Annotation for the course
«Organization Studies»
Department: Sociology
Kafedra: Methods and Techniques of Sociological Research
Program: Master level, Sociology, first year
Author: Nikiforova, IS, Ph.D.
Lecturers: Nikiforova, IS., Ph.D., Sociology of S&T, Georgia Institute of Technology
1. Explanatory note
Organization studies is an interdisciplinary area of research with strong sociological
roots, methods, and analytical focus, which is why courses on organizations are part of
the sociological curriculum in the United States and other countries. In this course
students will learn the foundations of organization theory, the methods of organizational
research and read examples of contemporary research. The prerequisites for this course
include the knowledge of sociological theories and proficiency in English (reading
comprehension, speaking and writing).
2. Teaching goals for the course
The goal of the course is to introduce students to theoretical and empirical work on
organizations, broadly conceived (in public and private sectors), organizational research
methods, and to develop the necessary skills to study organizations, their environment,
structure, and routines. The students will have an opportunity to select research
questions and design their own study.
3. Thematic plan
Theme
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Lectures Seminars Homework
Introduction to organization theory and
organization studies
Research methods used in organization
studies
Organizations as rational systems (classical
organization theory)
Organizations as natural systems
Organizations as open systems
Integration of the perspectives; Institutional
theory
Organizational structure
Organizational alternatives
Organizations as information and decisionmaking systems
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2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Total
6
10
6
10
6
6
8
10
10
12
6
8
6
10
12
10
8
12
10.Organizations as evolving systems
2
20
Total hours:
2
20
8
68
12
108
4. Brief topic overview
1. Introduction to organization theory and organization studies
Organization Studies as a research area. The elements of organizations: environment, strategies and
goals, technology and people. Organizational structure. Formal and informal organizations.
Reward structure. The definition of «organization.» Three organizational paradigms: organizations
as rational systems, natural systems and open systems.
2. Research methods used in organization studies
Selecting a research design. Case studies. Ethnographies. Interviews. Experiments. Focus Groups.
Participant observations. Field studies and surveys. Archival research and secondary data analysis.
Studying power and control inside organizations, organizational culture, gender, class and politics.
3. Organizations as rational systems (classical theories)
The rational reconstruction of society. The rise of “purposefully constructed organizations.”
Defining characteristics of rational systems. Theories of bureaucracy and administration. Limits of
rationality. Major theorists and schools of thought: Frederick W. Taylor (1911), Henry Fayol
(1916), Max Weber (1920s), and Herbert Simon (1947).
4. Organizations as natural systems (human and social)
Defining characteristics of natural systems. Rational versus natural systems. Major theorists and
schools of thought: Elton Mayo (1920-30s) and the Human Relations School, Chester Irving
Barnard and the Cooperative System, Philip Selznick (1919-2010) and the Institutional Approach,
Talcott Parsons and his AGIL Schema.
5. Organizations as open systems
Defining characteristics of open systems. Major theorists and schools of thought: System Design &
Studies of Complex Systems, Resource Dependency Theory, Contingency Theory, Weick’s Model
of Organizing, Organizational Ecology.
6. Integration of the perspectives; Institutional theory
Defining characteristics of the institutional perspective. Three approaches within the institutional
theory: Institutions as Regulative Systems, Institutions as Normative Systems, Institutions as
Cultural-Cognitive Systems.
7. Organizational structure
Formal organizational structure as myth and ceremony. Evolution of organizational structure. The
impact of founding conditions.
8. Organizational alternatives
Network organizations. Collectivist organizations. Employee ownership, self-management,
cooperative systems.
9. Organizations as information and decision-making systems
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The impact of certainty and uncertainty on organizations. Models of organizational decisionmaking (rational, process, political, anarchic). Division of labor. Management of ambiguity.
Central features of the sensemaking perspective. Organizational processes of sensemaking.
10. Organizations as evolving systems
Organizational routines as sources of stability and change. Dynamic organizational capabilities.
Organizational learning and innovation. Factors affecting innovation.
5. Literature
Type of testing
Current
Intermediate
Final test
Form of testing
Parameters
Homework
and 30%
Class Participation
Exam (Written)
70%
6. Literature
Main textbook
Scott, W. R., & Davis, G. F. (2007). Organizations and Organizing: Rational,
Natural, and Open Systems. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
Other books
Choo, C. Wei. (1998). The knowing organization: how organizations use
information to construct meaning, create knowledge, and make decisions. New
York: Oxford University Press.
Buchanan, D., & Bryman, A. (2009). The SAGE Handbook of Organizational
Research Methods. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Simon, Herbert A. (1997 or other editions). Administrative Behavior. New York:
The Free Press.
March, James G., & Herbert A. Simon (1993/1958). Organizations. New York:
Wiley-Blackwell.
7. Contact person
Irina Nikiforova, inikiforova@hse.ru
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