AOS130 Introduction to Organisation Theory

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Nicolay Andre Melsæter Worren

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Course frequency:Annually.

Nominal workload:125 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts and finishes in the January block. This course has teaching/evaluation in January block.

About this course

The course addresses fundamental elements of organizational theory, including:

  • How the external environment that affect the goals and the design of organizations
  • The importance of purpose/mission, vision, and strategy (at the organizational level) and mandates (at the unit level)
  • Organizing at the firm level based on internal and external conditions (contingency theory)
  • Organizing at the unit level (teams, departments, and divisions) based on work processes
  • The difference between formal and informal organization
  • Tools and analytical frameworks for diagnosing, analyzing, and improving organization

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

After completing the course, the student:

- will have basic knowledge of topics and issues related to how modern organizations function and are structured.

- will also have knowledge of the history, developmental characteristics, and distinctive nature of organizational theory.

Skills:

After completing the course, the student will:

- Be able to explain the concept of a formal organization and describe the purpose of organizing, as well as explain the difference between a formal and an informal organization.

- Be able to explain the concept of organizational structure and describe the different types of structures common in the workplace today, as well as identify the effects these can have on how organizations function.

- Be able to explain concepts such as mission, vision, goals, function, and mandate, provide examples of these concepts, and discuss their application.

- Be able to explain the significance of an organization’s environment and how it influences the way organizations function.

- Be able to distinguish between the main directions in organizational theory.

- Be able to use systematic methods to describe and analyze goals/functions and dependencies among tasks/roles/units.

General Competence:

After completing the course, the student

- will be able to use their skills to conduct systematic investigations of how organizations function

- will be able to identify limitations and opportunities in their own workplace related to organization and organizing

- will be able to communicate about professional issues concerning organizations and organizing, and have developed a critical attitude toward organizational issues.

  • Learning activities
    Lectures with exercises, simulations and case-discussions.
  • Assessment method
    Final written campus examination (3,5 hours) accounts for 100% of the grade.

    Written exam Karakterregel: Letter grades Hjelpemiddel: A1 No calculator, no other aids
  • Examiner scheme
    An external examiner will review the syllabus, assignments and exams.
  • Mandatory activity

    Mandatory group assignments and participation in lectures and study groups each day of the course.

    Students who show up after the 2nd day of the course will not be allowed to take the course.

    In addition to the group work, the course includes a mandatory activity, which is to participate in a research project related to organizational theory. The activity takes approximately 20 minutes and is completed individually online. The purpose of the activity will be explained in one of the lectures.

    Students who have already received approval for this activity in a previous instance of the course do not need to complete the mandatory activity again.

  • Admission requirements
    Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)