Autumn Term 2015
Current Topics in Organization Theory and Strategy
“A Practice-Theoretical Perspective on Organizations”
Syllabus
Module Number: 03SMDOEC0252
Time: September 7th to 9th, 2015, from 9h00 to 17h00
Place: UNK-E2 (Universitätsstrasse 84);
Lecturers: Theodore Schatzki
David Seidl
Course webpage: www.om.uzh.ch
(see under teaching)
Language: English
Contact: For inquiries please contact Katharina Dittrich (katharina.dittrich@uzh.ch)
Note: Places in the seminar are limited. In order to be admitted to participate in this seminar, please send an application to Katharina Dittrich (katharina.dittrich@uzh.ch) which should include (1) a motivation letter, (2) your CV and (3) transcripts of your grades. Deadline for applications to be received:
July 1st, 2015.
Course overview
This 3-day, in-depth seminar aims at developing an advanced understanding of how organizations can be studied from a practice-theoretical perspective. One of the most influential contemporary scholars in this perspective, Theodore Schatzki, will lead the seminar with a particular focus on characteristics of practices and their arrangements in bundles and larger nexuses. In addition, senior scholars familiar with Schatzki’s theory, concepts and ideas will show how they applied the practicetheoretical perspective in their work and how it can be mobilized to understand contemporary questions related to organizations. The seminar will be highly interactive with a mix of presentations, open discussions and work in small groups.
The seminar will be structured in six sessions:
1. Basic concepts of the practice-theoretical perspective
2.
3.
Organizations as bundles of practices and material arrangements
Small and large phenomena in organizational research
4.
5.
6.
Emergence, maintenance and disruptions of organizational practices
Timespace of organizational practices
Morality in organizational practices
Course objectives
At the end of the course, you should be able to:
1. Talk about the practice-theoretical perspective and how it can be applied to organizational studies
2. Be familiar with different ways to analyze your data
3. Think critically about theories, methods and phenomena
4. Talk about your research

Course prerequisites
Students should be familiar with the basics of the practice-theoretical perspective. Ideally students have already engaged in research from a practice-theoretical perspective, either in data gathering and/ or theorizing.
Exams and Grading
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Handing in an improved version of one of your papers or of your PhD thesis project. The project or paper that you submit needs to be at least 30 pages long and clearly show an improvement compared to previous works (50%). Alternatively you can submit a synthesis of the topics discussed in the seminar (minimum 5 pages).
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Active participation in the seminar by commenting on the presentations and by being active in the discussions (50%).
Reading Material and Schedule
The reading material and detailed schedule will be provided several weeks in advance before the seminar.
Course material
 Academic papers
WWF statutory course policies
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According to WWF study regulations, all exam dates are final as published in the VVZ. This means that the (midterm and) final exam date(s) and time(s) are not negotiable. It will not be possible to take any exams on different dates.
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Check your class schedule for possible exam conflicts at the beginning of the semester, as this is your own responsibility. If you want to avoid heavy workload and taking multiple exams in one day you will have to rearrange your class schedule accordingly before the semester begins.
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Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Anyone caught cheating or engaging in unethical behavior will be reported to the Dean’s office.
 Don’t forget to officially register using the registration tool of the University of Zurich.
Note : The information in this syllabus supports the official information in the electronic university registration tool (VVZ – Vorlesungsverzeichnis). In case of doubt, the official information at the
VVZ is decisive.
Reading and other requirements
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The material covered in the classroom will generally correspond to the material assigned in the textbook, although the lectures may present the material from a different point of view.
The lectures and the readings are complementary rather than substitutes.
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Note that reading the slides are not a substitute for the readings.
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You are responsible to keep yourself inform about changes or additions that may be announced during the lecture.
Behavior during the lecture
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Please turn off your cell phones during the lecture.
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No computers allowed during the lecture.
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Please do not eat in class.
Class communication
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Documents for this lecture are available via OLAT:
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E-mail is the official method of communication for this lecture. If I send an e-mail to your registered address I consider you to have been informed.
Grading policies
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Success or failure.
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Grades are not negotiable.
Students with disabilities
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Students with disability should contact the lecturer and the disability office as early as possible to make the necessary arrangement.
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