Content

Structure
Mechanistic choice of organization
Organiscal choice of organization
Contingency theory
Integration
Integration mechanisms within functional structure
Integration via division structure
Integration via matrix structure
Integration via project structure
Control
Traditional control strategies: personal and centralized, bureaucratic, electronical surveillance, output
New control strategies: culture, human resource management
Motivation en rewarding
Motivation theories: content and process theories
Rewarding systems and justice
Learning
Context
Levels of organisational learning: single loop learning, double loop learning, triple loop learning
Requirements for organisational learning
Knowledge transfer: implicit versus explicit knowledge
New forms of networking such as:
Outsourcing
Virtual organisations
Strategic alliances
International organizing
Teleworking

Aims

To impart insight into the different ways in which the activities and processes in companies can be organised.
To impart knowledge about the effects of these types of organisation on human functioning.
To familiarize students with personnel systems and -instruments that support a certain type of organisation.

Description of learning activities

In the course Organization Theory the concepts and theories of organization theory are taught via the learning cycle of Kolb. This learning theory states that learning happens in 4 phases: 1) an experience, 2) a reflection on this experience, 3) theoretical concepts to fit the reflection and 4) experimentation with new theoretical concepts, as a result of which a new experience arises and the learning cycle can be gone through again.
In each session this learning cycle is gone through. The experiences that are created are for example: an exercise, a case study, a film fragment, a guest lecturer, … Then the students are asked to reflect in group (by means of specific questions) on the experience in question. Afterwards the lecturer teaches the theory, and then give the students a new assignment in which the theory is applied.

Course material

Child, J. Organization. Contemporary principles and practice. Oxford: Blackweel Publishing.
Slides
Articles
Lecture notes of student

Content

1. Organisational structure
a. Historical developments

• Mechanistic design principles
• Organic design principles
• Matrix
• Team and project structure

b. Contingency factors: surroundings, age, technology, size
c. Controle and coördination mechanisms
2. Knowledge and innovation in organisations
d. To learn a single and double loop
e. Innovation
f. Judgement and development of co-operators
3. Organisational culture
g. Integration via dominant culture
h. Subcultures and fragmentation
i. Socialisation via selection, education and assessment
4. Power and politics
j. Sources of power
k. Participation models
5. Organisational change
l. Models of organisational change
m. Resistance against change
n. Role of personnel managers

Aims

Please see under teaching activity D0W29a Organisation theory and D0W29a Evaluation Organisation theory.

Description of learning activities

Please see under teaching activity D0W29a Organisation theory and D0W29a Evaluation Organisation theory.

Course material

Please see under teaching activity D0W29a Organisation theory and D0W29a Evaluation Organisation theory.