University of Zurich
Chair of Organization and Management
Organizational Design
Bachelor Degree Lecture
Lecturer:
Stéphane Guérard, PhD
Spring 2011
Description
Contemporary organizations are evolving in increasingly global, complex and fast pace environments.
These changes force top and middle managers to adapt the strategy and structure of their organizations
in order to maintain or increase its efficiency, effectiveness, and innovativeness. Through various real life
illustrations, this lecture provides students with useful conceptual frameworks to understand and design
performing organizations at the local and global levels and to match market, institutional and internal
structural constraints.
This lecture is for highly motivated students who intend to become strategist in organizations. Students
are expected to actively participate in discussions and to answer questions directly in class. This lecture
is entirely delivered in English.
Objectives
At the end of the course, you should be able to:
1. Understand the importance of the fit between strategy, structure and the environment on
organizational effectiveness
2. Identify the pros and cons of different organizational structures
3. Explain the role of external and internal factors in designing organizations
4. Tell the characteristics of global design and of collaborative network
5. Engage in active discussions related to organizational design
When and Where?
On Mondays (10h15-12h00) and at the University of Zurich. The local is to be determined.
Compulsory Reading Material
Daft, R.L., Murphy, J., Willmott, H. 2010. Organization Theory and Design. Cengage Learning.
You can buy this book at Bücherladen Zentrum- Schönberggasse 2
***ATTENTION this is a new book and it is expensive (around 100 Sfr)
Course Evaluation
A 120-minute exam composed of case study analysis, short open-ended questions and multiple choice
questions. The exam is in English only.
1 Universitätsstr. 84, CH-8006 Zürich, Tel. +41 (0) 44 634 37 55, www.om.uzh.ch/teaching.html
Schedule and Readings
1. Introduction to Organizational Design?
st
February 21 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: Chapter 1
Case: Xerox
Fundamentals of Organization Design
2. Strategy and Organization Design
th
February 28 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: Chapter 2
Case: The Global Watch Industry
3. Fundamentals of Organization Structure
th
March 7 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: Chapter 3
Case: Aquarius Advertising Agency
4. The Environment of Organizations
th
March 14 , 10h15-12h00
Reading: Chapter 4
Case: tbd
Technology, Core Competencies and Collaboration
5. Manufacturing and Service Technologies
st
March 21 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: Daft, Chapter 7
Case: Acetate Department
6. Core Competencies and Competitive Advantages
th
March 28 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: (to be distributed)
Case: tbd
7. Inter-organizational Collaborations
th
April 4 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: Chapter 5
Case: Joint Venturing in India: Eli Lilly and Ranbaxy
Processes and Internal Design Elements
8. Reward Systems, Information and Control Processes
th
April 18 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: Daft, Chapter 8
Case study: Product X
9. Corporate Culture and Ethical Values
nd
May 2 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: Chapter 10
Special Guests: Victorinox / Case: A Case of Corporate Social Responsibility (tbd)
10. Organizational Innovation and Change
th
May 9 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: Chapter 11
Case: tbd
2 Universitätsstr. 84, CH-8006 Zürich, Tel. +41 (0) 44 634 37 55, www.om.uzh.ch/teaching.html
11. Decision-making Processes
th
May 16 , 10h15-12h00
Readings: Chapter 12
Case: tbd
12. Designing Organization for the International Environment
May 23rd, 10h15-12h00
Readings: Chapter 6
Special Guests: Roland Berger / Case: Improving the Structure of a Large Ocean Carrier (tdb)
13. Synthesis, Questions and Your Evaluation of the Lecture
th
May 30 , 10h15-12h00
3 Universitätsstr. 84, CH-8006 Zürich, Tel. +41 (0) 44 634 37 55, www.om.uzh.ch/teaching.html