Organization Theory

COURSE OBJECTIVE
ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH SKILLS – STUDENTS CAN CONDUCT A BASIC INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH
Academic Skills (three As) After successfully completing this course, the student
• Is able to put forward well-founded, substantiated points of view that explain what organizations do and why a written format (Argumentation)
• Is able to recognize fundamental structures and to leave out irrelevant information (Abstraction)

BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE KNOWLEDGE: Demonstrates theoretical and empirical knowledge concerning the relevant areas in international business administration
After successfully completing this course, the student:
• Can explain the basic theories, models and concepts of Organization Theory
• Is able to make connections between those theories, models, and concepts

APPLICATION: Can propose a solution to an international real-life business problem by applying relevant theories and methodologies.
After successfully completing this course, the student:
• Is able to analyze a particular case by applying organization theories
• Is able to provide practical solutions to a case by applying organization theories

SELF-AWARENESS – STUDENTS CAN EVALUATE OWN LEARNING, KNOWLEDGE AND ACTIONS
After successfully completing this course, the student:
• has made well-founded decisions and can support those choices

COURSE CONTENT
During this introductory course to organization theory we will start unpacking the theoretical tools with which you can understand what an organization is and how organizations function. We cover most fundamental concepts and topics in organization theory, such as decision making, innovation, and organizational change. In addition, we start building the academic skills that you increasingly need when your studies progress. Along the way, we go through various examples of organizations - like factories in the 19th century industrial England, contemporary prisons in the US, and the creative companies of the 21st century - to put flesh on the bones of organization theories. Though our focus is on general organization theories that can be applied across different organizational and national contexts, we explicitly discuss international business related theories such institutional theory.

TEACHING METHODS
Lectures
Tutorials

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
Written exams – Individual assessment
Written assignment (essay) – Individual assessment
Group assignment – group assessment
Mandatory attendance