This course lays the foundation for the understanding of human behaviour in organisations, providing students with a comprehensive exposure to organisational behaviour theories, research and workplace issues illustrated with case studies and examples primarily within an Australian and Asia-Pacific context. Topics include: overview of OB, personnel selection, individual differences, work motivation, work attitudes and values, occupational stress, high performance teams, training, performance appraisal and careers, leadership, organisational design, organisational culture, organisational development and change, and organisational communication and conflict. Given the immediate relevance of topics covered in this course, it is also a useful life-long learning course for improving personal and organisational effectiveness.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Define, explain and illustrate a range of organisational behaviour theories;
- Analyse the behaviour of individuals and groups in organisations in terms of organisational behaviour theories, models and concepts;
- Apply organisational behaviour concepts, models and theories to real life management situations through case analysis;
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of organisational behaviour theories and current empirical research associated with the topics covered in this course; and,
- Communicate effectively in oral and written forms about organisational behaviour theories and their application using appropriate concepts, logic and rhetorical conventions.
Research-Led Teaching
This course integrates research from diverse academic domains, including social psychology, psychology, and management. This approach enhances students’ understanding of organisational behaviour and equips them to apply their knowledge effectively in real-world organisational contexts. The lecture recordings will be available on Canvas.
Field Trips
There are no field trips for this class.
Additional Course Costs
There are no additional costs for this class.
Examination Material or equipment
There is a final examination for this course held during the end-of-semester examination period. All examination information will be communicated directly to students by the ANU Examinations Office. Specific details of the exam date will be available closer to the commencement of the examination period at https://exams.anu.edu.au/timetable/. Further advice will be provided by the end of Week 12. The examination will be administered in person and is a closed-book exam (no materials permitted).
Required Resources
As part of this course, students are expected to read book chapters that are assigned on a weekly basis. Two hardcopies are available for 2-hour reserve at the ANU library, or the e-book can be purchased directly from the publisher.
- Neck, C., Houghton, D., & Murray, E. (2023). Organizational behavior: A skill-building approach, third edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Any further readings will be made available via the course Canvas site as necessary.
Recommended Resources
Articles from the following journals:
- Academy of Management Journal
- Annual Review of Psychology
- American Psychologist
- Journal of Management Studies
Note: These journals are available in full text through the ANU Library.
Staff Feedback
Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:- Written comments
- Verbal comments
- Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups
Student Feedback
ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.Other Information
Support for Students
The University offers a number of support services for students. Information on these is available online from http://students.anu.edu.au/studentlife/
Class Schedule
| Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WK 1. Why Organizational Behavior (OB) Matters Introduction to the course | *Reading: Ch1 "Why Organizational Behavior Matters" |
| 2 | WK 2. Team Formation and Personality Tests | *Tests: Gender-career IAT and skin-tone IAT. Complete these tests and upload your results to Canvas.*Tutorial: Form teams (5 students per team, at least 2 types of workplace diversity must be met): Each team will need to select a leader, upload their team name, along with each member’s name and UID, to Canvas.*For details, check Canvas. |
| 3 | WK 3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | *In-Class Resume Activities: How do you decide who to interview for a job?*Required reading:Ch2 "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" *Additional reading:Farh, C. I., Oh, J. K., Hollenbeck, J. R., Yu, A., Lee, S. M., & King, D. D. (2020). Token female voice enactment in traditionally male-dominated teams: Facilitating conditions and consequences for performance. Academy of Management Journal, 63(3), 832-856.*Tutorial: Implicit bias in recruitment.*For details, check Canvas. |
| 4 | WK 4. Personality and Individual Differences | *Big Five personality test : Print your scores and discuss in class.*Required reading:Ch3 "Personality and Individual Differences" *Tutorial: Prep for Team Challenge 1 – Product Innovation (Assessment 2).Upload your team's initial product innovation proposal to Canvas.*For details, check Canvas. |
| 5 | WK 5. Emotions at Work | *Required reading:Ch5 " Emotions, Attitudes, and Stress" *Additional reading:Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218-226.*Tutorial: Prep for Team Challenge 1 – Product Innovation (Assessment 2).Apply the concepts of emotions, mood, and affect to your product innovation.*For details, check Canvas.*Weekly Quiz 1 due |
| 6 | WK 6. Motivation | *Required reading:Ch6 "Motivation: Concepts and Theoretical Perspectives" *Tutorial: Prep for Team Challenge 1 – Product Innovation (Assessment 2).Apply the concepts of motivation to your product innovation.*For details, check Canvas.*Weekly Quiz 2 due |
| 7 | WK 7. Teams | *Required reading:Ch8 "Teams" *Additional reading:Tajfel, H. (1982). Social Psychology of Intergroup relations. Annual Review of Psychology, 33: 1-39.*Tutorial: Prep for Team Challenge 1 – Product Innovation (Assessment 2).Identify one key anecdotal episode that showcases changes in the nature of teamwork.*Weekly Quiz 3 due |
| 8 | WK 8. Application of OB theories and models to your team | *Assessment 2. Team Proposal Presentation*Tutorial: Prep for Team Challenge 2 – Team Reflection (Assessment 3).Based on the scores and feedback on Team Challenge 1, each team must reflect on their teamwork and individual behaviours, as well as work on their product website.*For details, check Canvas.*Weekly Quiz 4 due |
| 9 | WK 9. Judgement and Decision Making | *Required reading:Ch9 "Decision Making, Creativity and Innovation" *Tutorial: Prep for Team Challenge 2 – Team Reflection (Assessment 3).Identify one key anecdotal episode showcases changes or persistence in bias and errors in decision-making, and any attempts to improve your team's and individual behaviours and add the story to the product website.*For details, check Canvas.*Weekly Quiz 5 due |
| 10 | WK 10. Leadership | *Required reading:Ch13 " Leadership Perspectives” *Additional reading:Pham, N. T., Lu, J., Ogbonnaya, C., Tuan, T. H., Degbey, W. Y., & Laker, B. (2024). A more ethical workplace? How and why perceived socially responsible human resource management makes a difference. Journal of Management Studies. 0:1-31. *Tutorial: Prep for Team Challenge 2 – Team Reflection (Assessment 3).Identify one episode that illustrates the leadership style or approach and add it to the product website. Also prepare to manufacture a demo version of your product, which will be showcased in Week 12. *For details, check Canvas.*Weekly Quiz 6 due |
| 11 | WK 11. Trust, Conflict, and Negotiation | *Required reading:Ch12 "Trust, Conflict, and Negotiation” *Tutorial: Prep for Team Challenge 2 – Team Reflection (Assessment 3).Reflect on conflicts and negotiation strategies to restore trust within their team and include on the product website. Also manufacture a demo version of your product.*Assessment 3. Team Reflection Submission due*Weekly Quiz 7 due |
| 12 | WK 12. Application of OB theories, models and concepts to your team | Review of the course.*Tutorial: Team Reflection (Assessment 3) Presentation*For details, check Canvas. |
Tutorial Registration
Tutorials will be held throughout the semester, starting in the 2nd week of class. Tutorials will primarily take place on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. Each tutorial consists of group activities for team challenges 1 and 2. By the end of week 3, students need to choose tutorial sections that best suit their schedules.
Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Value | Due Date | Return of assessment | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly quizzes (Individual assessment): 35% | 35 % | * | * | 1,2,4,6,8 |
| Team Challenge 1 – Team Proposal (Group work and group assessment): 10% | 10 % | 26/09/2026 | 10/10/2026 | 3,4,5,6,7,8 |
| Team Challenge 2 – Team Reflection (Group work and group assessment): 25% | 25 % | 24/10/2026 | 31/10/2026 | 3,4,5,6,7,8 |
| OB Experiment Participation (Individual assessment): 5% | 5 % | 24/10/2026 | 09/12/2026 | 1,3,6 |
| Final exam (Individual assessment): 25% | 25 % | * | 09/12/2026 | 2,3,4,5,6,8 |
* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details
Policies
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
Assessment Requirements
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.Moderation of Assessment
Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.Participation
Attendance at lectures, while not compulsory, is expected in line with “Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning”, clause 2 paragraph (b).
Lectures will be presented in person and also recorded and made available on Canvas.
In that public holidays fall on Lecture days, a pre-recorded lecture and lecture materials will be uploaded to Canvas in lieu of a live lecture.
Examination(s)
There is a final examination for this course held during the end-of-semester examination period. All examination information will be communicated directly to students by the ANU Examinations Office. Specific details of the exam date will be available closer to the commencement of the examination period at https://exams.anu.edu.au/timetable/. Further advice will be provided by the end of Week 12. The examination will be administered in person and is a closed-book exam (no materials permitted).
Assessment Task 1
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,4,6,8
Weekly quizzes (Individual assessment): 35%
The first assignment is online quizzes (7 weeks x 5% for each quiz = 35%). You will have weekly quizzes to complete throughout the course, from Week 5 to Week 11. These quizzes will consist of a mix of multiple-choice and short-answer questions designed to assess your understanding of the material covered in the previous weeks' lectures. You can access the weekly quizzes through the course Canvas site. To take the quizzes, you will need to set up Proctorio and use it in conjunction with each quiz. Each quiz allows only one attempt, and you must complete it in one session. Please ensure you click the "submit" button; otherwise, your responses will not be recorded or submitted.
All quizzes will open on Tuesdays at 9 AM and close at 11:59 PM on the same week's Saturday. Feedback will be available on the following week's Monday on the course Canvas site after all students have completed the quiz. Please plan your time accordingly.
Weekly quizzes are closed-book assessments designed to test your understanding. You must complete these quizzes independently. Do not share answers or work together. Using AI will reduce your learning and your ability to succeed in later assessments. No late submissions will be permitted. Students with extenuating circumstances that prevent timely submissions should seek support via an ECA request.
Due Date: Every Tuesday (starting Week 5) from 09:00 am to Every Saturday 11:59 pm, through the course Canvas site.
Feedback Date: The following week's Monday.
Assessment Task 2
Learning Outcomes: 3,4,5,6,7,8
Team Challenge 1 – Team Proposal (Group work and group assessment): 10%
The second assignment is a group presentation of a proposal (maximum 3 pages, Arial, font size 12) on product innovation.
In the Week 2 tutorial, students are required to form their own teams, with at least 2 types of workplace diversity represented.
Working as a team, your team simulates what an ordinary team typically experiences in a manufacturing company. Imagine that your company asks you to design and promote an innovation that has never existed before, made entirely of marshmallows. It can be anything from a musical instrument (e.g., a marshmallow flute), a weapon (e.g., a marshmallow rifle), to a piece of furniture (e.g., a marshmallow pouffe for a kitten). You are working as a team, considering individual differences and leveraging team members’ resources to improve individual behaviours and team effectiveness.
As a team, write a detailed proposal for the product. You need to identify your company, team, team members and most importantly, your innovative product. Your proposal must also clarify how many marshmallows you need. Each week, your proposal should be improved through your understanding of OB concepts and theories (from Week 1 to 6), which should be reflected in your proposal. At the end of the tutorial each week from Weeks 4 to 7, you need to upload the updated proposal to the CANVAS site.
Team proposal presentation: A representative of each team will present their product innovation proposal during the lecture time in Week 8. The other teams will score the team’s proposal, providing feedback to the presenting team.
- Each team should upload their proposal to CANVAS by Saturday at 11:59 PM in Week 7.
- As a team, you need to deliver a 5-minute in-class presentation explaining your proposal (followed by 1 minute for Q&As). Every team member is expected to contribute meaningfully to the proposal/presentation, and everyone's individual effort and input will be assessed.
- All other teams are asked to provide feedback to the presenting team using the marking criteria outlined below.
- Presentations will be video recorded, which will enable later validation and verification of assessment if required (in accordance with point 7 in the ANU Student Assessment (Coursework) policy).
Marking criteria
Your instructor will assess using the following marking criteria:
- Whether the team met at least 2 types of workplace diversity (1 point).
- Whether each person's role is based on an understanding of each team member's personality, as informed by their test results and clearly described in the proposal (2 points).
- Whether the concepts of emotions, mood, and affect are clearly defined, applied to the innovation, and lead to the intended results (e.g., you feel angry because the product is designed to elicit anger) (2 points).
- Whether the concepts of motivation are clearly defined, applied to the innovation, and supported by the team's narrative explaining their motivation for it (2 points).
- Whether the team manages their time well, staying within the limit and covering all content without rushing (2 points) (1 point deducted for every 30 seconds over).
- Whether the team clearly mentions how many marshmallows they need AND whether the team proposal meets the style guidelines (maximum 3 pages, Arial, font size 12) (1 point).
Please note that references are not required.
(i) Specify the tools used (e.g., ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Claude, etc). (ii) State the purpose(s) for which you used them in the task (e.g., to improve writing style). (iii) Identify the specific aspects or features of the tools used (e.g., proofreading and editing functions of ChatGPT). (iv) Provide evidence of how the information generated by GenAI modified your assessment task (e.g., submission of a separate file with tracked changes that shows the progression of your work and the contribution of AI to completing the task). In this course, you may choose to use or not use AI tools. In any case where AI tools are used, you must do so in a way consistent with the ANU Academic Integrity principles for use of GenAI, and the ANU provides further broad guidance in the ANU Gen AI LibGuide. Due Date: Team proposal (Team Name-Tutorial Group Number-Proposal v4.docx) must be submitted by Saturday at 11:59 PM in Week 7 via CANVAS. Feedback Date: Week 9. Team Challenge 2 – Team Reflection (Group work and group assessment): 25% The third assignment is a group work. Each team must continue working with the same team members (unless you’re excused in Week 3). It consists of two parts: (1) presentation of a story of team reflection featured in the product website (20%) and (2) your demo product that matches your proposal presented in WK8 (5%). Each team has 8 minutes to present their demo version of the innovation and a reflective story, which is featured in the product website, about their team based on one OB topic covered from Week 7 to 11 (Week 7: Teamwork/Team Effectiveness; Week 9: Biases and Errors; Week 10: Leadership; Week 11: Conflicts, Trust and Negotiation). Marking Criteria Your tutor will assess using the following marking criteria: (i) Specify the tools used (e.g., ChatGPT). (ii) State the purpose(s) for which you used them in the task (e.g., to improve writing style). (iii) Identify the specific aspects or features of the tools used (e.g., proofreading and editing functions of ChatGPT). (iv) Provide evidence of how the information generated by GenAI modified your assessment task (e.g., submission of a separate file with tracked changes that shows the progression of your work and the contribution of AI to completing the task). Presentations will be video recorded, which will enable later validation and verification of assessment if required (in accordance with point 7 in the ANU Student Assessment (Coursework) policy). Due Date: Product website as a 5-page printout in PDF format (A4, Arial, font size 12) must be submitted by Saturday at 11:59 PM in Week 11 via CANVAS. Feedback Date: Week 12. OB Experiment Participation (Individual assessment): 5% Participating in psychology experiments will help you better understand the application of OB theories and models. They will also help you prepare designing survey questions for your group assignment. To participate, first register using your ANU email at SONA. Once registered, you will receive a SONA account and can choose and participate in as many experiments as you can to be eligible for the full 5% possible. You must complete them by the end of Week 11. Each SONA experiment carries a different credit value. You can earn a total of 5 points (equivalent to 5% assignment credit, the maximum available) by participating in either: For example, ten 0.5-credit experiments (0.5 × 10 = 5 points), or a combination of two 2-credit experiments and one 1-credit experiment (2 + 2 + 1 = 5 points). These experiments offer an opportunity to reflect on the theories, models, and concepts you've learned in the course. Due Date: Saturday at 11:59 PM in Week 11 via the SONA website. Feedback Date: After the final grade release. Final exam (Individual assessment): 25% The final exam is scheduled for the Exam Week (the exam date and time will be confirmed by Week 12). This is a centrally invigilated exam. Since this is a closed-book exam, you must not use any notes, textbooks, or the internet for the duration of the exam. The exam will consist of 25 questions, comprising a mix of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. The final exam contributes 25 percent of your total grade. A makeup (deferred) examination will only be permitted in cases of genuine extenuating circumstances supported by appropriate evidence. If this applies, please contact the convener/lecturer-in-charge before (or soon after) a deferred examination application request is submitted. Format: Centrally invigilated exam Duration: 2 hours Due Date: During the end of the semester final examination period. Feedback Date: After the final grade release.Assessment Task 3
Learning Outcomes: 3,4,5,6,7,8
Assessment Task 4
Learning Outcomes: 1,3,6
Assessment Task 5
Learning Outcomes: 2,3,4,5,6,8
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.Online Submission
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Hardcopy Submission
For some forms of assessment (handwritten assignments, artworks, laboratory notes, etc.), hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of the completed tasks for your records.
Late Submission
Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.
Requests for Assessment Adjustment (Assessment Extension and Extenuating Circumstances Application) should be submitted via ANUHub.
Referencing Requirements
Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.Returning Assignments
Please see relevant assessment task details above. All assignments will be marked and where appropriate feedback will be provided either: in class, or in person by appointment with the course lecturer, or via the course Canvas site.
Extensions and Penalties
Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.Resubmission of Assignments
Unless specified otherwise in the assessment requirements, resubmissions are permitted up until the due date and time, but not allowed afterwards.
Privacy Notice
The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.Distribution of grades policy
Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.Support for students
The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
- ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
- ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
- ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
- ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
- PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students
Convener
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Research InterestsSocial identity/categorization, DEI, and econometrics |
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Dr EY Song
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Instructor
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Dr EY Song
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Tutor
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Jenny Lee
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Tutor
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Research InterestsSocial identity/categorization, DEI, and econometrics |
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Dr Linh Bui
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