Core Course
DB1100 – Advanced Organization Theories
Course Unit Code: DB1100
Type Of Unit: Core
Level of Course Unit: Doctoral
Year of Study: First year
Semester: Fall
Number of ECTS Credits: 10
Mode of Delivery
Face to Face
Prerequisites
MBA/MSc Courses in Organizational Behaviour & Leadership
Course Objectives
This is an advanced doctoral level course on organization theory with a focus on the history and development of research on organizations. It provides a broad overview of the major theoretical debates within organization theory, and how they have influenced research in more applied fields. The materials covered represent a blend of classic pieces that enable students to understand the core assumptions and historical roots of current theories, along with very recent research. The course is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing upon related and organizationally relevant literatures in industrial organization economics, public administration, economic history, political science, and sociology.
By the end of the course the students will be able to frame a scientific research question from a theoretical point of view, and develop original scientific research ideas to advance scholarship in organizational theory. The goals are to provide students with the theoretical groundings that explain why organizations exist, how they operate, change and perform – and how to further our understanding of organizations from a scientific perspective.
Learning Outcomes
For each of the methodologies discussed, we expect that students will be able to:
- Understand the core assumptions and historical roots of current organization theories, along with recent research
- Acquire in-depth understanding of the main organization theories and how they are employed in formulating research hypothesis and their tests
- Understand state-of-the-art research in organization theory published in the top academic journals and develop their own criteria to evaluate, critique, and synthesize existing research on organizational theory
- Evaluate the relevance, scientific standards and quality of the methodologies of scientific publications in organization theory
- Write a literature review of a sub-stream of research of organization theory, integrating several scientific contribution research
- Conduct a critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas with the objective to produce general principles applicable to business situations.
- Ability to take current management and organizational problems and identify how different theories of organizations can help us understand them. Select the relevant theoretical foundations of their doctoral organization
Course Content
- Introduction to organizational theory. Rational vs natural system approaches; Open systems CILO 1
- Contingency theory CILO 2-5
- Carnegie school – Behavioural theory of the firm and behavioural decision making CILO 2-5
- “Old” institutionalism & the “New” institutional theory CILO 2-5
- Organizational ecology CILO 2-5
- Resource dependence theory & Organizational economics CILO 2-5
- Networks, Social capital & Social movement theory CILO 2-5
- Identity and authenticity; Culture and cognition CILO 2-5
- How to critically analyse, evaluate and synthesize new and complex ideas and identify how different theories of organizations can help us understand and research current management and organizational problems CILO 6-7
Course Features
Lectures; in-class discussions and debates; in-class exercises; presentations
Review of Literature & Research Paper
Readings
Hal G. Rainey, Understanding and Managing Public Organizations, 5th edition. San
Francisco: Wiley/Jossey-Bass, 2014.
Mary Uhl-Bien , John R. Schermerhorn, and Richard N. Osborn, Organizational
Behavior, 13th Ed. John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
Shafritz, Jay M., J. Steven Ott, and Yong Suk Jang. 8th edition. Classics of
Organization Theory. Belmont, CA: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2015.
Coleman, 1990. Foundations of Social Capital
Pfeffer, 1997, New Directions for Organization Theory
Perrow, 1986, Complex Organizations.
Kilduff & Tsai, 2003. Social Networks and Organizations
DiMaggio & Powell, 1991. The New Institutionalism in Organization Analysis
Scott, W.R. 2008. Institutions and Organizations, 3rd edition.
DiMaggio & Powell, 1991. The New Institutionalism in Organization Analysis
Weick, 1995. Sensemaking in Organizations.
Pfeffer & Salancik, 1978. The External Control of Organizations
Burt, 1992. Structural Holes
Cyert & March, 1963. A Behavioral Theory of the Firm
Thompson, 1967, Organizations in Action
Aldrich & Reuf, 2006. Organizations Evolving, 2nd edition.
Smelser & Swedberg, 1994, Handbook of Economic Sociology
Blau, 1964. Exchange and Power in Social Life
Smith & Hitt, 2005, Great Minds in Management
Baum, 2002 Companion to Organizations
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