ORGANIZATION STUDIES

Organization Studies is a dynamic field of research in management studies that has been evolving in the last decades 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 starting from a reflection on what theory is, will provide 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 Organization Studies course specifically guides students towards an understanding of the multiple theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding decision making processes in organisations and delves into the analysis of sensemaking and sensegiving processes; the identity work underlying pitches of start-up founders or emerging social movements will be analysed.

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 a 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 offers content and knowledge that, although developed in the field of management, is also relevant for students from other disciplines. Participants will acquire the ability to read sense-making processes in organisations and groups; the ability to construct effective communication in sensegiving that activates a sensemaking process in different audiences.

Basic knowledge of management and organization design or behaviour

Organization theory landscape and evolution
What is the organization? What does constitute a theoretical contribution ? Which are the foundations and what are the main research questions of organization theories? What have been the directions of organizational theories development in the last 4 decades : some classifications of organization theories? The evolution of organization theory: where are the new theories of organization: challenges facing contemporary scholars

Contingency Theory& Transaction costs Theory
Why are organizations structured the way they are? Do organizations choose their structures? What is the proper alignment or fit between the organization’s structure and its environment?
What are the antecedents of organizational boundary decisions ?

A cognitive approach to innovation
How do managers and entrepreneurs decide about their organization and business model? How the greatest ideas come into existence? What are the main cognitive mechanisms that lead to the generation of innovative ideas and designs such as Vespa or Moka Bialetti?

Sensemaking theory
Are organizations “real” or do we create our own subjective realities? What can we learn from analyzing the discourse of organizing? Which is the process through which an organization “interpret” the reality? What are the characteristics of an organization which is able to react to a crisis situation?

Organizational identity theory
What is organizational identity and why it is important? How is organizational identity formed?

Mandatory readings will be provided before the lecture

The course material will consist of journal articles and book chapters. They will be available through Ca’ Foscari moodle. To study each section, a selection of further readings useful for deepening a perspective analysis is available.

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.

Article presentation
20% - Students are tasked to work on one mandatory reading regarding a theory discussed in class and to present it

Analysis and coding of empirical materials
20% - Students are tasked to work on empirical materials collecting by interviews and be engaged in coding processes of interviews moving from theory to empirics and backwards. Students are asked to present a final coding result, by a shor presentation in class

Essay
60% - Each student will be required to write an essay on the literature covered in the course. The essay should present a conceptual/theoretical framework concerning a selected topic in organization theory analysed in class. The essay must present an underlying theoretical rationale and contain the key elements of a theory as discussed in class. Work-in-progress of the essay will be presented the last day of the course

written and oral

Grading Scale (Criteria for Grade Assignment):

A. Grades in the 18–22 range will be assigned in the presence of:
* sufficient knowledge and applied understanding of the course content;
* sufficient ability in completing the assigned projects;
* limited ability to understand and present the organizational theories discussed.

B. Grades in the 23–26 range will be assigned in the presence of:
* fair knowledge and applied understanding of the course content;
* fair ability in completing the assigned projects;
* fair ability to understand and present the organizational theories discussed.

C. Grades in the 27–30 range will be assigned in the presence of:
* good to excellent knowledge and applied understanding of the course content;
* good to excellent ability in completing the assigned projects;
* good to excellent ability to understand and present the organizational theories discussed.

D. Honors ("lode") will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied understanding of the course content, and an outstanding ability to understand and present the organizational theories discussed.

Interactive approach based on:
Open discussion in class
Online self-assessment exercises
Assignments - article presentations
Case Studies
Visual supported training
Writing an essay

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development