Sociology of Organizations (302-DL-20)

Instructors

Thomas Durkin

Meeting Info

Online: TBA

Overview of class

Our contemporary lives are shaped by participation in a range of complex organizations. They dominate the social, political, and economic landscape of our world. Understanding how organizations shape our lives is crucial to gaining some control over the outcomes which affect us. Due to their ubiquity, organizations have been phenomena to which social science has devoted much research. Due to their complexity, definitive explanations of organizational structures, processes, and outcomes have been difficult to achieve. This course provides an overview of what is known about complex organizations. Students are introduced to various theoretical paradigms that explain different aspects of organizational life. They learn how to use theoretical models to analyze organizational problems. Solutions to problems are suggested by the various research studies that provide a knowledge base for this course. By the end of the course, students will be able to diagnose organizational problems and devise targeted remedies.

This course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to tuition,

Registration Requirements

Note: This course is limited to School of Professional Studies students only. Undergraduate students in other schools at Northwestern are not permitted to enroll in this course.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Describe how organizational structures and cultures vary across organizational types.
Analyze ways in which politics both facilitate and constrain organizational actors.
Manage conflict situations in organizational contexts.
Design strategies for achieving organizational goals.

Class Materials (Required)

Confirm course texts and materials by contacting instructor or viewing course Canvas site or University bookstore website.

Class Attributes

Asynchronous:Remote class-no scheduled mtg time