Classics of Organization Theory, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Entry requirements

• 120 ECTS credits passed from undergraduate studies including at least 60 ECTS credits in Business Administration, or equivalent
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6/B)
  (Exemption from Swedish)

Intended learning outcomes

Having completed the course, the student should be able to
- account for the major perspectives within organisation theory
- account for the historical development of thoughts in the field of modern organisation theory
- account for some of the most important texts and authors of the field
- analyse theories on organisation theory
- describe important issues within the field and be able to put it in relation to related theoretical fields
- Describe important issues within the field and be able to discuss the practical implications in organisations today of the issue at hand

Course content

As organisations in their different forms play a central role in modern society, organisational theory and related areas are studied for many purposes and from many different perspectives. This course will focus on modern classical organisational theory. Concepts and paradigms of classical organisational theory will be studied as well as HRM, culture, strategy, power, institutions, gender and structural organisational theory.

One central aspect of organisations is that they consist of individuals, or actors, who together create not only organisations, but primarily different perceptions of them. Furthermore, society in our part of the world consists of different types of organisations, in which we live major parts of our lives as family members, employees, students, etc. The qualities and intentions of the actor, as well as the structures which exist in society at large affect what happens in a certain organisation.

Teaching and working methods

Students will learn from lectures, different types of seminars and group discussions as well as from individual work and team work. Participation in seminars and group discussions is mandatory. Students are responsible for their own learning process, and lectures provide perspectives on the course content, thus giving an opportunity for students to facilitate the process of structuring the course content.

Students have to prepare tasks and assignments both individually as well as in groups for the different types of seminars. Language of instructions: English.

Examination

The course content will be examined in different ways. Every week will end with a team activity which is graded and part of the course examination. Some of the activities are more team based than others and it will be presented/discussed at a seminar which is mandatory. There will also be one individual written final exam on the course literature at the end of the course.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it. If the coordinator has instead recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus.

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department