Organization Theory

Time & place: 18-20 November 2019, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä

Learning goal and objectives

Organization Theory course gives an overall picture of the field with history development, current issues and trends. It covers subjects as: organizations as social and economic actors, how individuals/people act within organizations and on behalf of organizations, and how to conceptualize organizations. Ontological, epistemological, and methodological questions are also dealt during the course in relation to organization theory.

During the course it is also aimed to develop a critical reading and understanding of different theories, to help participants to use/apply these theories in formulating their own research projects, and to promote understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of organization theory. Fields like administrative decision making, structuralism, organizational culture, gender and diversity approach, agency theory, institutional theory, critical theory, post-modernism & modernism, post-structuralism and post-colonialism, and psychodynamic approach are covered during the course. Special focus is in the year 2019 given to the study of history of organizations.

The aim of the course is also to study how to use OT in one’s own doctoral work. During the course small workshops are organized in order to fill this aim.

Instruction and examination

A report (about 20 pages) on a topic agreed during the course is written and handed in one month after the course ends. The reading material has to be commented during a special session in the seminar. It is recommendable that the report relates to the questions of the doctoral thesis and current writing of the students (like articles).

Credits: 6 ECTS

Grading: 1-5 The instructor of the course makes the evaluation based on the study report written after the course.

Prerequisites: Required readings. Students are required to read beforehand an extensive reading package (ca. 10-15 articles) and actively participation on course work during the three teaching days is expected. The reading material is commented and discussed during a special session at the first day of the seminar.

Admittance: The maximum 25 Phd students. The application deadline is September 30. One can apply by sending an email including the name of the faculty and supervisor to the coordinator.

Instructors:

Iiris Aaltio, Professor, University of Jyväskylä

Tuomo Peltonen, Professor, Åbo Akademi

Professors Albert Mills and/or Jean Helms Mills, Saint Mary’s University, Canada (International guest lectures)

Course coordinator and contact information: Ph.D. Student Qian Wang, University of Jyväskylä, qiawang@student.jyu.fi