MMM027-Designing Organisations

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: MMM054 Cases in Financial Management and Control
Current from: 2019/0

Email: yipeng.liu@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is delivered at the University of Reading Whiteknights. It describes, contrasts and explains traditional and new forms of organization within an international context. The module evaluates a variety of organisational design features such as teams and networks for their capacity to deliver appropriate strategies for 21st century firms and organisations. It considers the future of post-industrial organisation.

Aims:

To foster a critical awareness of organizational design issues to enable informed decision making about organizational design choices at work. To provide insights into the purpose and effects of adopting particular organisational designs and evaluate their suitability for attaining organisational goals.

Assessable learning outcomes:

To introduce students to key concepts underpinning organisational design choices and to explore the implementation issues involved in organisational restructuring and change and the consequence of the design choices made. By the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Describe and assess the most common design choices for contemporary management. 


2. Understand some of the varied determinants of organisational design. 


3. Identify organisational designs fit for purpose.


4. Critically evaluate some of the practices of design implementation. 


5. Understand and assess the links between organisational design and performance. 

Additional outcomes:

Develop critical and analytical skills in organisational design and development issues.

Outline content:

The module describes, contrasts and explains traditional organisational design options such as the multidivisional and functional forms, then explores the relevance and significance of new forms of organising for the 21st century such as the network, virtual and mixed modes of organising. Theoretical approaches will be supplemented by empirical evidence for current modes of organising and their links with organisational performance. The course will then explore the content and practice of organisational change and development, concentrating on issues such as the role of strategy and processes such as HR, IT and communications in organisational design.

Global context:

This module assesses organisational design within a global context and utilises case studies from both global and international perspectives.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures are supplemented by 4 seminars where students work in groups to solve organisational problems. Teaching is interactive and includes illustrative case study examples and film clips as well as research based evidence.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

One examination of 2 hours weighted at 50%.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One 3,000 word essay to be submitted week 30 Spring Term weighted at 50%.

Upper limit of word count: A word count of 10% excess is allowed for the written assignment essay. Exceeding the word count will attract a penalty whereby written work beyond the 10% excess is discounted in the grading of the assignment.

Formative assessment methods:

Seminar 2 on essay writing is an opportunity for students to present draft essay plans for feedback.

Penalties for late submission:

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A weighted average mark of 50%.

Reassessment arrangements:

By examination only (one two hour unseen written paper) in August/September. Coursework will not be included in the re-assessment.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 19 July 2019