Organisation Studies and the Management of Changes: Key Approaches
OWT.320
Value: Half Unit (Michaelmas Term)
ECTS: 8 credits
SUBJECT TO CHANGES
Name of administering department or equivalent: Organisation, Work & Technology
Module convenor: Professor Bill Cooke and Dr Martin Brigham
Pre-requisites: Any level 5 OWT module or MNGT.200
Learning hours: 150
Credit rating: 15
University weighting: Half Unit
CURRICULUM DESIGN
Level: Undergraduate Year 3
Educational Aims: In the context of increased commercial and governmental pressure on organisations to adapt proactively to changing circumstances the course examines key theoretical and practical approaches relating to organisational change. It explores opportunities for applying sociological and psychological insights into change processes. The course
- introduces participants to key management and social science contributions in the field
- helps participants compare different orientations and appreciate their relative strengths and weaknesses
- helps participants to relate such ideas to actual events in organisations
- through an assignment, encourages participants to evaluate management practices in this area.
Outline syllabus:
Introduction (1 lecture): Concepts and controversies in organisational change.
Learning from unplanned changes (2 lectures): Personal loss; disasters and catastrophes
Introducing the assignment (1 lecture): Research an episode of change
Key approaches (4 lectures): Social psychology and the Lewinian tradition; psycho-dynamic approaches to organisational change; ambiguity, uncertainty and sense making; power and politics in organisational change.
Conclusions (2 sessions): Comparing the approaches, and the future of change management
Select bibliography:
Blackler, F. Social Science and the Management of Change, Part 1. Cengage Learning (Forthcoming . Key parts of this text are provided in lecture notes)
Flyvbjerg, B. Making Social Science Matter. Why Social Enquiry Fails and How It Can Succeed Again, CUP, 2001
Weick, K. Sensemaking in Organizations, Sage, 1995
LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT
Length: 10 weeks
Term(s) in which the module will be taught: Michaelmas term
How will this module be taught? Lectures, Seminars, Videos
What are the contact hours, type and frequency?
Lectures: 20 hours - 1 x 2 hour lecture per week
Seminar/Tutorial: 4 hours - 1 x 1 hour per fortnight
Workshop: none
Practical: none
Other: none
Total: 24 hours
How will this module be assessed?
50% Coursework and 50% Unseen 2 hour Examination
What is the timing of formal assessment?
Coursework – Michaelmas Term
Examination - Standard Summer Term
MODULE ADMINISTRATION
Single, Combined and/or Consortial Scheme(s) to which module contributes:
(a) as a core/compulsory module: Organisation Studies & Psychology degree scheme
(b) as an optional module: Management & Organisation; Management & Organisation (HRM); Management & Organisation (Industry); Management & Organisation (HRM) (Industry);Organisation Studies & Sociology degree schemes.
