Organisation and Process Theory (Autumn 2020)
Official course description:
Course info
Programme
Staff
Course semester
Exam
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
Learning activities
In the excise sessions students will, write, present and discuss the course literature as well as build a case (studying a small event, and material relevant to it.) to which they will apply theoretical approaches.
Mandatory activities
There is a one mandatory activity. It is required that students participate in the production of one oral group-presentation with primary focus on the group's empirical case in order to become eligible for the exam.The student will receive the grade NA (not approved) at the ordinary exam, if the mandatory activities are not approved and the student will use an exam attempt.
Course literature
The course literature is published in the course page in LearnIT.
Student Activity Budget
Estimated distribution of learning activities for the typical student- Preparation for lectures and exercises: 20%
- Lectures: 20%
- Exercises: 20%
- Assignments: 10%
- Project work, supervision included: 20%
- Exam with preparation: 10%
Ordinary exam
Exam type:D: Submission of written work with following oral, External (7-point scale)
Exam variation:
D2G: Submission for groups with following oral exam supplemented by the submission. Shared responsibility for the report.
Submission:
1 page description of an event that the students analyse throughout the semester (group responsibility)
1 page synopsis per person (individual responsibility) presenting one or two concepts from the curriculum
1 page per person (individual responsibility) outlining how one or two of the concepts may be used to analyse the event studied.
The submission functions as the point of departure at the individual part of the oral exam, but the exam can address any theories and concepts found in the curriculum
Oral Exam:
Brief presentation 3 min Individual discussion 14 minutes
Group and individual
- 3-4 students (maximum of 5 students)
20 minutes
Mixed exam 2 : Joint student presentation followed by an individual dialogue. The group makes their presentations together and afterwards the students participate in the dialogue individually while the rest of the group is outside the room.