03/08/16
Aquinas College
ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY AND DESIGN
MG 540
SYLLABUS 06 SP
Instructor: Gary Kieff
Office: JC 131B
616-632-2929
6:00 Wed. – AB 303
Home: 784 1289
gary@kieff.com
Course Homepage: http://www.kieff.com/gary/MG540
Discussion Forums for postings http://courses.aquinas.edu (you will need your ELM password to
login and the Course Key to enter the course)
Text: ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY and DESIGN
Richard L. Daft, Southwestern, 2004 (Eight Edition)
Course Description:
This course treats the organization as an entity for study focusing on the historical growth
of organizations, organizations as reflections of society, and organizational structure,
mission and goals, culture, and politics. Emphasis is given to examining open systems'
characteristics, studying models of organizations for their effectiveness, and developing
strategies for innovation and change within organizations.
Course Objectives:
That each student will...
* Develop an understanding of the major theoretical constructs of organizational
design, behavior, and development.
* Increase their ability to apply organizational concepts through the analysis of
an actual organization.
* Demonstrate their ability to apply the above concepts to organization case studies.
* Demonstrate knowledge of other cultures approaches to management and organization.
Instruction:
Readings, case analysis, discussion, and small group work.
Grading:
Take Home Exams
(2 @ 50 pt.)
Team Members Evaluation (3 @ 10 pt.)
Group Cases
(4 @ 20 pt.)
Organizational Analysis
(9 @ 20 pt.)
Country Presentation
Class Evaluation of Presentation
Instructor Evaluation
21% 100 pt.
6% 30 pt.
16% 80 pt.
37% 180 pt.
10%
10%
Grading Scale
96% = A 92% = A88% = B 84% = B+
80% = B- 76% = C+
74% = C 70% = C-
50 pt.
50 pt.
490 pt.
Participation:
Since exchange is a necessary component of learning, students are expected to attend all
class periods, take an active part in work groups, class discussions, and come to class
prepared for the discussions.
I will do everything I can to make each session productive, but hope it will be a little fun as well.
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Course Calendar
=========================================================================
1
Sessions
Mar. 15
Chapters
Introduction and Overview
System Theory
2
22
System Theory - The Design Process
Team Profile due e-mail
1, 2,
System HO
3
29
Organizational Structure
External Environment – Culture
Org. Analysis 1 due (post and read 2 others)
Case Prep. 1: the Paradoxical Twins p. 163
3, 4, 10
Design Elements
Case Prep. 2: Hugh Russel, Inc. p. 196
Exam 1 Due (ch. 1-6 & 10)
Team Member Contribution Evaluation
5, 6
4
Apr.
5
5
12
Organizational Determinates
Technology, Differentiation, and Integration
Org. Analysis 2 due (post and read 2 others)
Case Prep. 3: Acetate Department p. 275
7
6
19
Organizational Determinates
Control, Size, Life Cycle
Case Prep. 4: Sunflower Inc. p 350
Country 1 Presentation
Team Member Contribution Evaluation
8, 9
7
26
Organizational Processes
Teams,
Conflict3&due
Politics,
Decision
Making
Org. Analysis
(topics
6,7) (post
and read 2 others)
Org. Analysis 3 due (post and read 2 others)
Country 2 Presentation
11, 12, 13
8
May
3
The Future - Organizational Innovation and Learning
Exam 2 due (ch. 7-, 11-13)
Country 3 Presentation
Team Member Contribution Evaluation
Academic Honesty: Written or other work that a student submits must be the product of her/his own
efforts or group if assigned. Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty, including
dishonesty involving computer technology, are prohibited. Further information on Academic Dishonesty
can be found in the current college catalog.
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DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS
TAKE HOME EXAMS
There will be two take homes exams consisting of 50 multiple choice and true and false questions
covering text and material presented in class.
COURSE TEAMS - TEAM MEMBER EVALUATIONS
The first night of class teams of 5 – 7 will be formed. Theses teams will used to complete the Group
Cases, the Country Presentations and for collaboration and support for members. Three times during the
course, see Course Outline, team members will fill out an evaluation form on each team member’s
contribution. Down load form from class web page (TeamMemberEvaluation.rtf ), fill out and email to
gary@kieff.com
GROUP CASE STUDIES
Each team will prepare a case analysis, in class, for each of four cases, listed on calendar, scheduled
throughout the semester. The analysis should identify the nature of the case problem(s), exploring causal
factors and develop potential solutions. Each student will prepare for the group work by reading and
becoming versed in the case prior to the class meeting.
ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS
Each student will select an organization (preferably an organization in which the student is/has been
employed) and will analyze the organization using topics listed below which are drawn from the course
text and class lectures. The analysis topics are:
Organizational Analysis 1
Overview of selected organization: history, mission, goals, and products/services
Open System Characteristics
Generic Subsystems of Organizations
Organizational Analysis 2
Culture
Mechanistic vs. Organic Structures
Technology, Differentiation, and Integration
Organizational Analysis 3
Life Cycle, Size
Control Systems
Conclusions – this one may be a bit longer.
Postings:
Each topic will be approximately 1-2 page(s), 3-6 for each of the 3 analysis. Each analysis will be
posted by Thursday, the date listed on the Course Outline. Be sure to use the material presented in
class and the text, where appropriate, as a basis for your analysis.
Critiquing:
By the Sunday following the postings on Thursday, each student will read and comment on 2
other students postings. When critiquing others, remember the goal is to help them improve and
discuss your agreement or differences with their conclusions
Maximum points available:
Posted by Thursday due date -20 pt., Posted by following Sunday – 19 pt., latter – 17pt.
Critiquing is considered to be the responsibility of each student and will not be graded. But
failure to post critiques will result in loss of points on analysis posting. I will generally post
feedback and grades 1 week after due date.
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GUIDELINES – ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS
Your analysis should include examples of the concepts in the organization; how they apply; and the
consequences in terms of organizational effectiveness, productivity, satisfaction, and growth and
development. Your assertions must be argued using a combination of facts, expert opinion, theory, and
logic. The opinion from an expert can be used as evidence in making your argument. However, you
should give your readers enough information for them to determine whether this source is reliable. To
make an effective argument, do not oversimplify complex issues. If contradictory evidence exists, you
must present and deal with it. All sections of your paper should tie together.
Quality, not quantity, is the key. I will be looking for the organization of the material presented, the
conciseness and clarity of presentation, spelling and grammar, and the logic and depth of your analysis
and presentation.
CASE STUDIES and ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS ASSESSMENTS:
Your grade will be based upon how well you can demonstrate your understanding of critical
organizational Design concepts and can apply them by making a strong argument to support your
conclusions. Take a stand and defend it! The analysis should address the theoretical concepts with
examples and explanations. It should also reflect both an understanding of the basic theory and a critical
application of the concepts.
Grade of A
Grade of B
Grade of C
a truly integrated, insightful and critical analysis showing originality and
evidence of understanding the concepts and their complexities and ramification
for you organization.
some substantial evidence of insightful topical integration.
a factual presentation of the concepts but lacking originality and critical thinking.
COUNTRY PRESENTATIONS
Each team will select a "country cluster" from which the team is to select one country representing the
cluster. The team will lead a 60 minute class presentation discussing the country's cultural, organizational
and managerial practices. The presentations are to be accompanied by a "packet" for the rest of the
organization (class). The packet is something more than just copies of the slides, but less than a formal
academic report. The job here is to introduce the class to doing business in this country.
The county clusters are:
Scandinavian
Arab
Europe Far East
Near East
Latin Europe
Latin America Independent (Brazil, Japan, India, Israel)
How the team organizes its research, writing and presentations is its decision.
RESOURSES
TEXT: http://www.swcollege.com/management/daft/daft.html
AQUINAS WOODHOUSE LIBRARY
To access these indexes and databases, you must be an Aquinas College student, faculty or staff member.
Off-Campus users must follow the off campus access instructions before using these databases. Access
requires the last 6 digits of you student number.
http://www.aquinas.edu/library/data.html#bus : The Aquinas Library online databases.
http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/bones.html : A bare bones tutorial for conducting web searches. (for
some strange reason you will need to cut and past the url, it is not loading with a mouse click
The Spider's Apprentice: A Helpful Guide to Search Engines
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ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN
Organizational Structure and Design Wharton School of Business
Voice of the Shuttle. A web site offering a variety of articles on the Post Industrial Organization
Marvin Weisbord: Building Communities at work.
Thomas Stewart: The Wealth of Organizations
Warren Bennis
Corporate Governance Wharton School of Business
Learning-Org Dialog on Learning Organizations
Knowledge Management
MANAGEMENT
Intro. to Theory of Management An excellent source for information about seminal contributors
American Management Association A membership organization for managers. Has search and articles
Peter Drucker Speaks by Newt Gingrich
Forecasts 2002 : World Future Society
Knowledge Management
Research company financial information online
Fortune 500 list
Robert Greenleaf: Servant Leadership
http://www.lib.washington.edu/business/bizweb/ University of Washington Library, many items open to
all
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS:
Business for Social Responsibility
Economic Policy Institute: Sustainable policy
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Center for Environmental Leadership
SEARCH ENGINES
Google
Yahoo!
HotBot
LookSmart
Lycos
Ask.com
Books and Articles
Jay R. Galbraith, Designing Organizations: An Executive Briefing on Strategy, Structure and Process,
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1995.
Elliott Jacques, Requisite Organization: A Total System for Effective Managerial Organization and
Managerial Leadership for the 21st Century, Falls Church, VA: Cason Hall & Co. Pub., 1998.
David Nadler and Michael Tushman, Competing by Design: The Power of Organizational Architecture,
New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Nohria, Nitin, “Note on Organization Structure,” Harvard Business Review, May - June 1995.
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Team Member Evaluation
Rater:
Date:
To what extent are the following statements true about the teams member' group involvement for this
rating period.
A Little
True
1
Somewhat
True
2
Moderately
True
3
Mostly
True
4
Very
True
5
Team Member
Task Functions
1.
Keeps the team focused on tasks
2.
Helps the team come to decisions
3.
Present relevant facts or information
4.
Completes group assignments at a high quality level
5.
Suggests new ideas/way of approaching problems
6.
Ask for relevant facts or information
7.
Clarifies the relationships among the various ideas
8.
Checks with the team to determine if the group is ready
to make a decision or take some action
Takes assignments seriously
9.
10.
Produces evidence of spending adequate time on team
project outside of class
Group Building Functions
11.
Recognizes group member contributions
12.
Facilitates team discussions
13.
14.
Helps team members to make contributions by bringing
them into team discussions
Is a good listener
15.
Has ability to work in a team setting
16.
Offers objections to view points constructively
17.
Challenges the team to do excellent work
18.
Contributes to the " fun" atmosphere of the team
19.
Shares leadership and does not dominate the team
20.
Overall team contribution rating
Comments: (use back if needed)
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Country Presentation
Class Evaluation
Team ________________________
Please indicate the extent to which each statement was true by marking the appropriate number
using the following scale
Little
True
1
Somewhat
True
2
Moderately
True
3
Mostly
True
4
Very
True
5
Content:
1.
As a result of the presentation, I have a better understanding of the country’s
cultural background.
1 2 3 4 5
2.
Cultural norms and their relationship to organizational practices were made clear.
1 2 3 4 5
3.
Cultural norms and their relationship to management practices were made clear.
1 2 3 4 5
4.
Specific management practices were presented.
1 2 3 4 5
5.
Specific organizational approaches were presented.
1 2 3 4 5
6.
The information about the country makes me interested in knowing more about the
country.
1 2 3 4 5
Presentation:
7.
The presentation was organized in an understandable manner.
1 2 3 4 5
8.
The presentation was clear.
1 2 3 4 5
9.
The method’s (e.g. lecture, Q & A, slides, video, etc.) used to present the country
complimented the content.
1 2 3 4 5
10.
Helpful materials (handouts, slides, artifacts, etc.) were used and helpful to
understand the country’s practices.
1 2 3 4 5
Class Involvement:
11.
The team’s presentation helped class members become involved in learning about
the country.
1 2 3 4 5
12.
The team encouraged class member discussion.
1 2 3 4 5
13.
Overall, I would grade the teams presentation as:
C or lower ____
B-____
B____
B+____
A-____
A____
Comments
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(Please have one member fill out a copy and email to gary@kieff.com)
(the form can be downloaded at the course homepage (www.kieff.com/gary/MG540/Downloads/)
Group:
First Name
Gary
Last Name
Kieff
Work #
Home #
E-mail
616-632-2929 616.784.1289 gary@kieff.com
Employer
Aquinas
Position
Assistant Professor
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