EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

Management, Marketing & Corporate Communication Technology Department

Course Syllabus

Spring, 2006

COURSE NUMBER: MGT 400 Thursday nights 6:00 – 8:45 Combs 105

COURSE TITLE: Organization Theory

INSTRUCTOR: Allen D. Engle, Sr.

OFFICE: 220 Combs Classroom Building Web page: www.people.eku.edu/englea/

Phone: 622-6549 E-mail: allen.engle@eku.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Tues & Thurs 8:00 -9:30, 11:00 –12:30, 1:45 - 2:45; Thurs 3:00 – 6:00

PREREQUISITES: MGT 300

REQUIRED TEXT: Organizational Theory, Text and Cases, 4rd Ed. Gareth Jones.

Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice-Hall (2003).

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: None, reserve reading on web page.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Principles of organization design as they relate to goals and strategy formulation, environmental conditions, technology, job design, control systems, and decision-making.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course applies problem-solving, case-oriented techniques to demonstrate the factors having a bearing on the types of organizational structure each firm should consider. The optimal form of design will vary in accordance with such variables as goals, activities, technology, operational needs, and systems of managerial control.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Student are required to contribute extensively to in-class discussions. Class time will be devoted to: 1. Reviewing the models and theories of the text, and 2. abstracting cases, defining the significant problems of the cases and recommending structural changes in the case firm in order to apply the theoretical models in the text. The course builds upon previous definitions and models, so the student must assess new information in the light of previous material. This requires students to integrate materials across topic areas as the course develops. If the instructor begins to suspect the students are not properly preparing for the class discussion, he reserves the right to give a series of unannounced quizzes on the material.

2. Students will take a series of three open book, open note, in-class exams requiring them to apply particular chapters or topics to solve a particular case problem or respond to a series of essay questions.

3. Teams of two to three students will select a timely topic in organizational design, research four articles from the professional literature on the topic and write up a brief, three to five typed page report on the topic and its relevance to management practices. Three copies of these reports will be collected in an accessible spot and each student will be expected to read and write up a one paragraph summary of four student reports other than their own. Reports will be evaluated based upon the clarity of report, thoroughness in reviewing the four articles and association of the articles to our readings in the class.

COURSE EVALUATION PROCESS: Final course grades will be determined according to the following criteria:

Two Exams (Open Book, in-class)

100 points each 200 points

Participation/Quizzes 100 points

Research Paper and Peer Review 50 points

Cumulative Final 150 points

Total Points Possible 500 points

Grading scale: 90%=A, 89-80%=B, 79-70%=C, 69-60=D, <60=F

STUDENT PROGRESS REPORTING: Feedback on the evaluation of exams, presentations and participation status will be provided to the students as soon as possible.

STUDENTS’ MATERIALS: The professor retains the right to retain for pedagogical reasons either the original, or a copy, of any student’s test, written assignment, paper, video, or similar work submitted by the student, either individually or as a group project, for this class. Student’s names will be deleted from any retained items.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are expected to attend all classes. Any missed work will be made up only with a legitimate, documented excuse. The instructor is the final judge of what is a legitimate excuse and what is not. There will be no opportunity to make up participation, pop quizzes or presentations.

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION: If you are registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please make an appointment with the course instructor to discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you need academic accommodations and are not registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please contact the Office directly either in person at the third floor of the Student Services Building, by email at disabilities@eku.edu or by telephone at (859) 622‑12933 V/TDD. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in alternative forms.

ENGLE 1/06

TENTATIVE OUTLINE OF ACTIVITIES

SECTION ONE: OVERVIEW, INTRODUCTION AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES

1/19 Introduction, Definitions; Chapter 1, Organizations and Stakeholders

1/26 Ch. 1, cont.; Engle’s, Web reading on Organizational Effectiveness

2/2 Web reading, cont.; LIVE CASE EKU's Business Programs- Brainstorming; PLUS

SECTION TWO: INDEPENDENT VARIABLES:

2/2 cont. Chapter 2, Systems, Design and Ethics

2/9 Chapter 4, Organizational Design as Control; CASE 2: The Pardoxical Twins, p.470

2/16 Chapter 5, Authority and Control; Ch. 6, Specialization and Control; CASE 5: Texana Petroleum Corp., p. 504

2/23 EXAM ONE (CHAPTERS 1&2,4-6); PLUS

SECTION THREE: MODERATOR VARIABLES:

(A) ENVIRONMENT

2/23 cont. Chapter 7, Organizational Culture

3/2 CASE 6: W.L.Gore & Assoc., p. 512; Chapter 3, Organizational Environment

3/9 Chapter 8, Strategy and Structure; CASE 13: Philips, N.V. p. 564

3/16 ACADEMIC HOLIDAY

3/23 EXAM TWO (CHAPTERS 3, 7-8); PLUS

(B) TECHNOLOGY

3/23 cont. Chapter 9, The Construct of Technology

3/30 Ch. 9, cont.; Chapter 10, Developments in Technology; CASE 10: Bennett’s Machine Shop, p. 538

SECTION FOUR: ONGOING PROCESSES:

4/6 Chapter 11, Organizational Renewal;

4/13 Chapter 12, Decision Making & Organizational Learning; PAPERS DUE IN

4/20 Chapter 13, Innovation and Change

4/27 Ch. 13, cont.; PAPER REACTIONS DUE IN

5/4 Chapter 14, Power and Conflict; CASE 14: "Ramrod" Stockwell, p. 567

CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM WILL BE THURSDAY, MAY 11, 6:00-8:00.

ENGLE 1/06