Introduction to Course

Organizational Behavior 04

March 4, 2025

Eun-Suk Lee
Chung-Ang University
Who Are We?

 Instructor: Prof. Eun-Suk Lee

◦ Ph.D. from MIT in 2011
◦ Joined Chung-Ang University in 2021
◦ Concentration: Organizational behavior,
Identity and identification, leadership

 Students?!

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Students?
 Student Profile Card
◦ Find the sample file on e-class
(“Discussions” menu)
◦ The picture of YOU
◦ Name, student ID#, major,
nationality
◦ Motivation to take this course?
◦ Describe anything about yourself!
◦ Please post your profile as a
“Reply”

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
“Organizational Behavior”

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Organizational Behavior
 A field of study that concerns the set of approaches to
understanding how people in organizations think, feel, and
behave, both as individuals and in relation to others in groups
within organizations, for the purpose of applying such
knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness.

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Organizational Behavior

My VERY GOOD job

performance!!

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Person-Situation Debate
 Dispositional approach
◦ Suggested by organizational psychologists (e.g., Barry
M. Staw)
◦ A person’s disposition/personality can be a significant
determinant of his/her attitudes/behaviors at work.

 Situational approach
◦ Suggested by organizational sociologists (e.g., Jeffrey
Pfeffer)
◦ Job attitudes/behaviors are not a function of individual
characteristics, but the by-product of social influence
and contextual cues.

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Organizational Behavior
 A field of study that concerns the set of approaches to
understanding how people in organizations think, feel, and
behave, both (1) as individuals and (2) in relation to others in
groups within organizations, for the purpose of applying such
knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness.

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Topics Covered
 Attitudes
 Motivation
 Personality
 Leadership
 Group dynamics
 Power and organizational politics
 Conflict
 Organizational change

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Let’s Learn Together!

 There is not one right answer in OB issues, so let’s try to learn

through the “process” of problem solving

 “Mutual” learning
◦ Sharing your own work/life experiences with your classmates

 “Dynamic” class

Organizational Behavior
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Organizational Behavior
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Please find the UPDATED
syllabus on e-class!

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Course Readings

 Harvard Business School (HBS) cases: REQUIRED

◦ You can buy two cases at https://hbsp.harvard.edu/import/1273706
◦ Buy required items. You don’t need to buy optional items.

 Textbook: optional
◦ Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. Organizational Behavior. Pearson.

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Course Requirements
 Attendance: 10%
 Participation in class discussion: 5%

 Team Discussion/Presentation sessions for discussing the assigned cases

◦ Team presentation OR team final project: 15%
◦ Individual memo: 10%
◦ In-class team memo: 10%

 Peer evaluation: 5%
◦ For every team activity, students grade other students’ level of participation and
contribution

 Mid-term exam (25%) and final exam (20%): closed-book, closed-note

 Team final project: 15%

◦ For the teams not engaging in Team Presentation

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Attendance

 If you miss four or more classes during the semester,

you will receive an F grade.

 When you are late, make sure to let the Professor know,
during break, that you are in class!
◦ If you don’t, the Professor may count it as an absence.

 The Professor may randomly take attendance at the end

of (or in the middle of) class.

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Team Discussion/Presentation Sessions

 Two HBS cases are assigned

◦ Case 1: Leslie Brinkman at Versutia Capital
◦ Case 2: Martha Rinaldi: Should She Stay or Should She Go?

 For each case, two sessions are scheduled (see course outline in
the updated syllabus)

◦ “Team Discussion” session

◦ “Team Presentation” session

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Team Discussion/Presentation Sessions
 “Team Presentation” session
◦ Presenting team actively leads the session, discussing classmates’ questions and
comments as well as the team’s own about the assigned case.
◦ People learn the best when they teach others! The professor does not lead the
session.
◦ When presenting, please seriously consider not using a script! If you choose not to
use script, you will earn extra credit.

 As there are only 2 cases, only 2 teams can have the Team Presentation
chance (they are exempt from a team final project).

 Professor will form teams and let you know who your teammates are
◦ Diversity (academic year, gender, nationality, etc.) will be considered

 Which team is in charge of Team Presentation (and which case) will be

decided later, using “Ghost Leg” (사다리타기)

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Team Discussion/Presentation Sessions

TFP TFP TP: TFP TFP TP:

Case2 TFP
Case1 Case2
TP: Team Presentation
TFP: Team Final Project

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Team Discussion/Presentation Sessions

 “Team Discussion” session

◦ You should submit your individual memo on the assigned case (due at the
beginning of this session).
 Max 1 page (MS Word document)
 (1) one (or more) important problem/question regarding the assigned case, along with
your suggested solutions
(2) one (or more) important problem/question in your daily life or real teams/
organizations that relates to the issues in the case, along with possible solutions

◦ Randomly-assigned team will discuss the case and submit in-class team
memo by the end of class session.
 “Teams for Team Discussion” and “teams for Team Presentation or Team Final Project”
are different; the former is randomly assigned for each session, whereas the latter is
fixed.

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Team Discussion/Presentation Sessions

 “Team Discussion” session

◦ Presenting students do NOT submit in-class team memo for their presenting
case. During this session, they prepare for their presentation (next session).

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Team Final Project
 For this team assignment, your team will…
1) Choose a case relating to OB issue(s) in a real organizational/social
setting

2) Gather information on the focal case in a creative and

comprehensive manner

3) Thoroughly describe and critically analyze/evaluate the case, based

on the knowledge learned from this course

4) Propose specific and actionable recommendations to improve the

issues identified in the case

 Team Final Project (real case) vs. Team Presentation (HBS case)

Organizational Behavior
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Exam Date/Time

 Mid-term exam: April 22 (Tuesday), 7:00 pm ~ 8:15 pm

 Final exam: June 17 (Tuesday), 7:00 pm ~ 8:15 pm
 Please make sure to remember the dates & time!!
 You MUST reserve these time slots!

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Course Requirements
As an individual As a team

Attendance 10%
Participation in class discussion 5% Team presentation
or 15%
Team final project
Individual memos 10%

Peer evaluation 5%
In-class team memos 10%
Mid-term and final exams 45%

Total 75% Total 25%

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Class Etiquette

 Leaving the classroom during class?

◦ Basic rule: Do NOT leave the classroom during class!
◦ To be very honest, it seriously distracts the Professor, making
it difficult for him to focus on the lecture... 
◦ Please do it only when you are in an emergency situation.
◦ When you leave, please make sure to minimize any noise,
especially when closing the door.

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025
Next Week

 Topic: Attitudes & Motivation

 Please post your profile on e-class (“Discussions” menu)

by next Monday (March 10)!

Organizational Behavior
Spring 2025