This course examines the principles of organizational behavior and their impact on driving effective change within businesses. Students will explore key topics such as leadership, motivation, corporate culture, team dynamics, and decision-making in the context of organizational transformation. Through case studies and real-world applications, the course equips students with the skills to lead change initiatives, foster engagement, and cultivate a culture of innovation and adaptability.
Students will be able to:
For all assessments and learning activities, see Brightspace for the full assignment descriptions and instructions. Read the prompts carefully and use the rubrics to confirm how assignments and discussions will be graded.
Discussions are designed to enhance your critical thinking and communication skills, connecting course concepts to practical scenarios. Most discussion prompts draw from case studies and exercises from the primary textbook, providing an opportunity to share insights and compare perspectives with your classmates.
Throughout the course, you will take on the role of a consultant for NexFlow Solutions, a fictitious manufacturing company undergoing digital transformation. Each week focuses on a different aspect of organizational change; assignments will require you to apply course content to the details of this case study.
The cumulative project in this course is a final consultancy report and executive summary video, in which you evaluate the organizational challenges at NexFlow and provide recommendations for improvement. This report will integrate insights from across the course and demonstrate your ability to apply analytical frameworks, assess leadership and organizational dynamics, and offer actionable recommendations.
You will also record a 3-5 minute Executive Summary video explaining the key points and your strategic recommendations. Your video should be tailored to a leadership audience, concisely summarizing the findings from your report into an impactful narrative.
This final assignment is designed to help you practice persuasive communication in circumstances where you may not have formal authority to lead change. You will select a scenario and record a 3-5 minute video pitch demonstrating your ability to influence others using principles of organizational behavior. You will share this video in the discussion forum for feedback and provide a thoughtful critique of your peers’ videos as well.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
| Learning Activity | Points |
|---|---|
| Academic Integrity Agreement | 1 |
| Week 1 Discussion: Introductions and Change Roles in your Organization | 4 |
| Week 1 - Case Study Project Part 1: PESTEL Analysis | 6 |
| Week 2 Discussion: Organizational Change | 4 |
| Week 2 - Case Study Project Part 2: Evaluating Change Leadership | 6 |
| Week 3 Discussion: Energizing the Need for Change | 4 |
| Week 3 - Case Study Project Part 3: Communicating the Case for Change | 6 |
| Week 4 Discussion: Assessing Power | 4 |
| Week 4 - Case Study Project Part 4: Organizational Culture and Internal Politics | 6 |
| Week 5 Discussion: Organizational Culture, Bias, and Conflict | 4 |
| Week 5 - Case Study Project Part 5: Organizational Culture, Bias and Conflict | 6 |
| Week 6 Discussion: Mobilizing Change and Decision Making | 4 |
| Week 6 - Case Study Project Part 6: Sustaining Momentum in Change Initiatives | 6 |
| Week 7 Discussion: It Starts with One | 4 |
| Key Assessment: Consultancy Report and Executive Summary Video | 20 |
| Week 8 Video Pitch: Persuading without Authority and Leading Change | 11 |
| Week 8 Discussion: Peer Feedback on Video Pitch | 4 |
| Total | 100 |
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Week 1: Wednesday – Sunday
Week 2: Monday – Sunday
Week 3: Monday – Sunday
Week 4: Monday – Sunday
Week 5: Monday – Sunday
Week 6: Monday – Sunday
Week 7: Monday – Sunday
Week 8: Monday – Friday
| Week | Assessments | Due |
|
Week 1: Change Frameworks for Organizational Diagnosis |
|
Initial Discussion Posts due Friday at 11:59 PM ET Discussion Responses due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET Case Study Project Assignment due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET |
| Week 2: Leadership – Who Leads the Change? |
|
Initial Discussion Posts due Friday at 11:59 PM ET Discussion Responses due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET Case Study Project Assignment due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET |
| Week 3: Energizing the Need for Change |
|
Initial Discussion Posts due Friday at 11:59 PM ET Discussion Responses due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET Case Study Project Assignment due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET |
| Week 4: Navigating Organizational Culture and Politics; Group Dynamics |
|
Initial Discussion Posts due Friday at 11:59 PM ET Discussion Responses due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET Case Study Project Assignment due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET |
| Week 5: Organizational Culture, Bias and Conflict |
|
Initial Discussion Posts due Friday at 11:59 PM ET Discussion Responses due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET Case Study Project Assignment due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET |
| Week 6: Mobilizing Change & Decision-Making |
|
Initial Discussion Posts due Friday at 11:59 PM ET Discussion Responses due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET Case Study Project Assignment due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET |
| Week 7: Mobilizing to Acceleration: Change Management Strategies |
|
Initial Discussion Posts due Friday at 11:59 PM ET Discussion Responses due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET Key Assessment: Consultancy Report and Executive Summary Video due Sunday at 11:59 PM ET |
| Week 8: Persuading without Authority and Leading Change |
|
Video Pitch Due WEDNESDAY at 11:59 PM ET Peer Feedback due FRIDAY at 11:59 PM ET |
Your Enrollment and Retention Counselor is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Please reach out to your student success team member.
UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
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Students should notify their student success team member and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
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Phone: Mon-Fri: (207) 602-2487
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UNE Online supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
A grade of 80% or higher is required to pass the course. A grade lower than 80% will result in you having to repeat the course. Obtaining two "Fs" in the program may result in dismissal from the program.
Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support their roles as learners and professionals. The use of AI in academic work falls under our academic integrity agreement, ensuring that all AI applications are used in alignment with our commitment to honest and responsible learning.
In situations in which AI tools are used as a resource, students must:
As GenAI continues to evolve, students should also stay abreast of best practices and changing risks and benefits.
Please note that individual courses or assignments may have specific guidelines regarding AI use — please refer to your faculty’s directions or assignment instructions for details.
The Student Orientation has a module "Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Students", please refer to this module for more information about navigating the use of AI.
UNE uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements.
Students are responsible for submitting work by the date indicated in Brightspace. In a professional environment, deadlines matter because work impacts teams, clients, and decisions, and this course reflects those expectations.
Quizzes and Tests:
Quizzes and tests must be completed by the posted deadline .
Assignments:
Each assignment includes an automatic 48-hour grace period after the posted deadline.
After the grace period:
Discussion posts:
Discussion activities depend on timely participation and peer engagement and therefore do not include a grace period.
Students are expected to communicate proactively if they anticipate difficulty meeting a deadline. In cases of significant or unforeseen circumstances, extensions may be considered at the instructor’s discretion.
Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.
Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Business will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET of the first week. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean’s Office.
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following: