Course

Behaviour in Organizations

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Social Sciences
Course code
SOSC 2140
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course introduces and explores social science theory and research as it applies to human behaviour in organizations. Organizational systems, group dynamics, and individual behaviour are studied in order to gain an understanding of how these factors contribute to organizational effectiveness and member satisfaction.
Course content

 

  1. Organizations:
    • The nature of organizations
    • Historical approaches to managing organizations
    • The social context in which organizations function
  2. Organizational Behaviour as a Social Science:
    • Research and the scientific method
    • Contributing disciplines
  3. Individual Behaviour in Organizations:
    • Individual differences
    • Perception, learning, and motivation
  4. Individuals Working Together:
    • Communication and decision making
    • Group development, cohesiveness, and productivity
    • Leadership and power
    • Conflict and negotiation
  5. Organization-wide Factors:
    • Organizational structure, policies, and procedures
    • Organizational climate and culture
    • Ethics and social responsibility
    • Organizational change and development

 

Learning activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:

  • lectures
  • structured experiences
  • audio visual presentations
  • group projects/discussions
  • case studies
  • Seminar presentations
  • library research papers

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy.  Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will include some of the following:  quizzes, exams, research paper, case study assignment, group project, oral presentation, participation, etc.  The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.

An example of an evaluation scheme:

Three multiple choice quizzes -- 60%

Semester assignments -- 10%

Group project/presentation -- 20%

Class participation/involvement -- 10%

Total -- 100%

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

  1. Explain the nature of organizations and identify the important individual, group, and organizational factors that contribute to organizational effectiveness and member satisfaction.
  2. List the determinants of individual behaviour and describe the complexity of behaviour in organizations.
  3. Describe how individuals can enhance their effectiveness in organizations and how human resources can be managed effectively to accomplish organizational goals.
  4. List important elements of interpersonal relations and group dynamics and explain how they influence organizational functioning.
  5. Describe the changing social, cultural and economic context in which organizations function and explain the need for leadership, change, and change management.

Textbook materials

Texts will be updated periodically. Typical examples are:

  • Johns, G. & Saks, A. M. (2016). Organizational Behavior: Understanding and Managing Life at Work (Tenth Edition). Toronto, ON: Pearson.
  • McShane, S., Steen, S., & Tasa, K. (2017). Canadian Organizational Behavior (Tenth Edition). Toronto, ON: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.

 

Requisites

Prerequisites

Minimum 12 credits completed.

Corequisites

Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:

  • No corequisite courses

Equivalencies

Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:

  • No equivalency courses

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for SOSC 2140
Acsenda School of Management (ASM) ASM BADM 302 (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU ORGB 364 (3)
BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) BCIT ORGB 1100 (3) or BCIT ORGB 1105 (4) or BCIT ORGB 2510 (2)
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO BUS 220 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU BADM 106 (3)
College of New Caledonia (CNC) CNC COM 222 (3)
Columbia College (COLU) COLU BUSN 272 (3)
Coquitlam College (COQU) COQU BUSI 272 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU BUSI 1215 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG BUSM 2200 (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC BUAD 269 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU BUS 272 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU SSEL 2XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU BUSI 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO MGMT_O 230 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV ARTS_V 1st (3) or UBCV COMM_V 192 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC COMM 230 (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV BUS 203 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC COM 220 (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU MGMT 292 (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
4
Remaining seats:
31
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N2214
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
14:20
Section notes

Students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits prior to registering in this course.

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
35
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S1809
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section notes

Students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits prior to registering in this course. SOSC 2140-002 is offered in a hybrid format. Class meets for two hours every week and students complete remaining course material online and outside of the classroom in a self-directed format. 

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
9
Remaining seats:
26
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S1809
Times:
Start Time
10:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section notes

Students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits prior to registering in this course. SOSC 2140-002 is offered in a hybrid format. Class meets for two hours every week and students complete remaining course material online and outside of the classroom in a self-directed format. 

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
4
Remaining seats:
31
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S1809
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
14:20
Section notes

Students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits prior to registering in this course. SOSC 2140-002 is offered in a hybrid format. Class meets for two hours every week and students complete remaining course material online and outside of the classroom in a self-directed format. 

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
11
Remaining seats:
24
On waitlist
0
Building
Online
Room
ONLINE
Times:
-
Section notes

Students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits prior to registering in this course.