Organizational Behavior

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

To what extent is career fulfillment and success dependent upon more than specialist skill based around job function? What are the typical issues, transition points and dilemmas that will be experienced in a career - and how can we best prepare for them? How and why can careers “top out” despite the outstanding abilities of those concerned? In an increasingly flexible, non-hierarchical working world the ability to understand how we and organizations work is increasingly important and can be a distinguishing point with regard to career progression, impact and success. This course is designed as a “user’s guide” to successfully understanding and navigating the work environment, employing a mix of readings and case studies to simulate real world issues and their resolution. The subject matter has been selected based on a combination of research and experience concerning typical career challenges and their associated learning points. Beginning with the individual and focusing upon typical work environment issues, the course moves through aspects of management, including self-management, team work, ethics and leadership. Typical issues exacerbated by global operations, for example geographic or time zone non-proximity, language and culture are also explored along with the changing nature of work in an increasingly technology driven world. Case studies are set both in and outside of the corporate world, with the principles they elucidate being universal and consequently having ready application in the private, non-profit and government sectors. The course will be highly interactive, requiring class discussion and team based work. Ideally, the course is best taken in the Spring Semester prior to Graduation.