Course Overview

            This class will explore the politics and conflicts that occur in organizations.  The goals of the class are for students to be able to:

·        Understand the nature of politics and conflict

·        Identify the causes and results of organizational conflict

·        Understand the politics occurring in their own organizations

·        Use their knowledge of organizational politics and conflict to increase their work performance

Course Format

         Class Meetings

         The class will meet as a group on four occasions:

·          Saturday, August 28, 9:00-1:00, RU 349

·          Saturday, October 2, 9:00 – 1:00, RU 349

·          Saturday, November 6, 9:00 – 1:00, RU 349

·          Saturday, December 4, 9:00 – 1:00, RU 349

During these class meetings, the instructor will provide lecture material and synthesize information from the readings.  The students will bring examples from their organizations that demonstrate the information discussed in the texts.

Student Reading

Between class periods, students will read five books covering a variety of topics related to organizational politics and conflict.  The five books are:

        Cloke, K.,  & Goldsmith, J. (2001).  Resolving conflicts at work.  NY: Jossey-Bass (ISBN 0-78-795481-0)                                                     

       Rozakis, L. & Rozakis, B. (1998).  The complete idiot’s guide to office politics.  NY: Alpha Books. (ISBN 0-02-862397-5)         

       Salmon, W. A., & Salmon, R. T. (1999). Office politics for the utterly confused.  NY: McGraw-Hill. (ISBN 0-07-058046-4)

       Simmons, A. (1998).  Territorial games: Understanding and ending turf wars at work.  NY: AMACOM.  (ISBN 0-8144-0383-2)                      

       Weisinger, H. (2000).  The power of positive criticism.  NY: AMACOM.

(ISBN 0-81-440483-9)                                                          

Book Questions

    Assignment 1: Idiot's Guide to Office Politics

    Assignment 2: Office Politics for the Utterly Confused

    Assignment 3: Territorial Games

    Assignment 4: Resolving Conflicts at Work

    Assignment 5: Power of Positive Criticism

Good Books on Organizational Politics

Dobson, M. S., & Dobson, D. S. (2001).  Enlightened office politics.  NY: AMACOM.  (ISBN 0-81-447065-3)

Dubrin, A. (1990).  Winning office politics.  Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall. (ISBN 0-13-964958-1)

Hawley, C. F.  (2001).  100+ tactics for office politics.  NY: Barrons Educational Series.  (ISBN 0-76-411645-2)

Holden, M.  (1998).  Positive politics:  Overcome office politics and fast-track your career.  Warriewood, Australia:  Business and Professional Publishing. (ISBN 1-87-568038-1)

Lange, G., & Domke, T.  (2001).  Cain and Abel at work: How to overcome office politics and people who stand between you and success.  NY: Broadway Books.  (ISBN 0-76-790523-7)

Latimer, M. (1999). Whey do they call it business if it’s mostly politics? www.upublish.com (ISBN 1-58112-814-2)

Porter, P.  (2000). Eat or be eaten: Jungle warfare for the master corporate politician.  Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall.  (0-73-520143-9)

Reardon, K. K. (2000).  The secret handshake: Mastering the politics of the business inner circle.  NY: Doubleday (ISBN 0-38-549527-7)

Rozakis, L., & Rozakis, B.  (1998).  The complete idiot’s guide to office politics.  NY: Alpha Books. (ISBN 0-02-862397-5)

Salmon, W. A., & Salmon, R. T. (1999).  Office politics for the utterly confused.  NY: McGraw-Hill. (ISBN 0-07-058046-4)

Schonberg, A. R.  (1998).  169 ways to score points with your boss. Chicago: Contemporary Books. (ISBN 0-80-922999-4)

Simmons, A.  (1998).  Territorial games: Understanding and ending turf wars at work.  NY: AMACOM (ISBN 0-81-440383-2)

Taub, M. & Tullier, L. M.  (1998).  Work smart: The 250 smart moves your boss already knows.  Princeton, NJ: Princeton Review (ISBN 0-67-978388-1)

Wood, K. G.  (2000).  Don’t sabotage your success! Make office politics work.  NY: Enlightened Concepts Publishing.  (ISBN 0-97-021430-8)

Home