General provisions

The course is only available to students within Contract Education Programmes at Master level.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits. The course is only available to students within Contract Education Programmes at Master level.

Learning outcomes

This course aims to provide a comprehensive basis for analysing and understanding organisations and the practice of organising in the modern world, building on both classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives on the practice of organisations and management.

After participating in the course the student will be able to:

• Identify and more thoroughly understand the basic problems of organising and organisations
• Define and explain fundamental concepts that can be used for analysing organisations and organisational problems
• Apply theoretical concepts and models of organising to contemporary organisations and situations
• Critically evaluate and analyse different models and popular ideas/principles of organising that surround us
• Perform and present an independent analysis of a contemporary organisational problem or issue

The overall ambition with the course is that students will become active and reflective participants and/or managers of organisations and that they will be able to understand the wider context in which the particular job and the organisation is embedded.

Content

Managers and members of organisations in contemporary society are facing both classical and new dilemmas, challenges and problems in organising and managing work. Adding complexity to classical problems such as how to coordinate and control work, and how to establish goals and strategies for the long term survival of the organisation, organisations today tend to be larger, more multifaceted and international in character and scope than earlier. They are also interdependent with other organisations and are facing increasing demands from actors and interest groups from outside the organisations to be both socially and economically responsible actors in present day society. This puts new demands on organisations, their members and their managers.

Instruction

The course is based on a series of lectures and seminars where students discuss and analyse organisational theories and practices. Given an increased globalisation, rapid technological development and changing institutional conditions in society the course pays special attention to how organisations interact and relate to their environment. Initially basic concepts in organisation theory are being introduced as tools for deeper analysis and an advanced understanding of the different challenges facing organisations. A few organisational tasks such as decision making, coordination and control, and organisational change are given special attention during the course. Through different pedagogic tools such as case learning, a project work, literature seminars etc. these topics will be discussed and analysed with special emphasis on the organisations’ role in the wider society.

The language of instruction is English.

Assessment

Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system. The following grades will be used: VG (pass with distinction), G (pass), and U (fail).

The final grade of the course is determined after taking into consideration the different parts of the examination. The course consists of obligatory parts. Evaluation of the course includes seminar work, an exam, and a project work. To obtain VG as a final grade, VG must have been achieved on seminars, the project work as well as on the written exam. In addition, any remaining assignments and supplements must be completed and handed in at least within two weeks after the end of the course otherwise the entire course (including all assignments) has to be redone the following semester, provided there is space in the course.

Uppsala University takes cheating and plagiarism seriously, and disciplinary action will be taken against any student suspected of being involved in any sort of cheating and/or plagiarism. The disciplinary actions take the form of warnings and limited suspensions.

NOTE: Only completed courses can count toward a degree.