Unit Profile Correction added on 26-03-20
The end of term examination has now been changed to an alternate form of
assessment. Please see your Moodle site for details of the assessment.
Overview
Organisational behaviour is the study of human behaviour at work. The complexity of human behaviour means that this inter-disciplinary field of study draws upon the literature from psychology, sociology, anthropology and political science. In this unit you will examine theories and the research base from the social sciences that inform the way in which individual level factors (e.g. personality, attitudes, emotion and motivation), team level factors (e.g. leadership and group dynamics) and organisational factors (e.g. structure and culture) combine to explain behaviour. You will learn about the role of workplace behaviour and its critical role in organisational outcomes such as productivity, innovation and absenteeism.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit Evaluations
Students enjoyed the assessment structure
Retain the assessment structure.
Feedback from Unit Evaluations
Website is easy to navigate
Retain the structure.
Feedback from Unit Evaluations
Staff were supportive
The teaching team will continue to support the students.
- Evaluate a number of theories that explain human behaviour
- Critically appraise the inter-relationship between individual, team and organisational systems
- Apply the study of organisational behaviour to work practices and arrangements in organisations.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Organisational Behaviour
Edition: 9th (2019)
Authors: Stephen P. Robbins, Timothy A. Judge, Marissa Edwards, Peter Sandiford, Martin Fitzgerald, James Hunt
Pearson
Frenchs Forest Frenchs Forest , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9781488620683
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Copies are available for purchase at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
However, you can also choose an e-book option https://www.pearson.com.au/9781488620683
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
v.dimilia@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
What is organisational behaviour?
Chapter
Chapter 1, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 - Every quiz is available from 9 am on the 9 March. Quiz 1 closes in Week 2.
Assessment 2 - You must choose an essay topic by 9 am on 30 March.
Module/Topic
Diversity in organisations.
Chapter
Chapter 2, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 - Quiz 1 closes 20 March at 10 pm.
Assessment 2 - You must choose an essay topic by 30 March at 9 am.
Module/Topic
Attitudes and job satisfaction; Personality and values
Chapter
Chapters 3 & 4, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 - Quiz 2 closes 27 March at 10 pm.
Assessment 2 - You must choose an essay topic by 30 March at 9 am.
Module/Topic
Emotions and moods
Chapter
Chapter 5, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 - Quiz 3 closes 3 April at 10 pm.
Assessment 2 - You must choose an essay topic by 30 March at 9 am.
Module/Topic
Perception and individual decision making; Motivation
Chapter
Chapters 6 & 7, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 - Quiz 4 closes 10 April at 10 pm.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review of material from previous weeks
Module/Topic
Foundations of group behaviour
Chapter
Chapter 8, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 - Quiz 5 closes 24 April at 10 pm.
Module/Topic
Communication
Chapter
Chapter 10, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 - Quiz 6 closes 1 May at 10 pm.
Assessment 2 - Topic 1 is due 1 May at 10 pm.
Module/Topic
Leadership
Chapter
Chapter 11, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 - Quiz 7 closes 8 May at 10 pm.
Assessment 2 - Topic 2 is due 8 May at 10 pm.
Module/Topic
Power and politics
Chapter
Chapter 12, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 - Topic 3 is due 15 May at 10 pm.
Module/Topic
Conflict and negotiation
Chapter
Chapter 13, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 - Topic 4 is due 22 May at 10 pm.
Module/Topic
Foundations of organisational structure
Chapter
Chapter 14, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Organisational culture
Chapter
Chapter 15, Robbins, Judge, Edwards, Sandiford, Mitchell & Hunt
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Check MyCentre for time and location
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam
1 Online Quiz(zes)
This assessment comprises of seven (7) online quizzes. Only the best five (5) scores will be used to determine your overall result for Assessment 1.
Each quiz is based on a chapter from the textbook. The quizzes can be accessed from the “Assessment Block” or from the "Assessments" section (above weekly topics) on the unit Moodle site.
Each quiz comprises of 10 multiple choice questions (MCQs) to be completed in one sitting of 20 minutes.
Once a quiz closes, it cannot be reopened for any reason. There are no alternatives or extensions for quizzes.
| Quiz | Content | Quiz Closure |
| 1 | Chapter 1 | Friday 20 March; 10.00 p.m. AEST |
| 2 | Chapter 2 | Friday 27 March; 10.00 p.m. AEST |
| 3 | Chapter 3 | Friday 3 April; 10.00 p.m. AEST |
| 4 | Chapter 5 | Friday 10 April; 10.00 p.m. AEST |
| 5 | Chapter 6 | Friday 24 April; 10.00 p.m. AEST |
| 6 | Chapter 8 | Friday 1 May; 10.00 p.m. AEST |
| 7 | Chapter 10 | Friday 8 May; 10.00 p.m. AEST |
7
Other
See details in the table above.
Score is shown when the test closes.
Each quiz has 10 questions and each correct answer earns you one (1) point. At the end of the final quiz, your results will be scaled to a score out of 20.
While this assessment has seven online quizzes, only the best five scores will contribute to your Assessment 1 marks. The 'extra' quizzes are there in case you did not do so well in some quizzes and wish to increase your overall score, or because you missed some quizzes for whatever reason.
Please do not leave completing the quiz until the last minute because no one will be available to reset the quiz on Friday night.
- Evaluate a number of theories that explain human behaviour
- Critically appraise the inter-relationship between individual, team and organisational systems
- Apply the study of organisational behaviour to work practices and arrangements in organisations.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
Purpose
This written assessment is designed to assist students to demonstrate their understanding of concepts, theories, and models related to ‘Organisational Behaviour’.
It also provides an opportunity for students to enhance their research, analytical, critical thinking, and written communication skills.
You are required to choose one (1) of the four essay tasks provided to you in the Unit Moodle site and prepare an Academic Essay of 1500 words (+/- 10%).
In your essay, you should establish your key argument(s) and provide evidence from academic literature and other appropriate sources to support your argument(s).
This task requires you to engage in extensive research within the academic literature, peer reviewed academic journal articles in particular.
You should refer to a minimum of six (6) scholarly references including the prescribed text book.
Note: Before commencing this task, please carefully read the "Assessment Task Description" and the "Marking Rubric" available in the Unit Moodle site.
| Essay Topic | Chapter alignment | Due Date |
| 1 | 3 | Friday 1 May at 10.00 pm |
| 2 | 6 | Friday 8 May at 10.00 pm |
| 3 | 10 | Friday 15 May at 10.00 pm |
| 4 | 12 | Friday 22 May at 10.00 pm |
See details in the table above.
We will make every attempt to return on-time submitted assessments within two weeks of the submission date.
Assessment 2 - Marking Criteria for Essay.
An essay is more than a 'descriptive' response to the question - a good essay argues a case; it demonstrates that you have critically thought about the question and recognises there are different views on the topic.
Analysis (25%): The essay demonstrates detailed understanding and critical analysis of the topic. It presents a clearly integrated and well‑developed argument throughout to address all parts of the assessment task.
Application of literature/theory (25%): The essay demonstrates application of the relevant concepts, frameworks, and theories in relation to the topic.
Research (20%): The essay demonstrates extensive research and understanding of the topic. The essay should have a minimum of six (6) scholarly references, which must include the prescribed textbook, plus five (5) relevant academic peer reviewed journals (to be eligible for a pass [10/20] on this criterion). The research is used in an integrated manner throughout the essay to support the argument.
Presentation (20%): The essay is appropriately structured with no headings, has relevant information order and flow, paragraphs are used effectively, and includes a well-formulated introduction and conclusion.
Referencing (5%): The references list and the in-text referencing complies with the exact detail of the CQU APA Referencing Guide. The references are appropriate and sufficient throughout the essay.
Communication (5%): The essay uses clear and concise communication, appropriate language, grammar, spelling (Australian English), and punctuation.
Note : Late penalties will be applied as per CQU Policy.
- Evaluate a number of theories that explain human behaviour
- Critically appraise the inter-relationship between individual, team and organisational systems
- Apply the study of organisational behaviour to work practices and arrangements in organisations.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
Examination
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
