Political Science and Public AdministrationPSPA 605 Organization Theory and Behavior

Spring 2014

Instructor: Shanthi Karuppusamy, Ph.D.E-mail: skaruppusamy@niu.eduOffice: Room 213

Department of Public AdministrationIASBO Building

Phone: 815-753-6144Class Location: NIU-DuSable 252Dates/Time: Tuesdays 5 -10 p.m. (Mar 18 – May 6)Office Hours: Wednesdays 1:00 – 3:00 p mCredit Hours: 3

Course Objectives and DescriptionThis is an introductory course in organization theory and behavior that focuses especially on public and nonprofit organizations. The course will introduce students to a range of theories and models in organization theory and behavior. It will also discuss how organization theory can be made practical for the day to day operations of public administrators. To accomplish these goals, this course will utilize a diverse set of studies ranging from traditional literature to cutting edge analyses. The course requires students to apply the ideas and models they have learned to their current work or intern situations, or to recent work experiences, as a means for testing the rigor and utility of those ideas and models. The goal of this course is to equip the student with sound theoretical knowledge on the concepts and ideas associated with organization theory and behavior, and with the creativity and critical thinking that make them capable of practically applying these concepts and ideas in their work environments. Moreover, this course is intended to prepare students for more advanced work in organization development and leadership.

Required TextsShafritz , Jay, Ott, Steven and Jang, Yong Suk. 2011. Classics of Organization Theory. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.Denhardt, Robert. 2011. Theories of Public Organization. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.Herbert Kaufman. 2006 or earlier edition. The Forest Ranger. Washington D.C.: RFF Press. GradesTeam Discussion Paper Paper Presentation 5 percentWritten Report 10 percent Guest Speaker 5 percent Book Review Paper 25 percent

Lit Review Paper 25 percent

Praxis/Research Paper Oral presentation 10 percentWritten report 20 percent

(PS: The formats for writing the team discussion paper and the praxis/research paper are described later in this syllabus. Details regarding the book review and lit review papers will be posted on BB.)

Competencies and SkillsEffectively manage public and nonprofit organizations

Understand organizational behavior, leadership and management concepts and skills and

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provide suitable recommendations

Improve critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision making capabilities

Demonstrate ability to explore theoretical resources and apply the knowledge to understand diverse perspectives that help frame problems and solutions in organizational settings

Develop innovative management ideas and techniques

Engage in cutting edge organizational learning by comprehending the power, politics, economics, culture, and environments of organizations and utilize the interdisciplinary lineage of organization theory to provide innovative recommendations for improving organizational management in the public sector

Communicate and interact effectively with diverse workforce and citizenry

Communicate organizational behavioral issues and management recommendations effectively in various formats (oral, written) to citizens and public employees with diverse backgrounds

Graduate Grading Scheme for PSPA Courses

ScoreLetter Grade

GPA Point Value

Value Description

94-100 A 4.00Outstandin

g

Work is complete, original, insightful and of a level and quality that exceeds expectations for graduate level of study. In-depth understanding of course issues and a high level of analytical skills. No grammatical and citation errors. Referencing is done in APA style. References are extensive and of high quality.

90-93 A- 3.67

87-89 B+ 3.33

83-86 B 3.00Very

satisfactory

Work is complete, of a level that slightly exceeds expectations for this level. Solid understanding of course issues and excellent analysis. Very few grammatical and citation errors. Citations are consistent with APA style format and are drawn from a broad range of current sources.

80-82 B- 2.6777-79 C+ 2.33

73-76 C 2.00Satisfactor

y

Work is mainly complete, and/or a level that partially meets expectations or standards for a graduate course. Important grammatical and spelling errors. Problems with citation format.

70-72 C- 1.67

60-69 D 1.00Marginally satisfactory

Assignments not turned in or turned in significantly late. Lack of understanding of central course concepts.

0-59 F 0.00Unsatisfact

ory

Assignments not turned in or turned in significantly late. Very poor performance on exams/tests. Lack of effort or lack of understanding of central course concepts.

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Class ParticipationStudents are expected to read assigned materials. Class participation is very important and includes discussion of weekly readings and performance in in-class group exercises.

Plagiarism PolicyStudents are not allowed to use any material without clear citation and attribution procedures required by the Division’s writing policy. It is improper to lift large sections or quotes from another source (such as books, articles and web-based resources) and treat them as your own. Always cite authorities and sources you use in all your assignments. When in doubt, cite. A grade of F will be given to papers that do not follow the Division’s writing policy. Kate Turabian’s (7th edition) A Manual for Writers is the Division of Public Administration’s writing policy manual. This book explains the Chicago Style for students and researchers. As regards writing style, the Division has adopted The Elements of Style (2009) by William Strunk and E. White.

Disability PolicyIf any student thinks he/she has a disability that may warrant special treatment for any part of this course, then he/she should confidentially discuss this with the instructor at the beginning of the course. However, students can only receive special treatment if they have been qualified for such treatment through proper university procedures and policies.

Cell Phone and Electronic DevicesStudents are requested to turn-off cell phones and other electronic communication devices during class. Laptops can be used, but only for taking notes.

Late AssignmentsIt is the student’s responsibility to turn in assignments on time, unless he/she has obtained special permission from the instructor. Material turned in late (maximum limit is 3 days after which the assignment will not be accepted) will be counted, but will receive a grade penalty.

Blackboard and NIU EmailCourse supplements will be posted on blackboard. This will be either the day before or on the day of class. It is the student’s responsibility to check blackboard regularly. Additionally, students should check their NIU email account frequently for emails regarding PSPA 605.

Team Discussion Paper FormatFor this paper, students work in pairs. They sign up for a specific week and identify two external resources that deal with the topic to be covered during that week. They work together to write an analytical report and discuss that report with the rest of the class. The team will also bring in a guest speaker that week. The format for this paper is as follows. 1. In addition to uploading the paper to SafeAssign, students should submit a hard copy to the instructor on the specified date. Papers should be double-spaced, single-sided, and not more than 5 pages in length, which includes the references list, but excludes the title page which is not numbered. Please use page numbers. Also, use headings and subheadings as appropriate. Unstapled papers will be penalized. As mentioned earlier, use proper citations. Please see below the format for this assignment.

a. Title Page b. Major Themes and Summary of Two External Resources (section heading) (subheadings as required)c. Critical Analysis of Two External Resources (section heading) (subheadings as required)d. Bibliography

2. The major themes section should be a summary of the selected chapters, journal articles, newspaper stories, government reports, or other scholarly resources. Please identify the major ideas and arguments of the authors. At

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this point, do not attempt to analyze them. Give examples and provide enough detail such that someone reading your report would obtain a clear understanding of these themes.

3. In the critical analysis section, consider the pros and cons of the theory/model the resources are associated with. Also relate the ideas in the resources to your own practical work experiences. Do these ideas make sense? A critical analysis can be positive or negative. Importantly, whether your assessments are positive or negative, give specific reasons for why you think the way you do. Avoid making broad generalizations that are not backed up with sufficient reasoning.

4. Please write in paragraphs, and with a formal tone. Points will be deducted for sloppy writing, typos, and poor grammar. The papers have to be organized, clear, comprehensive, logical, and well-written.

Praxis/Research Paper Format Students will be expected to describe the dominant organization theory and behavior models that they believe best describe their internship and/or work units. Students have to focus on a specific functional work unit or area rather than the whole organization. Students can refer to the whole organization, but their primary focus should be on their actual work unit. How effective is your work unit from the standpoint of organization design (structure), culture, and product quality? What organizational problems exist in your work unit? How would you use theories of organization and behavior to improve the effectiveness of your work unit? In addition to uploading the paper to SafeAssign, students should submit a hard copy to the instructor on the specified date. The paper should not exceed fifteen pages (excluding the title page which should not be numbered). Papers have to be double-spaced, single-sided and should adhere to the following organizational outline:

1. Title page 2. Introduction: In two pages, describe the organization and unit that will be the focus of your research paper.3. Literature review: In four pages, describe the major theories of organization and behavior that in your estimation provide a basis for understanding the design and culture of your work organization. Do not merely mention theories, explain them thoroughly. Please provide at least 10 literature citations, preferably original cites—that is, other than assigned class readings. 4. Analysis: In five pages, explain how the theory you have described helps us understand the organization structure and culture of your work organization. Describe actual structure and cultural characteristics (provide organization charts), and discuss how these theories inform us about actual behavior. What problems do you see in the current organization design and culture? Be sure to explain why.5. Summary and Conclusions: In two pages, summarize your findings and make recommendations for your work organization. You must have some recommendations. 6. References: Cite all references in a bibliography. 7. Writing Issues: Please write in paragraphs, and with a formal tone. Points will be deducted for sloppy writing, typos, and poor grammar. The papers have to be organized, clear, comprehensive, logical, and well-written. Please use page numbers. Also, use headings and subheadings as appropriate. Unstapled papers will be penalized. As mentioned earlier, use proper citations.

This is a tentative schedule, and any unforeseen events could result in some minor changes.

Schedule of Topics, Readings, and Assignments3/18 -Introduction to Course, Organization theory within Public Administration, Issues and Heritage Read: Denhardt, Intro, Chaps. 1 and 2; Shafritz et al., Chaps. 1, 2, and 7(Xenophon, Smith, and Weber)

3/25 -Classical Organization Theory and Scientific Management Read: Shafritz et al., Chaps. 5, 6, 8 (Fayol, Taylor, and Gulick); Denhardt, Chap. 3

4/1 -The Rational Model and Neo-classical Theory Read: Denhardt, Chap. 4; Shafritz et al., Chaps. 11 and 13(Simon, Cyert)

4/8 -Continuation of Neo-Classical theory Read: Shafritz et al., Chaps. 9, 10, and 12 (Barnard, Merton, and Selznick)

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(THE FOREST RANGER, BOOK REVIEW PAPER DUE)

4/15-Human Relations Management Read: Denhardt Chap. 5; Shafritz et al., Chaps. 14, 15, and 16 (Follett, Roethlisberger, and Maslow)

4/22 -Human Relations (continued) and Structural Organization Theory Read: Shafritz et al., Chaps. 17, 18, 20 and 22 (McGregor, Janis, Blau, and Mintzberg) (LIT REVIEW PAPER DUE)

Rey Ty, Guest Speaker, “Contending Aprroaches for Refugee Services.” http://www.slideshare.net/reyty1/2012-1006-rey-ty-and-m-beltran-figueroa-services-for-karen-refugees-in-indiana

4/29-Organization Culture Read: Shaftriz et al., Chaps 34, 35 and 36 (Schein, Martin, Ouchi)

5/6 -Organizations and Environments Read: Shafritz et al., Chaps. 38, 39 and 41 (Katz, Thompson, Pfeffer) (PRAXIS PAPER PRESENTATIONS)

Professor Karuppusamy reserves the right to make changes to the above schedule or the syllabus with adequate notice.

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