Organization Theory & Design

MANA 341 Fall 2023 (F2023)

Instructor Nigel Taklalsingh | nigel.taklalsingh@concordia.ca |

Office Hours Thursdays, 9:00 to 11:00, In-Person or Via Zoom
Book via Calendly: https://calendly.com/nigel-taklalsingh/30min

Office 13.104
Course Section B:
Dates, Time, Thursdays, Sep-07 to Dec-04
and Room 11:45 to 14:30
MB 2.445

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides students with a basis for understanding and critically examining complex
organizations in contemporary society. We examine how the formal and informal properties of
organizations are interrelated with contextual forces in the external environment. We
emphasize an analysis of organizational systems for the purpose of improving integration,
adaptation, survival, and effectiveness of organizations.

Organization theory is the study of how an organization operates as a collective social system
within its environment. Organizations are an integral part of our everyday lives: we create them,
work for them, buy from them, identify with them, protest them – they are indispensable to our
lives. Because they play such an important role in our lives, a better understanding of
organizations will help you become more successful as leaders and managers.

Why do organizations look the way they do? Why do organizations behave the way they do?
What roles do an organization’s internal characteristics (e.g., its structure, its size, its culture,
etc.) and external environment (e.g., its competitors, investors, the government, technology
changes, etc.) play in these processes? How do organizations influence society and vice
versa? These questions are the focus of MANA 341.

In this course, we will explore a range of theories and perspectives that explain the structure
and behaviour of individual organizations, the relationships between multiple organizations, and
the properties of the population of organizations.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Successfully completing this course involves achieving the following goals:

• Understanding the nature of complex organizations and learning about how organizations
function.
• Applying multiple theoretical perspectives of organizations to diagnose and solve practical
organizational and managerial problems.
• Communicating/discussing your thoughts and ideas about organizations and organization
theory.
• Critically thinking and writing about the reality, problems, and solutions of organized human
activity.

CLASS STRUCTURE

Classes (Live Classes) will take place, in in-person, at the specified dates and times. As
applicable, pre-recorded lectures and lecture notes will be posted on Moodle before classes.
Live class lecture materials will be posted after each class. As applicable, additional materials
and individual and group exercises will be posted on Moodle.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

1. Digital Textbook (also available in hard copy at the Concordia Bookstore): Richard L.
Daft & Ann Armstrong’s Organizational Theory and Design 4td edition). ISBN:
9780176915582
https://www.cengage.ca/c/organization-theory-and-design-44-4th-edition-4e-daft-
armstrong/9780176915582/

2. There are additional readings assigned throughout the semester. These are available to
you on the Moodle course site or via the Concordia Library.

3. Lecture Notes will be posted on the Moodle course site prior to each class.

GRADING

The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:

Class Contribution .................................................... 15%

Reaction Memos ........................................................ 20%
Midterm Exam ........................................................... 30%
Final Exam ................................................................. 35%
100%

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Class Contribution (15%)

Discussion topics and mini cases will be presented in class, which will include questions. Small
groups will be formed to answer the questions in class (15-20 minutes), after which they will be
presented back to the entire class, to contrast and compare the different responses (15-20
mins). These exercises will be beneficial as preparation for the mid-term and final assignment.

Other exercises will be used during the class to deepen the understanding and provide the
opportunity to apply the concepts. The discussion & application part of the class is where
participation marks can be earned, which counts for 15% of the final grade.

Reaction Memos (20%)

You will be required to submit two (2) reaction memos where you will reflect upon and react to
assigned course articles. This is independent work on your part.

Format of Reaction Memos: ‘Memo-Style’

• Describe how the concept(s) from the course (lectures, lecture materials and textbook)
are demonstrated in the article. Identify if the concepts are supported or contradicted by
the article. Provide examples from the article to support your points. If related, include
examples from your experience.

o Part 1: Opening points, clearly and concisely explaining what will be discussed.
Summary statements identifying your overall assessment i.e., whether the
concepts are supported or contradicted.
o Part 2: Description of the concepts and demonstration (evidence) of how they
exist in the article. If the concepts are contradicted include potential reasons and
rationale. Inclusion-related & supporting examples from professional experience
(if applicable). Tables, and/or bullet points can be used to complete Part 2.
o Part 3: Closing points summarizing overall assessment, highlighting the
demonstration of the concepts with main points of evidence and/or key aspects of
the rationale if the concepts are contradicted.

Please do not summarize the article. This is not an opinion piece about why you liked or
did not like the article.

• Submitted in PDF format

• Filename: Must include your last name and your student ID number
• Length: maximum 2 pages in length, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins all around.
• Headers/Footers: Number the page(s) in, top right-hand corner, with your last name and
student ID number preceding the page number.
• Referencing: APA (see next page for how to do this)

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Marks are deducted if the submission is not compliant to these format items. The library
website has for information on APA. Also, tutorials are available online on how to correctly
reference using this method.

Submitting Your Reaction Memo:

Assignments must be submitted on Moodle before class, at the beginning of the class that
you selected. So, for example, if you choose your reaction memo on session #5, you must
submit your reaction memo at the beginning of session #5. Late assignments will not be
accepted.

Grading and Schedule:

Reaction Memo 1 (10%) – Chosen one (1) from classes 3, 4, 5, or 6

Reaction Memo 2 (10%) – Chosen one (1) from classes 9, 10, 11 or 12

Midterm (30%) and Final Exam (35%)

There are two exams, each of which will examine your knowledge and understanding of the
textbook, supplemental readings, and in-class materials.

Midterm (30%):

The format of the midterm combines the following types of questions: multiple choice, short
essays, and applied essay-type/case questions.

Final Exam (35%):

The final in-person exam will be a combination of multiple-choice, short-answer and long-
answer questions based on a mix of business scenarios and cases.

Students will be assessed on their ability to identify and demonstrate the existence of concepts
in multiple-choice and short-answer questions and apply the concepts to address
organizational issues in long-answer questions (cases).

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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Plagiarism: The most common offense under the Academic Code of Conduct is plagiarism,
which the Code defines as: "the presentation of the work of another person, in whatever form,
as one's own or without proper acknowledgment."
http://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/concordia/offices/provost/docs/Academic-Code-Conduct-
2015.pdf

In any work submitted, students must identify all information sources used in the corresponding
portion of the paper as well as at the end of the work. Any violation of this prescription
constitutes plagiarism under the Code of Conduct.

In short, do not copy, paraphrase, translate or claim anything as your own without mentioning
where you obtained it. Please see the Concordia library link below to access RefWorks or for
instructions on how to properly cite and reference the source of information:
http://library.concordia.ca/help/citing/index.php

The Purdue Owl website is also another great site that can help with proper referencing:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

GRADING

The objective of this course is to broaden your knowledge and skills in the area of Organization
Theory. At the end of the course, the professor will submit a letter grade for every student
registered. Grade Point Averages (GPA) are calculated using the grade point equivalents,
listed below, for the evaluation of academic achievement, honours standing, prizes, and
academic standing. Grades are based on performance and not effort. The following list
provides the equivalent letter and number grades for assignments in this course:

Letter Number GPA

A+ 90 – 100 4.30
A 85 - 89 4.00
A- 80 - 84 3.70
B+ 77 - 79 3.30
B 73 - 76 3.00
B- 70 - 72 2.70
C+ 67 - 69 2.30
C 63 - 66 2.00
C- 60 – 62 1.70
D+ 57 – 59 1.30
D 53 – 56 1.00
D- 50 – 52 0.70
F < 50 0

* D- is the minimum letter grade to pass the course*

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Please refer to section 16.1.11 of the Undergraduate Calendar for more information about the
grading system, examinations, and performance requirements:
http://www.concordia.ca/academics/undergraduate/calendar/current/sec16/16.html

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COURSE SCHEDULE

The book chapters are given as per 4th Edition of the textbook. Chapter numbers may be
different if you are using previous versions. The schedule and/or articles/readings can change
at the professor’s discretion. Prior notice will be provided in class.

Week Dates Topics / Activity

1 Sep-07 Class Orientation & Introduction to Organization Theory

Textbook:
Chapter 1: Organizations and Organization Theory

2 Sep-14 Organization Goals and Effectiveness

Textbook:
Chapter 3: Strategy, Organizational Design, and Effectiveness

3 Sep-21 Organizational Design I

Textbook:
Chapter 4: Fundamentals of Organizational Structure

4 Sep-28 Organizational Design II

Textbook:
Chapter 4: Fundamentals of Organizational Structure

5 Oct-05 Organizational Size and Growth

Textbook:
Chapter 8: Organizational Size, Life Cycle, and Decline

Oct-12 Midterm Break (University Closed)

6 Oct-19 Organizational Culture & Ethics

Textbook:
Chapter 9: Organizational Culture and Ethical Values

7 Oct-26 Midterm Exam

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Week Dates Topics / Activity

8 Nov-02 Organizational Environment I – Environmental Uncertainty and

Dependence
Textbook:
Chapter 2: The External Environment

9 Nov-09 Organizational Environment II – Inter-organizational Relationships

Textbook:
Chapter 6: Interorganizational Relationships

10 Nov-16 Organizational Change

Textbook:
Chapter 11: Innovation and Change

11 Nov-23 Stakeholder Engagement and Social Responsibility

Textbook:
Chapter 5: Designing Organizations for Social and Environmental Purpose

12 Nov-30 Conflict and Power in Organizations + Final Wrap-Up

Textbook:
Chapter 12: Conflict, Power, and Politics

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