ORGANIZATION STUDIES

Organization theory is a dynamic field of research in management science due to the evolution of the organizational phenomena and the accumulation and development of different theoretical frameworks over the past 20 years.
The objective of this course is to introduce students to fundamental research questions and theoretical approaches in the study of organizations. The course provides a framework of analysis to understand the plurality of intellectual trajectories, theoretical contributions and methodological approaches within the realm of organization studies. The readings are organized more thematically than historically to capture the intellectual trajectories of the organization theory and its inherent breadth and diversity in term of epistemological and empirical approaches. The course will develop a robust in-depth analysis and will stimulate critical discussion on the selected organization theories. It will also provide a framework to understand the various emphases on different level of analysis (micro and macro) and phenomena under investigation (organizational practices and structures, single organizations in their environments and organizational populations and fields, ecc.).

The course is designed :
- to enable students to develop a comprehensive knowledge about the key contributions of the organization theory and its development
- to allow students to position a research in the current scientific debate of OT
- to develop students’ skills in discussing and critiquing both theoretical framing and research design of an contribution in the organization theory field
- to enable students to draw on the organizational literature for their own research purpose, even if it is not in the organization field.

The course material will consist of journal articles and book chapters. they will be available through a dropbox directory. for each section there are selected further readings useful for deepening a perspective analysis.

Each participant is required to come prepared to class. Preparation will always involve reading the materials, prepare article presentation and discussion and final project presentation.

Each lesson’s readings will typically include some “classics” defining the particular perspective, some more recent theoretical and/or empirical developments of the perspectives, and either implicit or explicit critiques of the basic perspective. Students are expected to complete all the readings prior to class. The course does not presume specialized background in organization theory.

English

written and oral