Chaminade University of Honolulu
PSY 434 – Organizational Psychology
Spring Evening 2005
Instructor: Patricia O’Neal, MSCP
Phone: 808-422-8860 through April 22, 2005
Office Hrs: By appointment
Email: [email protected]
Term Dates: 04/04/05 – 06/13/05
Required Text: Work in the 21st Century, An introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Landy, F. & Conte, J., 2004. This course develops and assesses the skills and competencies for the program student learning outcome of Applied Psychology. In addition, this course also addresses the program student learning outcomes of 1) Scientific Method and its Application in the Field of Psychology and 2) Cross-Cultural Psychology.
2005 Catalog Course Description:
Psychology 434 Organizational Psychology - The subfield of psychology that deals with work in commercial and industrial settings. Areas covered include job morale, satisfaction, organizational effectiveness, growth, and change. The field covers the individual worker plus the worker in a group setting.
Students with Disabilities:
Chaminade University will provide assistance for any student with documented disabilities. Any student who believes he or she needs special accommodations must contact Dr. Don Kopf at 735-4845 or Dr. June Yasuhara at 739-4603 at the Chaminade Counseling Center to determine whether the student meets the criteria for documented disability in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact Dr. Kopf or Dr. Yasuhara as soon as possible.
Chaminade University is a Catholic Marianist University, which:
Catholic Universities affirm an intricate relationship between reason and faith. As important as discursive and logical formulations and critical thinking are, they are not able to capture all that can be and ought to be learned. Intellectual rigor, coupled with respectful humility, provide a more profound preparation for both career and life. Intellectual rigor characterizes the pursuit of all that can be learned. Respectful humility reminds people of faith that they need to learn from those who are of other faiths and cultures, as well as from those who may have no religious faith at all.
In the Marianist approach to education, “excellence” includes the whole person, not just the technician or rhetorician. Marianist universities educate whole persons, developing their physical, psychological, intellectual, moral, spiritual and social qualities. Faculty and students attend to fundamental moral attitudes, develop their personal talents and acquire skills that will help them learn all their lives. The Marianist approach to education links theory and practice, liberal and professional education. Our age has been deeply shaped by science and technology. Most recently, information and educational technologies have changed the way faculty and students research and teach. At Marianist Universities, two goals are pursued simultaneously: an appropriate use of information technology for learning, and the enhancement of interaction between students and teachers. As Catholic, Marianist Universities seek to embrace diverse peoples and understand diverse cultures, convinced that ultimately, when such people come together, one of the highest purposes of education is realized: a human community that respects every individual within it.
Known for their strong sense of community, Marianists have traditionally spoken of this sense as “family spirit.” Marianist educational experience fosters the development of a community characterized by a sense of family spirit that accepts each person with loving respect, and draws everyone in the university into the challenge of community building. Family spirit also enables Marianist universities to challenge their students, faculty and staff to excellence and maturity, because the acceptance and love of a community gives its members the courage to risk failure and the joy of sharing success.
The Marianist approach to higher education is deeply committed to the common good. The intellectual life itself is undertaken as a form of service in the interest of justice and peace, and the university curriculum is designed to connect the classroom with the wider world. In addition, Marianist universities extend a special concern for the poor and marginalized and promote the dignity, rights and responsibilities of all people.
In the midst of rapid social and technological change, Marianist universities readily adapt and change their methods and structures so that the wisdom of their educational philosophy and spirituality may be transmitted even more fully. “New times call for new methods,” Father Chaminade often repeated. The Marianist university faces the future confidently, on the one hand knowing that it draws on a rich educational philosophy, and on the other fully aware for that philosophy to remain vibrant in changing times, adaptations need to be made.
Selected from Characteristics of Marianist Universities: A Resource Paper, Published in 1999 by Chaminade University of Honolulu, St. Mary’s University and University of Dayton.
** Each of these characteristics is integrated, to varying degrees, in this course
Course Description:
This course will explore the concept of organizational structure from a psychological perspective, to include the application of psychological principles, theory, and research to the work setting. The focus of this course surrounds not only the physical boundaries of the workplace, but takes into account the interdependence of individuals, organizations, and society. This course will also explore: psychology and organizations; the influence of personality on work behavior; social implications of work behavior (emotions, motivation, attitudes, leadership, and stress management); the individual-organizational fit; work performance; staffing, evaluation, training and development; and organizational change.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Student will demonstrate an understanding of:
1. The scientific method and its application to the field of organizational psychology.
2. Multicultural and cross-cultural issues in industrial and organizational psychology.
3. How ethics and ethical practice contribute to the field of organizational psychology.
4. How to conduct and interpret research relevant to organizational psychology through
an assigned research project
5. How the course may be addressed by the five Marianist values.
6. The concept of “good work” and the importance of work in people’s lives.
7. How to study and interpret worker behavior.
8. Personality and individual interests/differences that apply to organizational
psychology.
9. The historical contributions and current trends associated with organizational
psychology.
10. The meaning and importance of motivation in the workplace.
11. Health, stress, and safety in the workplace.
Through the use of the discussion board, web activities, text reading, homework assignments, research project, and examinations, students will explore the concepts, related theories, and ideas that parallel organizational psychology.
Requirements:
Homework assignments – Weekly assignments at 10 points each = 100 points.
Discussions – Weekly discussion assignments at 10 points each = 100 points.
TWO exams – Midterm and Final exams at 100 points each = 200 points.
Research project / paper at 100 points = 100 points.
Total course points = 500 points.
Grading:
450 - 500 = A
400 – 449 = B
350 – 399 = C
300 – 349 = D
Below 300 = F
Research project / paper: A Personal Exploration of Customer Service. (DUE 5/29/05)
This research project will integrate your own personal observations with documented,
peer-reviewed journal research concerning the concept of customer service.
You are required to physically visit four (4) businesses / organizations. Examples
of businesses / organizations include Wal-Mart, the Commissary, Times Supermarket,
Bank of Hawaii, Chaminade University Bookstore, Starbucks, the PX/NEX, Fantastic
Sams, etc. You are to observe the level of customer service shown to you. You shall
name the organization and indicate the services provided, describe the nature of
the organization – upon entry, how does it appear? (crowded, clean, accessible,
adequate amount of product).
You will also observe and note the following:
Employee job skills – Is the employee knowledgeable? Organized? Dressed appropriately?
Employee social skills – Do they greet you cheerfully, use your name, chat with you, behave rudely?, etc.
Employee emotional status – Does the employee(s) smile, frown, appear angry, sad?, etc.
What impact does their job skills, social skills, and perceived emotional status have upon you and other customers?
On a scale from 1-10, how do you rate the level of customer service? (10 being excellent).
Observe the cultural (and ethnic) status of the employees. Does the customer’s race, age, emotions, or appearance appear to have any effect upon how the customer is treated? Explain your answers.
From your observations, what does the customer service of each organization tell you about how they relate to and feel about their customers?
Does the organization have a business website? Is the site easily accessible, provide an abundance of information, provide any information related to customer service?
Does the employee appear to be satisfied with his or her job?
List areas you feel could be improved upon and make suggestions.
This research project shall begin with an introduction paragraph. You will research the concept of “customer service” online, utilizing Chaminade’s EBSCO Journal search via the Chaminade.edu website.
To search for articles, click on: http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,uid&profile=ehost&defaultdb=aph
USER ID is: Sullivan and the PASSWORD is ahinahina.
You are required to summarize TWO journal articles relevant to the concept of Customer Service. You will use the APA style of writing, 12 point font, 1-inch margins, and the paper must fill a minimum of six (6) double-spaced, and no more than seven (7) full double-spaced pages. You MUST include an APA style reference section at the end of your paper (which does not count toward your total page count). If you do not own the Fifth Edition of the APA Writer’s Manual, you may find pertinent information on the following website: http://valencia.cc.fl.us/lrcwest/apapaper.html
This paper / project is DUE on time. No late papers are accepted for full points.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Week 1: 04/04/05
--- Introduce Yourself. Read Chapter 1. Homework and discussion assignment due
BY 8 PM on Sunday, 04/10/05.
Week 2: 04/11/05
--- Read Chapters 2 & 3. Homework, & discussion posting due BY 8 PM on Sunday,
04/17/05
Week 3: 04/18/05
---Read Chapters 4 & 5. Homework and discussion posting due BY 8 PM on 04/24/05.
Week 4: 04/25/05
---Read Chapters 6 & 7. Homework, discussion due BY 8 PM on 05/01/05.
Week 5: 05/02/05
--- Read Chapter 8. Homework, discussion postings, and
MIDTERM answers are all
due BY 8 PM on Sunday, 05/08/05.
Midterm covers Chapters 1 – 8.
Week 6: 05/09/05
---Read Chapters 9 & 10. Homework & discussions due BY 05/15/05.
Week 7: 05/16/05
---Read Chapters 11 & 12. Homework & discussion due BY 05/22/05.
Week 8: 05/23/05
--- PAPER DUE... Read Chapters 13 & 14. Homework and discussion due BY 05/29/05.
PAPER DUE on 5/29/05.
Week 9: 05/30/05
---Read Chapters 15 & 16. Homework & discussion due BY 06/05/05.
Week 10: 06/06/05
---Review for final exam. Homework and discussion due BY 8 PM 06/12/05.
MANDATORY - COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM is Sat. 06/11/05 at 1 and 3 pm.
If you have military base access, you must reserve a seat at one of those locations in writing, via email. Otherwise, you will take your exam at the Chaminade Main Campus. If you live off-island, you will make a reservation with an exam proctor. Exam proctors must contact Donna Yoshimura, the AUP secretary, at 808-739-8524.