General provisions

Master's Programme in Business and Management - specialisation Organisation.

Entry requirements

Strategy and Contemporary Issues, 15 credits. A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. Also required is 90 credits in business studies. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. As all teaching takes place in English, very good language skills in English are a necessity to be able to partake in the course.

For incoming exchange students an introductory course at Master's level from previous studies is required. Exceptions can be made from the requirement of 90 credits in business studies, provided that special reasons are considered to exist.

Learning outcomes

Modern society is influenced by organisations and organising, and most of our daily lives either play out in organisations or are deeply affected by organisation. While organisation theory traces its intellectual roots to economic sociology, it has developed by integrating insights from decision-making, network and political science theory to become a central theory in modern social science. The course presents an overview of the development of and various strands of organisation theory. It also provides a language that gives students insights into current debates concerning not only organisation in its broader sense and in relation to the responsible management and governance of individual organisations, but also the importance of organisation in understanding and addressing major societal challenges, including aspects of sustainable development and democracy.

After the course, the student will be expected to:

• describe and explain the key themes and debates in organisation theory,
• understand, explain and use the core concepts and theories within organisation theory in a critical manner,
• have knowledge of the most frequently used empirical methods used in organisation theory,
• relate to and use organisational theoretical reasoning in relation to general organisational and societal problems and challenges,
• carry out critical analyses, using key organisation theory concepts in empirical and theoretical reasoning.

Content

The course will give students an overview of organisation theory. It is divided into thematic sessions aimed to provide an overview over central debates and the theoretical tools and methods used to understand and research organising and organisations.

Prior to every thematic session, students are required to reflect on empirical dilemmas that have led researchers to the particular theorisation of organisations that is the subject of the session and in relation to questions of responsible management in contemporary organisations and beyond.

Instruction

The medium of instruction is lectures and academic seminars. Students read and prepare a written assignment and will receive feedback and guidance at the seminar. The written assignment also includes the task of relating the topic of the seminar to current events, either as reported in media or from the student's own experience. The course is taught in English.

Assessment

The student will get one single grade, equivalent to 7,5 credits.

Examination includes seminars, oral and written group exercises and an individual written assignment. The grade for the entire course is based on an assessment of all parts of the examination.

Grading criteria are presented in the study guide that applies to the course section. The following grades will be used: pass with distinction (VG), pass (G), and fail (U). Examinations handed in late will not be assessed except under special circumstances. Any remaining supplemental work must be completed and handed in by the deadline specified in the study guide. Otherwise the entire course (all examinations included) must be retaken during subsequent course sections.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating or plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, which may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.

NOTE: Only completed courses can count toward a degree.

Other directives

​The course overlaps Organisation Theory 2FE898, Advanced Organisation Theory (Contract Education) 8FE860 and Advanced Organisation theory 2FE860.