OT Lesson Plan

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COURSE BACKGROUNDAND SYLLABUSFOR

ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY COURSE

Background and Pedagogy

Each student should read a chapter and that related case studies to analyze the application

of organizational theory and design principles discussed in that chapter. Organization

Theory is best taught with a fair amount of classroom discussion prior to reading, text bookdiscussions, and field visits. Hence, while the Instructor teaches the theory to the class, s/he

also provides ample time for case study discussion where the theory is applied and verified.

Students must be encouraged to bring new cases to class. This behavior must accompanytwo important activities: first, referencing the source from which the case details are

obtained and second, verifying the authenticity of that source. Structure and design is

complex to study as it cannot be seen, but must be deduced from the functioning of the

organization. Information on a lot of South Asian organizations may not be available, and

this makes the job of an Instructor and the student significantly difficult. However, makinga student spot the organizational design aspects in a particular organization is to be

encouraged. While it is easy to find data on financials, marketed products, obtaining theorganizational design aspects will always be a challenge. This can happen only if a

student visits organizations and interacts with the key personnel in the organizations, and

combines the obtained empirical data with secondary sources that might be found onorganizational Web sites and annual reports. It is exciting to make a student appreciate the

important skeletal role that organizational design plays in the success of an organization.

This motivates the student to visit organizations and gather live experiences that describeorganization theory in a better manner. Variations of organizational design based on the

culture, location, sector and goals of the organization can only be experienced through such

field work.

The students can be graded on the following criteria:

Use of OT concepts and assimilation of terminologies describing principles in this

book in the classroom

Degree to which discussions are energetic, valid, and precise

The details to which a student goes in critiquing and questioning the relevance of

organization designs

Perceptiveness to systems approach in organizational functioning Quality suggestions for redesign, change and conflict management

Quality of writing

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Organizational Theory

Structure, Design, and Applications

.. SEMESTER YEAR

Name of Instructor:

Email: Web Site:

Campus:

OFFICE HOURS

Appointment at .location

Course Credits: 3 (Three)

Class:

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Text book

COURSE PREREQUISITES:

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Concepts of organizational theory are explained in topics, which include organizational

effectiveness, organizational structure, factors influencing the structure of an organization,and how to design an effective organization. Emphasis is placed on the role of size,

environment, technology, culture, conflicts and change management. The importance of

organizational theory is that it is the discipline in the management sciences that deals withhow an organization must be designed given its goals and environment (internal and

external). A poor organization design can lead to entropy and closing down of an

organization.

COURSE PERSPECTIVE

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The course focuses on the behavior of sub systems of an organization. The aim is to give a

student an appreciation of the importance of structure of an organization and its

working. The course would help a learner understand how an organization can beeffective given the environments they are nested in and what redesigning needs to

be done in order to keep them effective and market worthy.

Accordingly, the course emphasizes the following:

Difference between OT and OB, and the role of systems thinking

Choosing the right forms of organizational design especially for redesign

Some important organizational phenomenon, and what makes it grow

The course is intended for:

OT students, researcher and consultants who seek to get an understanding about the

working of an organization and methods to redesign it

General management, strategy, HR, marketing and finance majors who mayencounter objectives of being a change catalyst, financially re-structuring an organization,

engaging in new product development and innovations, designing the structure for a HR or

marketing function in an organization. All of them who may have to lead theirorganizations using organizational design principles.

COURSE GOALS

To educate students on the importance of OT, give an exposure into the working oforganizations and tools for practitioners for implementing changes in the

organization.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objective of this course is to give a deep understanding on the working of anorganization. Concepts related to organizational structure is dealt with along with methods

of redesigning it. The course addresses strategic issues such as:

How organizational effectiveness is defined and its influence

The structure of an organization and its constituents

Factors influencing organizational structure

Types of organizational structure

How to redesign structure to improve performance

Explanation of concepts like bureaucracy, culture, organizational evolution

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To teach students concepts of Organizational Theory.

To give them an understanding of its implementation and implications in

competitive markets.

To develop skills to redesign organizations, and understand causal factors thatinfluence performance of the organization.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Since OT as a concept is intangible and considerable effort is required to understand its

working, we have planned the course structure to students get sensitized to the concepts

through the introductory cases in chapters, OT close ups and long case studies. Long casestudies may be related to multiple chapters.

During the course of the semester, the concepts of OT would be discussed and students willbe expected to relate them with case studies.

Chapter MaterialExams

Along with assignments, and quizzes the Instructor may give, the students must have at

least two examinations.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION

The course is highly interactive between the class and the instructor. Through case studiesstudents can debate over variations of organization design principles and implications

redesign solutions. Students can be divided into teams and they can make team

presentations on their understanding of the case studies. Students can be encouraged tobring live case studies that are current in news media or under certain governmental,

market or economic forces that shake their existence, and discuss those. Verifying the

authenticity of sources and referencing must be taught to the students. The Academy ofManagements (AOM) style guides are best followed.

Field visits based on the degree of industrial environments the students have access to, canbe planned in the beginning of the course. It is best to take students on a field trip after the

first nine chapters are done.

To ensure decorum and discipline

Cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players, lap tops with internet browsing, internet

chatting, and SMS, must be strictly avoided (unless Internet access is

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essential for the discussion at hand) during class hours. This is very

important if objective type questions are presented to students in quizzes or

examinations.

Note that occasionally, changes in the schedule of the course, or in the assignments, are

announced during class. It is the students responsibility to ensure that she or he hasreceived all of the changes and will be responsible for this information. Group email ids

are a help for the Instructor where simultaneous emails can be sent to students at one go

making information accuracy possible, prior to or after verbal instructions.

The (institutions name) is committed to a policy of honesty in academics. Conduct,

which compromises a breach of this policy, may result in academic and/or disciplinary

action. Cheating is a violation of student academic behavior standards.

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EVALUATION

Evaluation will be based on class discussions, quizzes, presentations and at least twoexaminations. A suggestion is as follows:

The weightings for the individual components are as follows:1) Exam # 1 @ 30 marks2) Exam # 2 @ 50 marks3) Quizzes @ 10 marks

4) Class presentations, @ 10 marks

5) Class participation during discussions @ 10 marks

Total 100 marks

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TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULEOrganizational theory

. SEMESTER . YEAR

Class

Period/Date

Read

Chapter

Chapter Topic Comment

1 1 An Overview Study the organization, and

define OT and Organization

Design, contrast OB and OT.Explain the system in open-

closed paradigm and

organizational life cycle.

2 2 The evolution of organization theory Appreciate fast theories onorganizations

3 3 Organizational effectiveness Understand effectiveness and itsmeasurement in the

organization. Appreciateapproaches.

Students can be advised to identify organizations and evaluate their effectiveness for

presentations

4 4 Dimensions of organization structure Appreciate the most

fundamental roles of the two OTstrategies: differentiation and

integration of organization

design. Understand complexity,formalization and centralization.

5 5 Strategy Understand strategy of an

organization. Analyze whether

the structure is supporting the

strategy.

6 6 Organization size Understand the role of size inorganization design. Show how

the size of the organization is

influencing, complexity,formalization and centralization.

Students can have discussions

based on review questions

7 7 Technology Show how technology the termis understand and how it

influences structure, complexity,

formalization and centralization.

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8 8 Environment Consider change in structureover the years depending on

environmental changes. Discuss

contributions of Burns and

Stalker, Emery and Trist andLawrence and Lorsch.

Understand environmentaluncertainty for an organization.

9 9 Power Control Understand if power control has

an influence on organizational

goals and structure. From abehavioral perspective reading

McClellands article on nPow

and political work environments

will help.10 10 Exam # 1 Chapters 1 7 inclusive.

11 11 Organizational design options Suggest variations in structure

and understand why those

variations are needed inconfigurations. Understand

Webers contribution to the

term bureaucracy. Discussionson why bureaucracy failed can

be encouraged.

12 12 Bureaucracy: A closer look Chapters 10 and 11 can bestudied together. Examples of

bureaucratic organizations in thegeographic of the student can be

understood, with implications

on efficiency. How efficiencyshould be assessed is

discussable.

13 13 Adhocracy: A closer look Consider the organization as

adhocratic and design structural

systems based on that.

Understand the importance ofnetworked structures in a global

environment where competitorscollaborative on some areas.

Vendors become part of the

organization. Research onPrasar Bharati can be

encouraged.

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14 14 Managing the environment Give examples of howenvironment factors influenced

organizations and internal and

external. Why and how shouldorganizations manage their

environments? Live examples oforganizations that did notmanage their environments and

vanished from the market can be

encouraged.

15 15 Managing the organizational change Learn the model for change

management, role of changeagents, who can be one,

challenges of unfreezing and

refreezing. Managing resistanceand change intervention

strategy. Why change must beconstant.

16 16 Managing organizational conflict Conflict and effectiveness, how

the organization is affected.Understand levels of conflict, its

sources and how to resolve

them. How to handlecompetition.

17 17 Managing organizational culture Define organization culture.

Understand its relationship to

structure and effectiveness and

how it is transmitted. Examplesof M&A and a field visit related

to this can be arranged.

18 18 Managing organizational evolution Chart the evolution phases of

the organization from growth tillits present stage. How this is

done?

EXAM # 2

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Documents

OT Lesson Plan