Course Description

Organizational Behavior [BSMT-3340-10 (Online) — [A completely online course.] Organizational Behavior introduces students to how organizations function.  Course materials and deliverables are centered around how to diagnose and respond more flexibly in organizations.  Major emphasis is placed on teams, globalization and diversity, interpersonal and group communication, organizational cultures, and negotiating the fit between the individual and the organization. 

[Optional] Virtual World Learning Activities

What am I supposed to do now that I have logged into the Tulane SCS Metaverse?

(1)  Explore the different organizational behavior-related learning activities.

(2)  While most of the learning activities can be completed individually (and asynchronously), if you are interested in participating in a real time activity with other members of the class and/or the course instructor (read:  play the Prisoners Dilemma game), sign-up for one of activity times listed on the Virtual World Forum on the “Main” course site discussion board.

(3)  Take the “Participant Survey” (to earn module two discussion component points) and provide important feedback to your course instructor.

What marketing-related learning activities are included on the Tulane SCS Campus island?

(1)  The “Zappos Case Study” diorama is located on the first floor of the Organizational Behavior building.

(2)  The “Pret A Manger Case Study” diorama is located on the first floor of the Organizational Behavior building.

(3)  The “PointCast Case Study” diorama is located on the first floor of the Organizational Behavior building.

(4)  The “Prisoners Dilemma” game is located on the first floor of the Organizational Behavior building.

(5)  Links to all of the TED talk video clips are located on the second floor of the Organizational Behavior building;

(6)  An “Effective Leader” display is located on the second floor of the Organizational Behavior building.

What skill sets are needed to explore the above virtual world learning activities?

Part A:  Basic Viewer Set-Up Skills

(1)  After you are logged into the Tulane SCS Metaverse, hold down your CTRL + ALT keys and then press the “D” key (to activate the Advanced menu tab on a PC).  Or hold down the CTRL + OPT keys and then press the “D” (to activate the Advanced menu tab on a Mac).

(2)  Next, click on the Advanced menu (located in the upper left-hand portion of the viewer screen) and click on “Debug Settings,” type in “RenderVolumeLODFactor,” change the value to 8.0, and hit the enter button on your keyboard.

(3)  Click on the “Edit” menu (located in the upper left-hand portion of the viewer screen) and click on “Preferences.”  After you open up the Preferences menu, click on “Graphics,” check the box next to “Custom,” and experiment with the draw distance (that ranges from 32 meters to 512 meters).  If your computer has a good graphics card you will be able to keep your draw distance at a greater depth-of-field (that in turn, will enhance the visual effect of being in a virtual world).  Still, if you find your system “crashing” a lot, you may have to lower your draw distance.

(4)  As a final basic adjustment (but know there are many more viewer customizations possible and I urge you to experiment a bit), click on the “View” menu (located in the upper left-hand portion of the viewer screen) and make sure there is a “X” next to the “Camera Controls” and “Viewer” controls.  In this way, you will see two control boxes on your viewer screen that will help you move around the virtual campus.

Note:  There is a good “Quick Start Guide” in our myTulane course site in the “M2/M3 Virtual World Option” section.

Part B:  Learning Activities Related Skills

(1)  To obtain a note card from a note card giver (read:  the lower case “n” icons), right click on the giver and select “Touch.”

(2)  To watch the slide shows, touch the computer screen and select “Pictures” and “Browse.”

(3)  To use the elevator in the Ethics building, right click on the elevator control panel and select “Teleport.”