The module aims to enhance student understandings of organisation theory in order to facilitate them in relating such theory to practices in organisation and management. While not intended as a research methods module, there will nevertheless be a focus on how differing and different research methods may offer varying perspectives on organisations.

The module aims to offer readings which are relevant, focused and manageable in length. However, while the majority of readings will be recommended, selected and provided for students, the module aims to encourage them to read widely, beyond the course texts and with an interdisciplinary focus.

The module aims to offer students opportunities through group work and discussion to develop their capacity to reflect upon, and develop insightful perspectives on organisations both internally, and within wider social contexts. This is intended to help students develop their own analytical capabilities enhancing their capacit y to shed light on and manage problem situations.

The module aims to facilitate students in developing their abilities to evaluate organisational decision making processes and to explore the relationships and tensions between production and well-being.

The aim is that having completed this module, students will be well positioned to discern the links among and between complex organisational problems and to relate theoretical perspectives to contemporary organisational practices.

(LO1) Students will gain enhanced understanding of how traditions from other fields eg sociology, psychology, health and gender studies can assist management and organisation theorists and practitioners to better understand the organisational worlds that they are researching/working within;

(LO2) Students will be facilitated in discerning the links among and between complex organisational problems and to relate theoretical perspectives to contemporary organisational practices;

(LO3) While not intended as a research methods module, students will be assisted in understanding on how differing and different research methods may offer varying perspectives on organisations;

(LO4) Students will become familiar with the benefits of reading scholarly work ‘in the original’ selected shortened readings to be provided by the module leader.

(S1) Adaptability. Working in groups to interpret complex organizational issues through reading about (in course materials) and discussing in class different theoretical viewpoints.

(S2) Problem solving skills. Examining and critiquing in assignment and group discussions how organisations solve problems, drawing upon course reading (including original as well as introductory materials) and case studies.

(S3) Communication skills. Working in groups to discuss different theoretical perspectives, requiring skills in being heard but being able to listen to others.

(S4) Lifelong learning skills. Developing abilities to read and think about organisational problems and theories which will extend beyond the module.

(S5) Teamwork. Working in groups to discuss and work through complex issues pertaining to organisational theory.

(S6) Ethical awareness. Considering in class notions of equal opportunities.

Lectures x 28 hours
8 x 3.5 hours

Self-directed learning x 122 hours
Students will be encouraged to read the recommended course literatures and to go beyond this to gain full benefits from the module. The will produce the assignment in private study time. They will be asked to watch two movies in their own time as preparation for the module.

Introduction: Organisations as units of production?

This introductory session will offer an historical context for the course and will also provide an overview of different ways of looking at organisations, eg qualitative and quantitative.

Organisations as a locus of power and politics:

Organisations will be considered as a locus of power and politics. Modernist views of power as located in specific arenas, eg control of finance, agendas etc., will be contrasted with a postmodern view of organisational power as slippery, difficult to locate – yet arguably difficult to resist, given the challenges of quantification.

Culture and identities within wider social contexts:

Students will consider notions of organisations as cultural systems, reflecting upon notions of identity and resistance.

Work-life balance: employment, gender and opportunity in organisations:

Under this theme, we shall consider the relationship between organisations and work-life balance, health and production. In so doing, the session will consider attitudes towards gender, bodies and employment, as well as how far responsibility for work-life balance should be shared between individual, organisation and state.

Stability versus flux: organisational purpose and social contexts:

Under this closing theme we shall examine organisations in the context of contradictions and social developments. We consider how organisational goals may be balanced against social change, eg fashion, digitisation, remote working. We shall consider how different research approaches may offer different perspectives on organisations.

Reading lists:

Reading lists will be provided for each topic and students will be expected to undertake individual research into both academic literature and individual case studies, which will include exploiting library databases and resources. Students will be asked to undertake preparation prior to seminars and lectures. This could include familiarisation with course material and case studies.