HAS OBCP Organisational Behaviour and Change Processes* (Q1)

Faculty
Christian Poulsen

Course Coordinator
Chris Mathieu

Prerequisite/progression of the course

The students must document a level in English equal to TOEFL 575 and a level in mathematics equal to Danish level B.

Course content, structure and teaching

The primary aim of the course to acquaint the student with contemporary perspectives on how organizations act and how organizations impact the actions of organizational members. As the title indicates, the challenges and opportunities associated with organizational change are also examined. Various modernist and post-modern perspectives on both organizational behaviour and change are presented and it is expected that by the end of the course students are not just clear over the differences between these perspectives, but also can see the strengths and weaknesses of various perspectives. The course also seeks to use case material that is relevant to service organizations, allowing the student to see how various theories and methodological traditions can be used to generate insight into service organizations.

Learning Objectives

In the end of this course, the students should be able to:

To show a theoretical and practical mastery of the central concepts, approaches and paradigms associated with the actions of organizations and the members of organizations
An understanding of the historical development of the study of organizations, and the implications this has for the validity of our current understanding of organizational processes
To be able to use theories and concepts as tool to analyze concrete cases and situations
To refine a personal understanding of what organizational change is, that is to say what changes during organizational change
Based on the above mentioned understanding of change, you are capable of devising a strategy for intervening in the change process, as well as deem the extent to which managerial intervention is possible in change processes
To understand how service organizations are both similar and different to other types of organizations
To understand how social, cultural and economic factors interact in organizational settings

Type of examination, exam aids and assessment

Written 4 hours individual exam with open books.

Exam aids:For this open book exam, students are allowed bring language dictionaries as well as literature and notes. The only electronic device allowed at the exam is a non programmable calculator ( in other words, the following are NOT allowed: laptop, USB stick, mobile phone, etc).

Teaching methods

The course combines lectures, cases studies, and student case presentations.

Recommended literature

Gary Alan Fine Kitchens: the culture of restaurant work University of California Press 1996
Theoretical Organizational Behaviour/Organizations textbook (not decided yet), and a collection of articles and cases

Last updated by The Electives Office 10/08/2009