INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT BANGALORE

PGP 2019 – 2021, Term 1

Course Title : Organization Design

Faculty Instructors : Mukta Kulkarni (Sections A and F)

Israel Fortin (Sections B and E)
Shibashis Mukherjee (Sections C and D)
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Course Objectives:
This course introduces students to concepts associated with organization design. While
organizations are ubiquitous and influence all aspects of contemporary life, this course
explains the rationale behind their existence and the various designs that organizations
can adopt to achieve their strategic objectives. The course will provide students with an
analytical framework for understanding the impact of several factors such as the business
environment, operational technology, rate and amount of growth, and business strategy
on the design of organizations. Overall, this course provides potential managers with an
understanding of the levers of organizational structure, processes, and culture that they
can control in order to achieve business objectives.

Teaching Methods:
While management of organizations is intensely practical and application oriented, the
objective of the course is to explain the theoretical foundations underneath such
applications. Therefore, modes of instruction will be a mix of lectures, case studies, and
project work. Classes are expected to be interactive where learning happens through
debates and discussions, using examples from cases and information provided through
lectures. Therefore, students are expected to take active part in class discussions because
in a course like this, learning is unlikely to happen through individualistic self-studies.

Study Material:
The prescribed textbook for this course is: Understanding the Theory and Design of
Organizations by Richard L. Daft, 11th Edition. Supplementary reading material and
slides will be provided on Moodle. Students are expected to study all reading material
mentioned in the syllabus. Additional readings may be suggested in class.

Attendance Policy:
Attendance policy will reflect PGP Office norms. Quizzes might be held in-class and
there might be marks for class participation. Instructors will make specific
announcements.

Performance Assessment:
Performance will be judged based on the following components –

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 • In-class activities: In-class activities will comprise any or all the following:
quizzes, class participation, assignments. ‘N’ quizzes will be conducted during the
course. Quizzes may be conducted in-class or at a scheduled time outside class.
In-class quizzes might not be announced beforehand. N-1 quiz scores will be
considered for final grading. Quizzes will contain multiple choice questions
and/or short answers, and may cover material discussed in class up to that day and
material assigned for the class on that day. Since grade points for N-1 quizzes will
be considered for final evaluation, there will be no make-up quizzes if you miss
class. Quizzes may be open or closed book.

• Examinations: Mid term and end term examinations will comprise multiple-
choice questions and questions requiring descriptive answers. Multiple choice
questions will have negative marks for wrong answers. Descriptive answers will
have to be accommodated within provided space. Examinations are not open
book. There are no make-up exams.

• Team project: A key requirement of this course is a team project. It will enable
students to understand, in detail, the structure, practices, and processes of a real-
life organization. Groups will be formed by the PGP office.

There are two options. First, groups can select one organization that they would
like to study, and study it in depth. Second, groups can talk with several
organizational members (across organizations) to understand what a future-ready
workplace will (or does) look like.

Since data about internal structure, practices, and processes of an organization are
not always available in the public domain, this project may involve fieldwork and
collection of primary data through interviews and discussions with organizational
members. Therefore, it is advisable that at least one or some of the team members
have access to employees of the chosen organization who can provide the
necessary information to the team. It is also possible to complete this project
based only on secondary sources. Instructors will answer any questions you may
have.

Formal peer evaluations may be given to assess individual student’s contribution

to the team project. The results of these evaluations will be used along with other
measures to determine each team member’s overall project grade. This means that
you may receive a lower or higher grade than your group members. Make sure
you are not a free-rider or excessively directive – it will cost you points.

Team project steps:

• Choose an organization: Teams, as formed by the PGP office, should let the
faculty instructor know the name/details of the chosen organization in class on or
before the fifth session. Teams will be assigned numbers that will determine their
sequence of presentation at the end of the term.

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 • Submit an interim report: The purpose of the interim report is to enable students
to structure their time and tasks. The interim report is due in class on or before the
twelfth session. This report should outline your final report. This submission will
not be graded.

• Presentation of project: Each team is required to present its work on the selected
organization in class as per the given schedule. Each presentation will be last for
15 minutes followed by 5 minutes for questions and discussion. All teams should
submit their presentations to the faculty instructor before the first team is
scheduled to make its presentation.

• Submit final report and presentation: The final report is expected to be of

professional quality. Sources of all data used in the report should be
acknowledged explicitly with footnotes/endnotes and a complete list of
references. The final report should not exceed 20 pages in length (including title
page, references, tables, and any other pages). Credit will be given for proper
application of concepts and frameworks taught in the course. However, force
fitting of concepts taught in class and mere description of events will be
discredited. The final report is due on or before Session 16 via Moodle or in class,
as per instructor guidelines. The final report will be graded.

Any instance of plagiarism or reproduction of content from anywhere without

acknowledgement will result in team getting zero in their project component and the case
being referred to IIMB PGP Committee for disciplinary action.

Grading Scheme:

Component Weight
In-class Activities+ 20
Mid Term Examination 30
End Term Examination 25
Team Project* 25
TOTAL 100
+ The nature and marks allocation of in-class activities will be provided by respective faculty instructors
*The breakup of the team project is as follows: Presentation -10 points; Final Report- 15 points

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Schedule:
Session Topic Readings/Cases
1 Introduction to • Daft chapter 1
organizations • Case: Joy of running
2 Environment and • Daft chapter 6
structure • Case: The decision dilemma
3 Fundamentals of • Daft chapters 2, 13
structures • The multiunit enterprise
• Case: C & C grocery stores, Inc. (Daft, page 111)
4 Design tests • Do you have a well-designed organization?
• Case: Airstar
5 Structural evolution • Daft chapter 12
• Evolution and revolution as organizations grow
• Case: Appex
• Video: Wiki
6 Organization strategy • Daft chapter 3
and structure • Case: The university art museum (Daft, page 153)
• Video: Aravind eye hospital
7 Multinational • Daft chapter 5
organizations • How GE is disrupting itself
8 Power, politics, and • Daft chapter 7
conflict • Case: Merger management
9 Organizational • Daft chapter 9
culture • What holds the modern company together?
• The ordinary heroes of the Taj
10 Organizational • Daft chapter 11
control • Control in an age of empowerment
• Case: Mrs. Fields’ Cookies Inc.
MID TERM EXAM
11 Practitioner • Speaker 1 (Future-ready organizing)
perspective
12 Organizational • Daft chapter 8
decision-making • Case: DC 10
13 Practitioner • Speaker 2 (Running large-scale organizing)
perspective
14 Organizational • Daft chapter 10
change • Leading change: Why transformation efforts fail?
• Building a Learning Organization
15 Organizing to • Daft chapter 4
innovate • Organizing to innovate
• Communities of practice
16 Presentations • Groups 1-3
17 Presentations • Groups 4-6
18 Presentations • Groups 7-9
19 Presentations • Groups 10-12
20 Future-ready • Out of this world
organizations • Videos: The caring capitalist, Amul

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• Course wrap-up and learning
END TERM EXAM