ORG 1211 Organizational Theory and HRM

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014

ORG 1211 Organizational Theory and HRM


Responsible for the course
Thorvald Hærem, Cecilie Asting

Department
Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
Norwegian

Introduction
Competitive advantage that is difficult for others to copy is the source for better business outcome. This course discusses basic principals for creating effective organizations. It combines organizational theory and Human Resource Management (HRM), acknowledging the fact that competitive advantage is a combination of organizing the business and arranging for best possible performance.

Accordingly, the course will provide the students with an introduction to and understanding of basic theoretical and empirical contributions of research related to Human Resource Management (HRM) at the individual, group, and organizational level of analysis. After having completed the course, the students should be able to apply obtained knowledge in work settings.


Learning outcome
Acquired Knowledge

  • Essential theories and perspectives within Organizational Theory and HRM.
  • The most salient and robust research findings within Organizational Theory.

Acquired Skills
  • The students should be able to identify, analyze and understand what differentiates more effective and less effective organizing and HRM in different types of organizations

Reflection
The students should be able to critically assess organizations' way of organizing and HR practices in light of the most important and robust research findings.

Prerequisites
ORG 3402 Organizational Behaviour and Leadership or equivalent

Compulsory reading
Books:
Jacobsen, Dag Ingvar og Jan Thorsvik. 2013. Hvordan organisasjoner fungerer. 4. utg. Fagbokforlaget
Kuvaas, Bård og Anders Dysvik. 2012. Lønnsomhet gjennom menneskelige ressurser : evidensbasert HRM. 2. utg. Fagbokforlaget. Kap 1

Articles:
Lam, A. 2000. Tacit knowledge, organizational learning and societal institutions: an integrated framework. Organization Studies. 21(3). 487 - 513
Majchrzak, A., S. L. Jarvenpaa, et al.. 2007. Coordinating Expertise Among Emergent Groups Responding to Disasters. Organization Science. 18(1). 147-161
Salanova, M., S. Agut, & J. M. Peiró. 2005. Linking organizational resources and work engagement to employee performance and customer loyalty : the mediation of service climate.. Journal of applied psychology. 90 (6). 1217-1227

Journals:
Hærem, T. 2012. Informasjonssystemer og rutiner; sementering av prosesser eller en kilde til fleksibilitet og endring?. Magma
Jakobsen Filstad, C (2010). 2010. Suksesskriterier for etablering av sterk læringskultur. Magma

Other:
NOU 2012: 14, Rapport fra 22. Juli-kommisjonen. kap 7 http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/smk/dok/nou-er/2012/nou-2012-14.html?id=697260


Recommended reading

Course outline
  • Studying organizations
  • Organizations as rational systems
  • Organizations as natural systems
  • Organizations and the environment
  • HRM and organizational performance

Computer-based tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.

Learning process and workload
In order to give the students an opportunity to indentify what they have learned, and what they need to improve on, they will be given previous examinations to discuss and give each other feedback on.

The course is structured as seminars, combining lectures with active dialogues. The course will combine text book readings with research articles. The lectures will utilize current business cases to illustrate main points in the literature. There are two mandatory assignments, one case based and one simulation based, which are designed to train the students in application of the theory to real situations.

The aim is to combine lectures with active dialogue. Coupling of textbooks, research articles, and examples are used to illustrate the main theoretical points.

Coursework recquirement
In addition to lectures, the course consists of two compulsory work requirements, a case simulation and assignment with reflections in the wake of the simulation. The coursework provides students with practice in applying theory to real situations. The schedule for the submission and feedback will be given at the start of the course.

Students are responsible for obtaining access to the Internet, and to keep abreast of the content posted on the course website.

Recommended use of hours:
Activity
Use of hours
Participation in lectures and simulation
36
Preparation for the lecture / reading literature
46
Individual study and group work
113
Examiniation
5
Recommended time in total
200

    Coursework requirements
    In order to attend final the exam is a requirement that the student must have participated in the case simulation, as well as delivered and received approval for a reflection paper. See section of Learning Process and time.

    Examination
    A five hour individual written examination concludes the course.

    Examination code(s)
    ORG 12111 . Written examination. Counts for 100 % towards the final grade in ORG 1211 Organizational Theory and HRM - 7,5 credits.

    Examination support materials
    None

    Re-sit examination
    A re-sit examination is offered every term.

    Students that have not approved the mandatory exercises must re-take the exercises during the next scheduled course.
    Students that have not passed the written examination or who wish to improve their grade must re-take the examination in connection with the next scheduled examination.

    Additional information

    Semester

    Oversettelser