Objective:
The course objective is to review the basics of organizational theory as well as organizational power, structures, conflict, decision making, communication, and leadership.
Learning Outcomes:
- Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to distinguish between the classical management theory of thought and the neoclassical theory as well as identify some of the key theorists and theories associated with each movement
- Appraise modern organizational theory, including the quantitative approach, systems approach, contingency approach, systems approach, resource dependency approach, transaction cost theory, sociotechnical systems, organizational ecology, goal setting and organizational development approach
- Classify and compare the diverse types of organizational structures and explain the reasons behind the variations in the different types of structures
- Contrast the various sources of power in an organization and identify strategies for gaining and exercising power
- Analyze organizational communication and discriminate the intricacies of internal communication as well as external communication
- Evaluate different organizational decision-making theories and appraise the issue of groupthink in decision making
- And summarize the organizational change process analyze change theory and compare models evaluating organizational effectiveness
General Course Topics:
- Introduction to organizational theory
- History of organizational theory and master theorists
- Types of organizational structures
- Power in organizations
- Managing conflict in organizations
- Understanding leadership in organizations
- Organizational decision making
- Types of organizational communication
- Managing organizational environments
- Organizational performance and recognizing the need for change