Organisation and Process Theory (Autumn 2018)

Abstract

The aim of the course is to introduce students to organisational theory, particularly organising and process perspectives which are important for understanding the role of IT in organisations.

Description

Social practices are increasingly understood as organised activities manageable by theories developed within the field of organisation studies. The field has thrived dynamically not least because of the proliferation of information technologies in enterprises and society.

Students will be able to understand and critically use a set of analytical approaches developed within organisational theory to analyse concrete events and activities as organised phenomena.

The course introduces to organisational theory from historical to contemporary perspectives, highlighting the influence of organising processes in society. The course will cover topics such as organising and process perspectives in organisational theory, traditional mechanical views of organisations, organisational infrastructures, organisational cultures, the role of IT, data and numbers in organising, the temporary organisation, decision-making process as well as micro-sociological perspectives for examining events as the outcome of organising processes.

Formal prerequisites

This course is part of the third semester in the bachelor's degree in Global Business Informatics.

Intended learning outcomes

After the course, the student should be able to:

• Characterize various analytical approaches that have developed within organizational theory
• Explain the differences between the organising and the organisation perspective within organisational theory
• Reflect upon the role of IT in organising processes
• Analyse a particular event using organisational theory
• Critically reflect upon an organisational issue that is relevant to the event you have studied

Ordinary exam

Exam type:
C: Written report, external (7-trinsskala)