Course Syllabus

BUS 1170 Human Relations in Organizations

Course Description

This is an introductory course in human relations principles and workplace skills applicable to management effectiveness, career success, and personal relationships. Theories and methods of organizational behavior, professionalism, motivation, team building, conflict resolution, leadership, negotiation, cultural differences, and personal communication are discussed. Practical application and development of workplace skills are emphasized throughout the course. Successful completion of the course satisfies the Social and Behavior Science General Education requirement.

Justification

The course is an integrated approach to human relations and organizational behavior. The course focuses on workplace skills that are needed in every career. A student will gain a greater understanding of the similarities and differences between interpersonal relationships and business relationships. The course will provide strategies to help students form effective relationships with subordinates, superiors, and co-workers that are essential for career success.

The course is required for the One-Year Certificate of Completion in Business and is an option for the Human Relations requirement for AAS programs. This course is similar to SLCC LE 1220 Human Relations (SS GE).

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. Students will gain knowledge of the science of human relations and organizational behavior based on research and scientific theory. Students learn strategies to anticipate and prevent problems before they occur and to solve existing problems of interpersonal relations in organizations through in-depth analysis of case studies and application of theory in assignments and exams. Students will receive peer and instructor feedback.
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Students are expected to complete reading assignments in the course text. Online technology uses adaptive tools to diagnose a student's knowledge/comprehension of the textbook reading and create a personalized learning path for mastery of chapter concepts. The technology provides immediate feedback, practice, and remediation outside of class. Students are also required to search databases, read scholarly peer-reviewed articles, evaluate the content as it relates to human relations topics, and deliver critical written responses. Class projects and/or assignments will allow students to demonstrate their ability.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. Students will be introduced to the scientific theory and research of human relations and organizational behavior (e.g., Fredrick Taylor, Robert Owen, Elton Mayo, Hawthorne Effect, Peter Drucker, Douglas McGregor, Eric Berne, William Ouchi, TQM). Class discussions, exams, and/or assignments will allow students to demonstrate their ability.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. Students read/view a variety of case studies and consider the differences in gender, culture, language, etiquette, and nonverbal communication. They will also learn about social and organizational politics and compare networking, reciprocity, and coalition building. This will be assessed through the signature assignment (team project), assignments, and exams.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

1. Students will study organizations (levels of behavior: individual, group, and organizational), structures (coworkers, subordinates, and superiors), and organizational change (structure, technology/process, tasks, people) and examine trends and changes over time and how behavior is affected. Students will demonstrate knowledge through exams with instructor feedback. Students will study organizations (levels of behavior: individual, group, and organizational), structures (coworkers, subordinates, and superiors), and organizational change (structure, technology/process, tasks, people) and examine trends and changes over time and how behavior is affected. Students will demonstrate knowledge through exams with instructor feedback.
2. Develop and communicate hypothetical explanations for individual human behavior within the large-scale historical or social context. Students will learn the theories and history of human relations and organizational behavior through primary and secondary sources. Class discussions, exams, and written assignments will allow students to develop and communicate hypothetical explanations for behavior in organizations.
3. Draw on the social and behavioral sciences to evaluate contemporary problems using social science research methodology. Students will evaluate contemporary cases of well-known people and/or organizations (e.g., Mark Cuban, Nike, Coca-Cola, Jay-Z, Starbucks, Mark Zuckerberg, McDonald's, Disney, Uber, and Google) using social science research methodology. Class discussions, exams, and assignments will allow students to demonstrate their ability.
4. Describe and analytically compare social, political, economic, cultural, geographical, and historical settings and processes other than one’s own. Students read/view a variety of case studies and consider the differences in gender, culture, language, etiquette, and nonverbal communication. They will also learn about social and organizational politics and compare networking, reciprocity, and coalition building. This will be assessed through assignments and exams.
5. Explain and use the social-scientific method to test research questions and draw conclusions. Students will be introduced to the social-scientific method. By analyzing primary and secondary sources in human relations and organizational behavior, students will understand appropriate methods used to test human relations research questions and draw conclusions. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the social-scientific method through assignments, projects, and exams.
6. Write effectively within the social science discipline, using correct disciplinary guidelines, to analyze, interpret, and communicate about social science phenomena. Students will be introduced to writing within the social science discipline as they research and read scholarly articles. Students will use disciplinary guidelines (APA) to analyze, interpret, and communicate about human relations phenomena through written projects, and assignments. A rubric will be provided.

Course Content

The following topics will be covered:Intrapersonal Skills - Behavior, Human Relations, and Performance- Personality, Stress, Learning, Perception- Attitudes, Self-Concepts, Values, and EthicsInterpersonal Skills - The Foundation of Human Relations- Communications and Emotions- Criticism and ConflictLeadership Skills: Influencing to Help Yourself and Others Succeed- Leading and Trust- Motivating Performance- Ethical Power and Politics- Networking and NegotiatingLeadership Skills: Team and Organizational Behavior, Human Relations, and Performance- Team Dynamics, Creativity and Problem Solving, and Decision Making- Organizational Change and Culture- Valuing Cultural Differences Globally