Course Objective

ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH SKILLS – STUDENTS CAN CONDUCT A BASIC
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH
Academic Skills (three As)
After successfully completing this course, the student
• Is able to put forward, in a written format, theoretically-founded
arguments that explain organizational practices, processes, and/or
structures as well as their linkages to organizational outcomes
(Argumentation)
• Is able to recognize and explicate conceptually important matters and
to leave out irrelevant information (Abstraction)

BRIDGING THEORY AND PRACTICE
KNOWLEDGE: Demonstrates theoretical and empirical knowledge concerning
the relevant areas in international business administration
After successfully completing this course, the student:
• Can explain the basic theories, models and concepts of Organization
Theory

APPLICATION: Can propose a solution to an international real-life
business problem by applying relevant theories and methodologies.
After successfully completing this course, the student:
• Is able to use organization theories to understand and analyze
problems, situations, events or aspects of organizations.

Course Content

During this introductory course to organization theory we will start
unpacking the theoretical tools with which you can understand how to
manage organizations and organizational processes. We cover the most
basic theories, models and concepts of organization theory. They relate
to, for example, decision making, innovation, and organizational change.
In addition, we start building the academic and research skills that you
will increasingly need when you proceed in your studies. Along the way,
we go through various examples of organizations - like factories in the
19th century industrial England, contemporary prisons in the US, and the
creative companies of the 21st century - to put flesh on the bones of
organization theories. Though our focus is on general organization
theories that can be applied across different organizational and
national contexts, we explicitly discuss international business related
theories such as institutional theory.

Teaching Methods

Lectures
Tutorials

Method of Assessment

Written exams – Individual assessment
Written assignment (essay) – Individual assessment
Mandatory attendance and participation in tutorials – Individual
assessment

Literature

Book:
Clegg, Stewart R., Martin Kornberger, and Tyrone S. Pitsis. 2016.
Managing and Organizations: An Introduction to Theory and Practice. 4th
edition. London: Sage Publications.