ORG 3600 Organization Theory

ORG 3600 Organization Theory

Course code: 
ORG 3600
Department: 
Leadership and Organizational Behaviour
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Øivind Hagen
Course name in Norwegian: 
Organisasjonsteori
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor of Organisational Psychology, HR and Leadership - Programme Courses
Semester: 
2023 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
Norwegian
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Man's unique ability to cooperate and organize sets us apart from other species. Modern organizations have provided us with groundbreaking technological development, material prosperity, welfare states and education in all sections of the population. At the same time, the shadowy aspects of the organizational society in the form of environmental challenges and ethical dilemmas have also become clearer. New expectations for organizations become particularly clear in light of developments such as globalization and economic liberalization, expressiveness and brand focus, sustainability, digitalisation, and the global pandemic. The purpose of this course is to understand organizations' unique role in society, how they function and how they can meet new challenges that key development trends present to them.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

Students will acquire a critical understanding of the central role of organizations in society, essential organizational theory, and the challenges that today's organizations and societies face.

Learning outcomes - Skills

After completing the course, students must have a conceptual framework to be able to describe and understand the challenges modern organizations face, and be able to apply organizational theory to help develop and change organizations they themselves have experience with.

General Competence

The course will enable students to understand how organizations can meet today's challenges - in light of developments such as globalization and economic liberalization, expressiveness and brand thinking, sustainability, digitalisation, and global pandemic - by applying historical knowledge and central organizational theory.

Course content
  1. The history of organizational theory
  2. The main directions of organizational theory
  3. Organizational theory in light of key trends: 
    • Globalization and economic liberalization
    • Expressiveness and brand thinking
    • Sustainability
    • Digitization
    • Global pandemic
Teaching and learning activities

The course is completed with lectures on the main topics and the five key development trends. In addition, webinars / shorter lecture sessions are run on various issues on the project assignment process. Finally, workshops and supervision activities are carried out for quality assurance of the students' project assignment work.

The exam consists of a project assignment (65%) and multiple choice (35%).

The student is offered to write an abstract / a short project sketch on the assignment for which they receive feedback. This as part of the quality assurance of the project assignment work.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

The scope of the syllabus is somewhat below the upper limit. The literature introduces the five development trends, but goes into depth to a limited extent. In the project assignment, it is expected that the student / s themselves search for and use literature that elaborates on the trend / s, and relates this to the case organization and research issue for the assignment. In the supplementary syllabus, there are some suggestions for literature that elaborate on each of the five trends.

Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Disclaimer

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Required prerequisite knowledge

ORG 3402 Psychology, Organization and Leadership or equivalent skills. 

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
65
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
Term paper will be maximum 5000 words, exclusive of the front page, table of contents, reference list and attachment. There will be plagiarism control of the term paper. Re-sit examinations can be taken separately. All exams must be passed to obtain a final grade in the course.
Exam code: 
ORG 36001
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Structured test
Invigilation
Weight: 
35
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • No support materials
Duration: 
1 Hour(s)
Comment: 
Multiple choice test where the student will be tested in the course syllabus literature. All exams must be passed to obtain a final grade in the course.
Exam code: 
ORG 36002
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
30 Hour(s)
Seminar groups
10 Hour(s)
Submission(s)
80 Hour(s)
Examination
20 Hour(s)
Student's own work with learning resources
60
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.