ORG425 Topics in organization theory (Autumn 2023)

After completing the course, students will:

• have advanced knowledge of different overall perspectives and specific theories about organisations and how they are organised, and understand the equality and inequality that exists between them
• be able to discuss and reflect critically on theories and conversations
• understand and discuss how organisations are shaped
• analyze the relationship between organisation and outcomes
• be able to use theories and conversions in empirical analysis, to be judged in connection with the master's thesis
• have an thorough understanding of the practical implications of theories of organisation and organisations

The course provides a thorough overview and delves deeply into different theoretical perspectives and research traditions contributing to the understanding of the phenomena of organisation and organisations. The main perspectives are institutional and rational instrumental. Specific research traditions within these perspectives (such as historical institutionalism, classical institutionalism, new institutionalism, Scandinavian institutionalism, contingency theory, etc.) are the basis for thorough presentation and discussion of current topics linked to modern organisations and how they are structured, including for example social evaluation, power, trust, communication etc.

Key questions are, first of all, what characterises formal organisations compared with other social systems such as the judgment's network and institution. Second, how do different external and internal contexts, structures and processes affect organisational design? Third, how do the organisations and how they are organised have an impact on individual and collective tasks, the outcomes of internal processes and organisational results, and the environment?