UNIVERSITY OF LIVINGSTONIA

LAWS CAMPUS
FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Course Outline

Organization Behaviour
1. Programme : Bachelor of information and
Knowledge management

2. Subject : Organization Behaviour

3. Course Title : Organization Behaviour
4. Course Code :
5. Year of Study :1
6. Prerequisite :
7. Duration : 16
8. Lecture Hours Per Week :2
9. Tutorial/Seminar Hours Per Week :2
10. Practical Hours Per Week : None
11. Student Independent Learning Hours Per Week :4
12. Total Course Credits : 4.5
13. Assessment Weighting : Continuous Assessment 40%
: Final Examination 60%

14. Course description

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the individual,
group, and human behavior in organizations. The focus is on providing an understanding
of how organizations can be managed more effectively and enhancing the quality of
employees' work life.

15. Aims of the course

The main aim of the course are:
 To learn the basic concepts of Organizational Behaviour and its applications in
contemporary organizations.
 To understand how individual, groups and structure have impacts on the
organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
 To appreciate the theories and models of organizations in the workplace.
 To creatively and innovatively engage in solving organizational challenges.
 To learn and appreciate different cultures and diversity in the workplace.

Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students must be able to:

a. Explain organizational theory as it relates to management practices, employee

relations, and structure of the organization to fit its environment and operation
 b. Analyze leadership styles and determine their effectiveness in employee situations
c. Identify methods to resolve organizational problems
d. Describe the impact of corporate culture on employee behavior
e. Analyze team dynamics, team building strategies and cultural diversity

16. Topics of the course

a. Introduction to organization theory and behavior
i. Definition of organization theory and behavior
ii. Elements of org theory and behaviour
iii. Importance of studying org theory and behavior

b. Theories of organization theory and behavior

i. Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs
ii. Mc Gregors theory X and Y
iii. Herzberg’s two factor theory
iv. Hawthorne Studies

c. Individual behavior in organizations

i. Definition personality
ii. Personality determinants
iii. Personality attributes

d. Group behavior in organization

i. Definition functions of groups in organizations
ii. Types of groups
iii. Stages of group formation

e. Conflict management
i. Definition of conflict management
ii. Types of conflict
iii. Causes of conflicts
iv. Advantages and disadvantages of conflict
v. Methods of handling conflicts

f. Stress management
i. Causes of work stress
ii. Consequences of stress in an organization
iii. Ways of managing stress in an organization
iv. Individual strategies for managing stress
g. Organization power and politics
i. Definition of power
ii. Sources of power
iii. Advantages and Disadvantages of power
iv. Politics in organizations
v. Factors influencing political behaviour
 h. Organization culture
i. Definition
ii. Importance of culture in organization
iii. Characteristics of organization culture
iv. Types of organization culture
v. Components of culture

i. Immerging issues of organization theory and behavior

i. Communication
ii. Leadership Process
iii. Leadership Traits and Behavioural Styles

17. Mode of delivery, teaching and learning methods and materials

a. Mode of delivery: Blended (face to face, and online).

b. Teaching and Learning Methods: Lecture, class discussion, presentations
and group work. Materials will include computers, projectors,
whiteboards, and textbooks

18. Prescribed Texts

Hellriegel D. (2011). Organizational Behavior. (Thirteenth ed.), South Western

Educational Publishing: USA

Pareek U. (2012). Understanding Organizational Behavior. (Third ed.), Oxford

University Press, USA

Schermerhorn J.R. (2010). Organizational Behavior. (Eleventh ed.), John Wiley & Sons,
Inc.: USA

19. Recommended Texts

Robbins S.P. (2010). Essentials of Organizational Behavior. (Tenth ed.), Pearson: Delhi

John R, Schermerhorn, James G. Hunt, Richard N. Osborn, and Mary Uhl-Bien. (2013).
Organizational Behavior -13th Edition. New York: John Wiley Publisher