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Detailed information |
Pre-requisites |
IK Strukturen und Verhalten in Organisationen UND KS Organisation und Innovation (Bei erfolgter Zulassung zu einem Masterstudium, in dem die Lehrveranstaltung im Rahmen der Pflicht- oder Wahlfächer vorgeschrieben ist, gilt diese Voraussetzung als erfüllt.)
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Original study plan |
Master's programme Management 2024W |
Objectives |
- Students recognize organizations as multifaceted phenomena and are able to understand them by mas-ter¬ing and flexibly applying a set of fundamentally different theories—theories that partially complement, yet par¬tially contradict each other. In particular, students
- understand the most important and advanced concepts for explaining organizations;
- are able to switch between fundamentally different perspectives on organizations.
- Students are familiar with recent trends in (re-)structuring organizations.
- Students are capable of understanding and critiquing advanced scientific and practitioner literature on or¬ganization and management. In particular, they can
- elicit articles’ core messages and basic assumptions;
- critically reflect on these core messages and assumptions;
- draw on these messages and assumptions to formulate convincing and precise arguments address-ing complex managerial issues.
- Students are able to form and develop effective and efficient study teams. In particular, team members
- support and challenge each other;
- benefit from the diverse and far-reaching knowledge within the team;
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students…
- LO1: understand today’s most prominent and advanced concepts for describing, explaining and shaping organizations;
- LO2: are familiar with recent trends in (re-)structuring organizations;
- LO3a: can identify the core messages and assumptions of both scholarly and practitioner articles, and critically reflect on them;
- LO3b: can make creative use of management literature (i.e. core messages and assumptions) to formulate convincing and precise arguments address¬ing complex managerial issues;
- LO4: are able to form and continuously develop effective and efficient study teams, where team members support and challenge each other, and benefit from the team’s diverse and far-reaching knowledge.
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Subject |
Organizations (public and private, for-profit and not-for-profit, etc.) are an essential, integral and highly influ¬en¬tial component of modern societies. But what exactly is an organization?
This course introduces students to today’s most prominent and advanced concepts for understanding (i.e. de¬picting) and explaining the nature of organiza¬tions. Moreover, it helps students to elicit these concepts’ practi¬cal (i.e. managerial) im¬pli¬cations and understand the conditions for applying them. In addition, it familiar¬izes students with some recent ‘mega trends’ in organization and manage¬ment—developments that have al¬ready transformed vast economic sectors (e.g. lean production which has reshaped industrial manufacturing globally) or are in the process of doing so (e.g. the rise of the platform economy).
- Topics:
- Structural perspectives: organizations as sets of rules; organizations as arrangements of tensions; par¬tial organizations
- Competing theoretical perspectives: resource-based perspectives; micro-economic perspectives; (neo-)institutional perspectives; social network perspectives
- Applied perspectives: TPS (i.e. lean management within and between organizations); innovation(-management); digital platforms and crowds as new organizational forms
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Criteria for evaluation |
The assessment strategy includes a variety of assessment forms that together accumulate to a maxi-mum of 100 points.
- In line with LO1 and LO2, two exams (30-minute mid-term exam and 60-minute final exam) cover the above topics, in particular each topic’s
- introductory lecture (i.e. the slides and their explanation in class)
- and core reading(s).
- In line with LO3a and LO3b, the exams pose open questions, in which students are asked to reflect on and apply the knowledge acquired (e.g. by providing their own examples; comparing or critiquing certain or¬gan¬ization theories; analyzing a mini-cases etc.)
- In line with LO4 the exam is evaluated on an individual and on a team bases:
- a maximum of 70 points (with a required minimum of 35 points) is awarded for individual achievement,
- a maximum of 20 points is awarded for team performance. [team performance = (total points of team – individual points) / (number of team members – 1) / 7 * 2]
- Also, in line with LO4,
- presence in class is mandatory (minimum requirement: 80%);
- two assignments—one group assignment (5 points) and one individual assignment (5 points)—focus on documenting and reflecting on team development.
Please, upload your assignments to https://web.tresorit.com/r#C7PkXAhN7T5xfv1BuBokgw
- Provided the individual minimum of 35 exam points is reached, total points translate into final grades as follows:
- 87 – 100 points: Sehr gut (1)
- 75 – 86 points: Gut (2)
- 63 – 74 points: Befriedigend (3)
- 50 – 62 points: Genügend (4)
- 0 – 49 points: Nicht Genügend (5)
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Methods |
Reasoning and thinking rely on language. Therefore, to enhance stu¬dents’ un¬derstanding of organ¬i¬zations, language takes the center stage in this course. Reading essential texts—mainly original texts by those who contributed the most important concepts to our current understanding of or¬ganizations—as well as dialogues in class and small teams are therefore the methodological pillars of this course.
All topics are studied in four steps:
- first, an introduction provided by the lecturer highlights key concepts and offers additional background knowledge;
- second, students carefully read one or two texts on the topic at hand;
- third, through dialogue and discussion in small teams (i.e. peer coaching) students clarify and critically reflect on their understanding of the article(s) and the introduction (i.e. slides);
- fourth, a Q&A session in class (i.e. first-hour of the subsequent session) provides an opportunity for double checking, final clarification and practical application of the acquired knowledge.
In-class case studies and discussions of example are used as the prime motivation tool. Through this method, students receive ongoing feedback in regard to their understanding of theories, their ability to apply, and to utilize their acquired knowledge for real-world problems. The focus on current organizational challenges, such as crisis management, sustainability or the digital transformation will ensure that students engage with contemporary phenomena about which they want to learn more.
The course will also utilize digital technology to facilitate a flipped-classroom experience. Pre-recorded short lectures and pre-readings will be provided so that time in the classroom can be reserved mainly for case discussion as well as for questions and joint reflection. Digital tools will also be used as a tool to enhance motivation and provide knowledge checks, e.g. through the use of short online questionnaires in the classroom.
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Language |
English |
Study material |
All mandatory core readings and introductory slides are available for download at
https://web.tresorit.com/l/kxpfO#Hqhpb_-LdJOF4NGqYEKdCQ
Part I: Key Concepts for Under¬standing Organizations
- Organizations as Sets of Rules: Formal vs. Informal Organization, Stability vs. Change
- Feldman, MS & BT Pentland. 2003. Reconceptualizing Organizational Routines as a Source of Flexi-bility and Change. Administrative Science Quarterly, 48: 94–118.
- Ortmann, G. 2010. On Drifting Rules and Standards. Scandinavian Journal of Man¬age¬ment, 26: 204–214
- Weber, M. Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Tübingen: Mohr.
- Organizations as Arrangements of Tensions: Effectiveness and Competing Values
- Quinn, RE & J Rohrbaugh. 1983. A Spatial Model of Effective¬ness Criteria: Towards a Compet¬ing Values Approach to Organizational Analysis. Management Science 29/3: 363–377.
- Kaplan, RS & DP Norton. 1992. The Balanced Scorecard: Measures that Drive Perfor¬mance. Harvard Business Review, 70: 71–79.
- Quinn, RE & KS Cameron. 1983. Organizational Life Cycles and Shifting Criteria of Effec-tiveness: Some Preliminary Evidence; Manage¬ment Science 29: 33–51.
- Treacy, M & F Wiersema. 1993. Customer Intimacy and Other Value Disciplines. Harvard Business Review, 71/1: 84–93.
- Raisch, S & J Birkinshaw. 2008. Organizational Ambidexterity: Antecedents, Out¬comes, and Mod¬erators. Journal of Management, 34/3: 375–409.
- Gupta, K, KG Smith & CE Shalley. 2011. The Interplay between Exploration and Exploita¬tion. Academy of Management Journal, 49/4: 693–706.
- Smith, WK & MW Lewis. 2011. Towards a Theory of Paradox: A Dynamic Equilibrium Model of Organizing. Academy of Management Review, 36/1: 381–403.
- Partial Organizations: Market Organizing and Garbage Cans
- Cohen, MD, JG March & JP Olson. 1972: A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice. Ad¬minis-trative Science Quarterly, 17/1: 1–25
- Masuch, M & P La Potin. 1989. Beyond Garbage Cans: An AI Model of Organizational Choice. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1989/34: 38–67.
- Weick, KE. 1976. Educational Organizations as Loosely Coupled Systems. Administra¬tive Science Quarterly, 21/1: 1–19
- Ahrne, G, P Aspers & N Brunsson. 2014. The Organiza¬tion of Markets. Organization Stud¬ies, 36/1: 7–27.
- Resource-based Perspectives: Core Competences & Dynamic Capabilities
- Barney, J. 1991. Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage. Journal of Man¬age¬ment, 17/1: 99-120.
- Prahalad, CK & G Hamel. 1990. The Core Competences of the Corporation. Harvard Busi¬ness Review, 68: 79–91.
- Peteraf, MA. 1993. The Cornerstones of Competitive Advantage: A Resource Based View. Strate¬gic Management Journal, 14: 179–191.
- Teece, DJ, G Pisano & A Shuen. 1997. Dynamic Capabilities and Strategic Manage¬ment. Strategic Management Journal, 18/7: 509–533.
- Casciaro T & MJ Piskorski. 2005. Power Imbalance, Mutual Dependence, and Con¬straint Absorp¬tion: A Closer Look at Resource Dependence Theory. Administrative Science Quar¬terly, 50: 167–199
- Microeconomic Perspectives: Transaction Cost Economics & Agency Theory
- Williamson, OE. 1981. The Economics of Organization: The transaction Cost Approach. American Journal of Sociology, 87: 548-562.
- Ouchi, WG. 1979. A Conceptual Framework for the Design of Organizational Control Mecha¬nisms. Man-agement Science, 25/9: 833-848.
- Jensen, MC & WH Meckling. 1976. Theory of the Firm: Managerial Behavior and Ownership Struc¬ture. Journal of Financial Economics, 3: 305–360.
- Hirschman, AO. 1970. Exit, Voice, and Loyality. pp. 1–33. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Uni¬versity Press.
- Coase, RH. 1937. The Nature of the Firm. Economica 4: 396–405.
- Institutional Perspectives: Isomorphism and Institutional Logics
- Smets, M, P Jarzabkowski, GT Burke & P Spee. 2015. Reinsurance trading in Lloyd's of London: Bal-ancing conflicting‐yet‐complementary logics in practice. Academy of Manage¬ment Journal, 58: 932-970.
- Meyer, JW & B Rowan. 1977. Institutional Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Cere-mony. American Journal of Sociology, 83: 157–179.
- DiMaggio, P & W Powell. 1984. The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational fields. American Sociological Review 48, 147–160.
- Scott, WR. 1995. Institutions and Organizations. pp. 1–61. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Reay, T & CR Hinings. 2005. The Recomposition of an Organizational Field: Health Care in Alberta. Organization Studies, 26: 351–384.
- Reay, T & CR Hinings. 2009. Managing the rivalry of competing institutional logics. Or¬gan¬i¬zation Studies, 30: 629–652.
- Social-Network Perspectives: Information, Influence & Creativity
- Perry-Smith, JE. 2006. Social yet Creative: The Role of Social Relationships in Facilitating Indi¬vidual Crea-tivity. Academy of Management Journal, 49/1: 85–101.
- Granovetter, M. 1973. The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78/6: 1360-1380.
- Burt, RS. Structural Holes. 1992. The Social Structure of Competition. pp. 8–49. Cam¬bridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
- Burt, R. 2005. Brokerage and Closure. Chapters 1 & 3. New York, NY: Oxford Uni¬ver¬sity Press.
- Obstfeld, D. 2005. Social Networks, the Tertius lungens Orientation, and Involvement in Innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 50/1: 100–130.
- Halevy, N, E Halali & JJ Zlatev. 2019. Brokerage and Brokering. Academy of Management An-nals,13/1: 215–239.
Part II: Trends in Organizing
- Lean Production: Continuous Improvement and Interorganizational Networks
- Liker, JK. 2004. The Toyota Way. Chapters 3, 4, 18, 19 & 20. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Dyer, JH & K Nobeoka. 2000. Creating and Managing a High-performance Knowledge-sharing Network: The Toyota Case. Strategic Management Journal, 21/3: 345–367.
- Spear, S. 2004. Learning to Lead at Toyota. Harvard Business Review, 82/5: 78–86.
- Williamson, OE. 1981. The Economics of Organization: The Transaction Cost Ap¬proach. American Journal of Sociology, 87: 548–577.
- Williamson, OE. 1991. Comparative Economic Organization: The Analysis of Discrete Struc¬tural Alternatives. Administrative Science Quarterly, 36/2: 269–296.
- Innovation: Organizing for Creativity
- Cooper, RG. 2001. Winning at New Products. New York: Perseus. Chapter 5
- Maletz, MC & N Nohria. 2001. Managing in the Whitespace. Harvard Business Review, 79/2: 103–111.
- Sutton, RI & A Hargadon. 1996. Brainstorming Groups in Context: Effectiveness in a Prod¬uct De¬sign Firm. Administrative Science Quarterly, 41/4: 685–718.
- Hargadon, A & RI Sutton. 1997. Technology Brokering and Innovation in a Product Devel¬opment Firm. Administrative Science Quarterly, 42/4: 716–749.
- Kelley, T. 2001. The Art of Innovation. New York et al.: Random House.
- Bauer, RM & WM Eagen. 2013. Design Thinking as Multi-Epistemic Intelligence in Or¬gan¬i¬zation. In I. King, & J. Vickery (Eds.), Experiencing Organisations: New Aesthetic Per¬spec¬tives 137–156. Oxfordshire, UK: Libri.
- The Digital Economy: Platforms and Crowds
- Eisenmann, T, G Parker & MW Van Alstyne. 2006. Strate¬gies for Two-Sided Markets. Har¬vard Busi-ness Re¬view, 84/10: 92-101.
- Zhu, F & M Iansiti. 2019. Why Some Platforms Thrive and Others Don’t. Harvard Business Review, 97/1: 118–125.
- Cutolo, D, A Hargadon & M Kenney. 2021. Competing on Platforms. Sloan Management Review, 62/3: 22-28, 30.
- Bauer, RM & T Gegenhuber. 2015. Crowdsourcing: Global Search and the Twisted Roles of Con¬sumers and Pro¬ducers. Organization, 22/5: 661-681.
- Zuboff, S. 2019. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. London: Profile.
- Schor, J. 2020. After Gig. Oakland, CA: University of California Press.
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Changing subject? |
No |
Further information |
For quality assurance and improvement purposes, please participate in all JKU course evaluations and surveys!
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Earlier variants |
They also cover the requirements of the curriculum (from - to) 973GMCPORGK19: KS Organization (2019W-2022S) 973GMCPMCOK16: KS Master Course Organization (2016W-2019S) 2ORGMCO: KS Master Course Organization (2010W-2016S)
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