HEALTH INFORMATICS AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR IN HEALTH CARE
PUBH.5050-071 Spring 2016

I. INSTRUCTOR AND LOCATION:

Instructor: Joy Curtis

Contact Information:
Phone: 617-448-7790
E-mail: [email protected]
Alternate E-mail: [email protected]

Location for in person classes:

UMass Lowell Campus
Room: TBD

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course provides a review of the organization of health care facilities and the behavior of individuals within
them. We analyze the role of managers, nurses, physicians and other clinicians as well as support personnel in
these systems. The course applies organizational, behavioral and social science practice and theory to health
care organizations. Health care organizations are compared to non-health care organizations to highlight the
unique behavior of healthcare workers and patients. Emphasis is on the use of course material by students to
analyze organizational culture and manage change in health care organizations.

III. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The course has two main objectives. First, to provide students with a systematic and critical understanding of
organizational behavior theory and social science research, and the factors involved in the management and
analysis of complex organizations like those found in health care. Second, is to show how these ideas can
serve as practical tools for the analysis and management of health care organizations. The topics covered in
the course allow students to analyze the organizational context in which they find themselves, both to aid
understanding, and to provide an improved basis for taking effective managerial action.

IV. GENERAL INFORMATION:

Required Text: Borkowski, Nancy. Organizational Behavior in Health Care, Jones and Bartlett
Publishers 3nd Edition, 2016 (Students may use the 2nd Edition, 2011, however the new edition is
preferred)
ISBN-13: 978-1-284-05104-9 (paper)

Face to Face Class Dates: 1/19, 2/9, 3/1, 3/22, 4/12, and 4/26
Tuesdays, 5:30 to 8:30 pm

Online (Through Blackboard Collaborative Chat) Dates: 1/26, 2/2, 2/16, 2/23, 3/8, 3/29, 4/5, and
4/19
Time: 7:30-9:00 pm.

Organizational Behavior is being taught as a “blended” in-person and ONLINE course giving you the
opportunity to experience the “best of both worlds.”
In order for this “blended” Health Care Management course to be successful, engagement, participation,
and communication are essential. Discussion is the foundation of this course so the more you’re involved
and participate in all aspects of the class, the more you are likely to get out of it.

In-person classes

The six in person classes will run much like in a traditional course. The classes will meet from 5:30 PM
to 8:30 PM on six (6) Tuesday evenings.

It is important that you make every effort to attend each of the in person classes, as missing one of
these means you miss three (3) hours of essential contact and networking with your fellow students
and the instructor. You must obtain permission in advance to be excused from a class.

Absence from more than one (1) in person class may result in a lowering of your final course
grade by one full letter grade. Absences from two (2) or more in person classes may result in a
failing grade.

Blackboard Collaborate Online Classes (Chat on the Course Menu)

 The online classes are one of the most important and unique parts of the course.

 On the eight (8) Tuesday evenings when we don’t meet in-person, we will hold a class online using
your computer and the Blackboard Collaborate software. We will meet online from 7:30 to 9:00
PM.

 Blackboard Collaborate is a software tool used for holding voice conferences over the Internet.

 With Blackboard Collaborate, we will be able to have “real classroom discussions” by simply talking
over the computer network. Using Blackboard Collaborate for voice communication makes each
online class an easier, somewhat more enjoyable, and most importantly, a better learning experience.

 Note: To use the online program you will need a microphone and headphones for your computer
(USB). Speakers cause feedback when anyone except you is talking and is very distracting to the
entire class.

 Sign on to Blackboard Collaborate (click Chat on the menu) before the first class and follow
the instructions for getting your computer ready for online discussions.

 Technical assistance can be found on the UML Online Learning tab of Blackboard in the UML Online
Learning Tutorials and Tech Support box. Help is available 24/7.

What happens if you have to miss a Blackboard Collaborate Session?

If unexcused, you will receive a zero for class participation. To help you keep up with the class and for your
review, the online Blackboard Collaborate sessions will be recorded and archived on the course web site.

If you can’t participate in any given class, then I expect, at a minimum, that you’ll listen to the archived
Blackboard Collaborate session and review the PowerPoints or any other materials discussed during
the session. Click on Chat and then Recordings to locate an archived session.

What can you expect from the instructor?

I will be available to support your mastery of this course. I will be available for ½ hour after our in person
classes to answer any question you may have. I am also available by appointment for a call or Blackboard
Chat. You may also reach me by email or Mail (Messages Tool in Blackboard). See below:
Mail (Messages Tool in Blackboard)
Mail in Blackboard should be reserved for private or personal issues that are best not shared with the
entire class. You may Mail me at any time, and I will try to respond within 24 hours. Please note that
Blackboard works with its own internal mail system, which means all messages are sent, stored, and read
within the course on Blackboard, and not through your own external mail. To access mail, log on and go to
your course, and click on the mail tool on the course menu on the left side your screen. It is recommended that
you check Mail at least once a day, so that you don't miss important course information.
Blackboard provides a convenient indicator if you have unread mail waiting for you. Once you log into
Blackboard, before clicking on a course link, if you look at the upper-left corner of your UML Online Learning
page, you will see a “My Messages” area. If there is new mail waiting for you, they will show up there. You
can simply click on the link and you will be brought directly into your course mail system.
As mentioned prior, any general questions or comments about course contents or assignments are best suited
to the "Questions/Comments" discussion boards. Please post these types of concerns there, rather than via
email, so everyone can benefit and contribute. Mail (messages) is best reserved for private, personal matters
that are not appropriate for class-wide discussion.

Assignment Guidelines - Course Grading:

Your final grade will be based on attendance, participation, postings, presentations, and papers.
Evaluations and portions of the grade assigned to each of these areas are as follows:

Assignments are DUE on dates and at times noted

 Under normal circumstances, late work will not be accepted without prior agreement, except in the
case of an emergency. You should contact me directly via Mail on Blackboard AND through my
UML email.

Grades: (based on points earned)

a. Class Participation 20
b. Individual Topic Presentation 10
c. Case Studies (3 written – 10 points each) 30
d. Discussion Board Postings 40
Total 100

Grade GPA Numeric Grade GPA Equivalent Numeric

Equivalent Range Range
A 4.0 93-100 C 2.0 73-76
A- 3.7 90-92 C- 1.7 70-72
B+ 3.3 87-89 D+ 1.3 65-69
B 3.0 83-86 D 1.0 60-64
B- 2.7 80-82 F 0.0 >60
C+ 2.3 77-79

V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Class Participation: Students will be prepared for active participation in each class, both in-person and
on-line. Students should be prepared to experience learning through many different avenues and
participate in each to his or her fullest capacity. There will be many in-class case studies, experiential
learning exercises and group discussions. Class participation evaluations are based on contribution to
class discussions, including preparation for class, the concise and analytic use of the models, theories
and concepts presented, and comments which move the group analysis toward an understanding of the
issues or cases being discussed. Posting comments within Blackboard Learning during online
sessions does not count as class participation.
It is encouraged that you bring your real life experiences to class. Based on your experiences and
mine, we can discuss and analyze the organizational behavior and managerial problems and issues
that you face while on-the-job.

The class will be a safe environment for exploring ideas and challenging assumptions. It is an
expectation of this course that students will take the necessary action to respectfully listen to the voices
of other students and share your own opinions and values. Students and the instructor are expected to
treat each other with respect.

Individual Topic Presentation: Each student will select a topic relating to Organizational Behavior
and present an 8-10 minute presentation on the topic to the class. Students will present during the face-
to-face sessions. Students should provide an introduction to their topic which includes what it is, and
why it is important to organizational behavior. Students can gather the information from an article
relating to the topic or from his/her own experience and present it as a case study. Topic will need to
be approved by me and a sign-up sheet will be available at the first face to face class. Some examples
of topics include:

o Emotional Intelligence
o Working with Diverse People
o Stress Management
o Decision Making Obstacles
o Performance Management
o Ethical Compliance
o Mentoring
o Job Design/Contemporary Work
o Motivation
o Change
o Work/Life Balance
o Social Responsibility
o Conflict Management
o Learning to Work Politically
o Communication
o Leadership
o Management Styles
These are only examples and other topics are highly encouraged.

Case Studies: There will be a case(s) or discussion questions assigned for analysis and discussion for
each class. In addition to the class discussion of cases, three written in-depth analyses will be
required. Grading of the written cases will be on the quality of your analysis, your ability to demonstrate
competency with the materials covered in the course. Written case reports should be submitted through
the “dropbox” on Blackboard. There is also an opportunity to submit an extra credit case at the end of
the semester.

Discussion Board Postings: You must post to the Discussion Board by the Saturday before the
scheduled class. These postings will be available for all students to view. A useful way of analyzing
management problems is for the class to share their experiences. We will share our experiences both
in-class and on the discussion board. In posting to the discussion board you should comment on the
assigned case or discussion questions, and the material covered in the classes or in the assigned
readings from Borkowski up to that point. It is particularly important that you build your discussion
on the materials covered in the course. I am interested that you become comfortable with the
new materials that the course introduces to you.

The Discussion Board Posting will be due by midnight of the Saturday before class. On the following
Tuesday we will review and discuss your postings and the reading assignments.
 I will be assessing each of your postings, using the following scale:

0 No Posting to the Discussion Board.

Satisfactory Substantially incomplete with unduly short mechanical answers not

minus S- reflecting independent thought, creativity or analysis.

Satisfactory Somewhat complete or not fully responsive to the class materials.

S

Satisfactory Fully complete, comprehensive and thoughtful discussion.

plus S+

“Extra credit” will be available to anyone who brings in additional outside research of the class assignments in
their posting.

My focus in evaluating the Discussion Board Postings will center on:

1) Your ability to integrate organizational behavior concepts from the readings and discussions.
2) Your ability to integrate your own experiences and attitudes in attempting to understand what happened
in class, at work, or in the case studies.
3) Your persuasiveness and effectiveness in concisely presenting your ideas.

VI. OTHER:
Policy on Late Work and Missed Case Studies: Late case studies or discussion postings will not be
accepted without the prior agreement of the Instructor, except in the case of emergency.
References: You may wish to visit the UML Library website at
http://www.uml.edu/Libraries/Create_Bibliography/q-cite.html for assistance in making proper footnotes.

Grammar, writing mechanics and spelling: It is expected that students use a spelling and grammar checker
prior to submitting assignments.

Writing Assistance: The OWL Writing Lab at Purdue University offers a great deal of assistance on the
writing process. If you need assistance, I encourage you to visit it for help in writing your assignments, reports
and papers for this course or any other that you take. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/679/01

Plagiarism (whether from published sources, unpublished sources or the Internet) is absolutely not allowed in
preparation of written assignments. A first offense will mean a letter reduction in your grade for the entire
course; a second offense will result in your failing the course. It is incumbent on you (the student) to learn and
understand what is meant by plagiarism and act accordingly. I encourage you to read
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism. No extenuating circumstances will be allowed, and no second chances
will be given.
 Class Schedule: Organizational Behavior in Health Care 32:502

F2F or
Week Date On-line Readings* Case Study or Discussion Question** Written Case Study
Please prepare to introduce yourself
and say one thing for which you are
Posted Forbes grateful. Be prepared to comment in
and HBR blogs class on the readings on gratitude
on and recognition in the workplace.
1 1/19/2016 F2F Blackboard Does it work? ***
Scott’s Dilemma p. 49-50 (p. 43-44);
Chapters 1, 2 In-class***: Diversity Conflicts in
2 1/26/2016 On-line &3 the NICU
Communication Flows p. 97 (p.88) ,
Now We Can Finally Talk, p. 108
3 2/2/2016 On-line Chapter 4 (p.99)
I Get by With a Little Help From My
4 2/9/2016 F2F Chapter 5 & 6 Friends
Case Study #1 Due: Evergreen
5 2/16/2016 On-line Chapter 8 Scott's Dilemma p. 189 (p. 174) Willows
Jade's Dilemma; Complete Exercise 9-
6 2/23/2016 On-line Chapter 9 4, p. 202 (p. 187)
Chapter 10 & Complete Exercise 11-1 p. 244
7 3/1/2016 F2F 11 (p.226)
Taking the Stress Out of Stressful Case Study #2 Due: I Don’t
8 3/18/2016 On-Line Chapter 12 Conversations Want to Get Fired, But…
Healthy Conflict Resolution, p. 301;
Chapter 13 & Sunrise Hospital; In-class***: The
9 3/22/2016 F2F 14 Most Stressful Conditions

10 3/29/2016 On-line Chapter 15 Exercise 15-3 p.347; (15-2 p.324)

We Only Wanted to “Scare”
11 4/5/2016 On-line Chapter 16 Management into Making Changes
Exercise 17 - 2, p. 379 (p.354); None
12 4/12/2016 F2F Chapter 17 of Us Is As Smart As All of Us
Case Study 18-4, p. 398 (18-3 p.371) ;
In-class***:Case Study 18-1, p.385 Case Study #3 Due: Banana
13 4/19/2016 On-line Chapter 18 (p.359) Time
In-class***: Case Study 19-1 p. 412
4/26/2016
14 F2F Chapter 19 (p. 382) Discussion & Wrap Up

Please note that the case studies or discussion questions must be posted by mid-night Saturday (prior to the Tuesday
on-line class)

*All readings are from the text, Organizational Behavior in Health Care, Nancy Borkowski unless otherwise noted
**Case studies are posted on Blackboard; please note some are in the text and the page # is posted.
***No written responses for in-class case studies; we will work on these together.