Organizations

Catalog description

According to the sociologist Amitai Etzioni, "We are born in organizations, and most of us spend much of our lives working for organizations." But what is an organization and how do we organize? Over the past century, scholars have theorized organizations, organizational practices, and organizational behaviors. Can these theories still be applied to today's world and are these in fact universal? This multidisciplinary course draws on a range of materials to approach such questions. On a macro-level, the course describes the various organizational theories and encourages students to critically evaluate them. For example, can nineteenth-century principles of scientific management still be identified in today's organizations? And if so, how? On a meso-level, the course explores the management and leadership practices within organizations. Students will use a cross-cultural lens to assess whether there is a best way to manage and lead within and across organizations and societies. On a micro-level, this course addresses individuals within organizations and seeks to understand what influences (positive) behavior such as job satisfaction, commitment, and proactive behavior at work.