This seminar examines the human side of the management of business ventures that have international dimensions and provides insights on how to improve performance. Future studies and practical applications will be discussed.

This course examines: (a) How the application of Positive Organizational Behavior and Psychological Capital (PsyCap) affects performance; (b) How PsyCap has been applied to different industries and in different countries around the world; (c) How PsyCap could be applied in Austria to improve innovation and entrepreneurship; (d) Explore the application of PsyCap to specific types of businesses and industries, such as family businesses, and (e) Discuss the application of PsyCap to the Austrian competitiveness challenge .

The course will be organized around three major sections: (1) Positive Behavior Modification and Positive Organizational Behavior:  A history and evolution, (2) Current state of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) research, and (3) Future research opportunities and applications.

At the completion of the seminar, the students will be able to:

•    Identify Psychological capital application opportunities in business ventures.

•    Analyze how innovation and entrepreneurship can be increased with individual, group, and organizational Psychological capital.

•    Analyze the relationship between Psychological capital and reward systems for performance improvement.

•    Evaluate the obstacles and challenges to increasing Psychological capital in the workplace for performance improvement.

•    Apply the PsyCap tools and concepts to a business venture or organization.

•    Assess the application of PsyCap to the Austrian competitiveness challenge and worldwide markets.

This course requires you to participate in assignments, discussions, survey gathering, and case analyses. A tentative outline of activities is provided in this syllabus.

Topics covered include:

•    The history and evolution of Organizational Behavior Modification, Positive Organizational Behavior, to Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and the HERO within

•    The current state of research and  future research opportunities

•    The application of PsyCap to innovation and entrepreneurship, family business, and franchising

•    The application of PsyCap to varies industries and countries

•    How to apply PsyCap in your workplace

Academic Integrity Policy

Students are expected to know and abide by the Honor Code in all matters pertaining to this course. 

Attendance Policy

Participation points are given to each class for attendance.  To earn these points, you must be in attendance when role is taken and stay for the entire class period. You must actively to contribute to class discussion to further your and your classmates’ learning and be engaged the entire class period. Students are encouraged to apply the theory and articles to applications in their industry or profession as well as suggest future opportunities.

Late Work Penalty

Assignments may not be submitted late. Exceptions will be granted only in rare circumstances and be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If an exception is granted, there will be a 25% point subtraction for each day the assignment is handed in late. No late final papers or surveys will be accepted.

Please take the Entrepreneurial Propensity survey BUT TO GET CREDIT, BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME ON THE SURVEY AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE CLASS. Here's the link: https://uncg.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cO3o3IOra7jvBNX
Please take the survey (10-15 min.) at the start of the class before the class starts preferably but no later than the first day of class and during the last day of class. If requested, I can give you your individual scores to see if your propensity to be an entrepreneur has gone up. This will count into your class participation grade.

Please read each assignment and complete the case analysis and enter into the discussion in class while handing in the assignments below. We will meet on April 20 to recap what we have learned from the survey and the assignments.

PsyCap Survey (250 points)-25 surveys per person due in April when we meet (online link or paper). Make sure the respondent puts your name on the survey so you get credit under student.

Facilitator (200 points)

Discussion with applications to industry or profession (250 points)-5 classes at 50 points each

A=1    90-100%    Very Good        630-700

B=2    77-89%      Good               539-629,9

C=3    64-76%      Satisfying        448-538,9

D=4    50-63%      Sufficient         350-447,9

F=5    0-49%        Not Sufficient   0-349,9

Office Hours:  March 23, 25, 26, 27-Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday-13:00-14:00 (1:00-2:00 pm), March 24, Tuesday- 12:00-13:00 (12:00-1:00 pm) and by appointment