Gold B.A. (2004) International Organizational Behavior (2nd Edition). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.
- Silverthorne C.P. (2005) Organizational Psychology in Cross Cultural Perspective. New York: New York University Press.