AOS325 Contemporary Organisations

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to advanced analysis of contemporary organisations and organising. In today’s world, organising takes place not just within separate organisations but as much in between an across them. To navigate in such contexts, it is important to understand how organisations interact with their environment, which is largely made up of other organisations, such as corporations, government agencies, and transnational advisory bodies. In this course, we study what goes on in these intricate processes. We explore, contrast, and apply different theoretical perspectives, including both established and more recent approaches.

The course first considers classic models of organisations as closed systems. It then traces the evolution of new models of organisations as open systems that seek internal cultural accord as well as external legitimacy. Students get to practice systematic and reflective organisational analysis, which is essential to identifying and dealing with specific organisational problems and opportunities.

Knowledge

After completing the course, students should:

• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the main approaches in organisation theory.
• Show nuanced understanding of the development of organisation theory from closed to open systems perspectives.
• Show solid grasp of the main features of major perspectives on organisations.

Skills

After completing the course, students should:

• Show ability to apply diverse theoretical perspectives to central organisational problems.
• Display awareness of the implications and limitations of the different perspectives.
• Demonstrate capacity to present advanced organisation theory in a clear and concise manner.

General competencies

After completing the course, students should:

• Demonstrate analytical competence and ability to reflect critically on social phenomena.
• Show ability to work individually and as a member of a group to analyse complex problems.
• Show ability to communicate in English on organisational issues, both verbally and in writing.