FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Introduction to Organisations
and Organisational Studies

PROFESSOR:
LINARES/BARBERO/MANUELA

INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND ORGANISATION STUDIES

2024 - 0
 Learning Outcomes
1. Assess the effectiveness of a range of different approaches for building system solutions
to business problems, considering the broader ethical and social issues involved in
building and using information systems.
2. Apply information systems knowledge to real-world business scenarios requiring
analysis and decision making.
3. Appraise the connection between information systems and business performance by
reviewing the ways in which real-world companies use information systems to achieve their
objectives.
Coursework report

4. Understand how contemporary approaches to organisation relate to and differ from

classical approaches.
5. Understand the contested and political nature of studying organisations and their
management.
Final Exam
Evaluation system

• Coursework
• 30 January, 2024

• Exam
• May 2024.
Exam
• Unseen examination (two-hour last year).

• The Organisation Studies learning

outcomes (learning outcomes 4 to 5) are
assessed by the examination.

• Examinations take place in May of each

year. Examination dates are published
nearer the examination time.
Writing Essays.
Introduction

•Introduces the topic and explains the way in which you are
going to deal with the topic. It is a statement of purpose.

Main Body

•Is the part where you develop your argument. The Main
Body often has subsections, and subheadings. These are
very helpful to orient the reader.

Conclusion

•Summarises the main points in the essay

References

•Is a list of all the sources you use in APA format.

Using meaningful paragraphs is also part of a good structure.

https://wwlc.elearning.london.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/8655/mod_scorm/content/1/page_12.htm
 Exam - Analysis
• You are expected to answer THREE questions in total.

• There are around SIX questions (SIX from 2020 to 2024

exam, before that where EIGHT).

• All questions carry equal marks.

• You need 41 to pass, at one nearly perfect answer and
one half answer. Or three half answers.
• With two nearly perfect answers and one half answer you
will have 75 point and grade A.

• Choose you questions wisely, choose your topics.

Course - Grades

Grade Class Percentage

1 First Above 70%

2.1 Upper Second 60% - 69%

2.2 Lower Second 50% - 59%

3 Third 40% - 49%

F Fail Less than 40%

 Weeks vs. Capsules

Weeks Date Report - Exam Capsules / Classes

Article C: Introduction to Organisations and Organisational Studies

1 18/03 Contemporary Issues Part C : Individuals and Groups
Contemporary Issues Part D: Management and Organisational Structures
2 25/03 Homework in organisation studies 1
Case Studies Part C: Post-bureaucracies, Organisational culture and Morning Star

3 01/04 Homework in organisation studies 2 Case Studies Part D: The Dark Side of Leadership and Enron

4 08/04 Homework in organisation studies 3 Articles Part D: New capitalism, globalisation and precarity
Week 1: Introduction to Organisations and
Organisational Studies
• Different Ways of Theorising Organisations.

• Rational-legal authority and Weberian Bureaucracy.

• Scientific Management.

• Ford and Fordism.

• Human Relations Theory.

• Comparison of Scientific Management and Human

Relations Theory
Different Ways of Theorising Organisations.
Different Ways of Theorising Organisations.
Rational-legal authority and Weberian Bureaucracy.

Bureaucracy - Max
Weber
Video:
https://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=HEo
27x3n-tc
Scientific Management.

Scientific
Management
Theory
Video:
https://www.youtu
be.com/watch?v=fK
4tyKvrj04
Taylor´s “The principles of scientific
Management” (1929).

Both sides (the workforce and management) must recognise as essential the
substitution of exact scientific investigation and knowledge for the old individual
judgement or opinion. (F. W. Taylor, 1929)

Fredrick Winslow Taylor and Scientific Management

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbjkVfXVy9s&t=52s
Ford and Fordism.

Fordism, What is
Fordism?
Video:
https://www.youtu
be.com/watch?v=0
s4Nzvt1P9o
“The principles of scientific Management”
(1929).
• Henry Ford´s manufacture of the Model T at Highland Park in the period 1909 to 1916.
• The cost reduction did not reveal its self simply as the result of building larger and
larger factories, rather unit cost were reduced through a judicious and continuous
process of productive reorganization.
Human Relations Theory.

The Human
Relations
Movement:
Definition and
Significance to
Organizational
Behavior
Video:https://ww
w.youtube.com/w
atch?v=F2k018hc
tZQ
Comparison of Scientific Management and Human
Relations Theory.
Conclusions.

March J. (2007) ‘The Study of Organizations and Organizing since 1945’,

Organization Studies 28 (1): 9-19.
 Practice.
• Work on producing ONE piece of written work. Word limit: 500 words. Please do not
go over the word limit.
• See essay questions below.

• Explain Taylor’s views on Scientific Management and discuss the extent that his views
are relevant for business management nowadays.

Explain: Make clear; give a simple account in your own words.

Discuss: Examine through debate and argument the implications of; consider alternatives in investigating a proposition.
Read:
• Brooks, I. (2018) Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups and Organisation, 5th edition.
Harlow: Pearson. Chapter 1: 2-4, Chapter 2: 29-40 & Chapter 8: 261
• March J. (2007) ‘The Study of Organizations and Organizing since 1945’, Organization Studies 28
(1): 9-19.
• Pugh, D. and Hickson, D. (2007) Writers on Organisations, 6th edition. Bury St Edmunds: Penguin.
Week 1: Individuals and Groups
• Individuals.
• Trait Theory.
• Human psychology.
• Psycho-dynamic approach.
• Motivation.

• Teams and groups.

• Group formation.
• Group roles.
• Problems associated with group work.
Individuals
 Trait Theory
Cattell´s 16 Primary Personality Factors
Personalities are largely fixed and
determine by heredity.
The notion of self is integrated, consistent
across time and space.
• Gordon Allport and Henry Odbert
(1936), they compiled an extensive list
of personality traits of over 4,500
English language terms.
• Subsequent research by psychologist
Raymond Cattell used factor analysis
Source:https://thinkythinking.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/cattel-16-factor-test-results/

to identified 16 key personality traits

and developed the Sixteen Personality
Factor Questionnaire (16PF).
Source: https://www.psychologistworld.com/personality/theories-of-personality-psychology
Trait Theory The big five - personality trait
Five-Factor Model
Developed by numerous researchers,
like Robert McCrae and Paul Costa.

• Openness to Experience
• Conscientiousness
• Extraversion
• Agreeableness Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-big-five-personality-dimensions-2795422

• Neuroticism

Source: https://www.psychologistworld.com/personality/theories-of-personality-psychology
Human Psychology
Theory Self-Actualization
• Carl Rogers believed that all people possess an inherent
need to grow and achieve their potential. This need to
achieve self-actualization, he believed, was one of the
primary motives driving behaviour.
Fuente: https://www.verywellmind.com/carl-rogers-biography-1902-1987-2795542

• Carl Rogers 3 conditions to facilitate personal grow:

• Must be genuine and honest about emotions.
• Must be accepting of self and others: “unconditional positive
regard”.
• Empathy required as part of emotional intelligence.
Human Psychology
Theory Self-Actualization
• Tries to minimise the gap
between the actual and an
idealised self.

Self-actualization:
• Finding fulfilment and
meaning in their lives or an
individual doing what he or
she is better suited to.

Abraham Maslow's Human

psychology. Fuente: https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.timetoast.com/public/uploads/photos/9615181/Maslow_and_Rogers.png

Humanistic Psychology - Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3-VC-VH45A
 Psycho-dynamic approach
• Sigmund Freud Theory suggests the self is ideographic,
shape in the early stages of childhood development.
• The self is not integrated but conflicted.
• Three-sided battle:
• The “ID” the basic drive, unconscious and impulsive.
• The “SUPEREGO” which imposes conscious and behaviour.
• The “EGO” who tries to reconcile such impulsive behaviours more
consciously.

Fuente: https://hbr.org/2017/07/60-countries-digital-competitiveness-indexed
Psycho-dynamic approach
• Carl Jung adapted to the practice of human resources.
• Myers (1987) develop the Myers-Briggs type indicator.

Fuente: https://www.wisdomjobs.com/userfiles/four_dimensions_type.jpg
 Psycho-dynamic approach

Fuente: https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_glossy,ret_img,w_1038/https://professornerdster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Carl-Jung-and-the-Myers-Briggs-Test-1038x575.png
Theories of Personality: Summary.
Evaluation The Management of Personality.
Motivation
• In broad terms, motivation comprises an individual´s effort
and persistence and the direction of that effort. In simpler
terms, motivation is the will to perform.
• The will to performed.

• Content Theories
• Fact which motivates.
• For example: Needs hierarchy
• Process Theories
• How behaviours are stimulated.
• For example: Expectancy theory
Motivation
Content Theories: Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Fuente: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/MaslowsHierarchyOfNeeds.svg/1200px-MaslowsHierarchyOfNeeds.svg.png
Motivation
Process Theories: Porter and Lawler expectancy theory.
Emotional Labour
Entrevista a Arlie R.
Hochschild
Video:
https://www.cccb.or
g/es/multimedia/vid
eos/entrevista-a-
arlie-r-
hochschild/212443
Teams and Groups
Teams and Groups.

Teams versus Groups

Video:
https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=uG-
FLOi4OOU
Groups formation.

Forming, Storming,
Norming, and
Performing
Video:
https://www.mindtools.
com/pages/article/new
LDR_86.htm
Groups roles: Belbin.

Belbin’s Theory on Team

Dynamics
Video:
https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=hMesDq_r
NOw
Problems associated with group work.

Groupthink - A short
introduction
Video:
https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=CWEvJciU
0Zc
Problems associated with group work.

The Ringelmann Effect

on Vimeo
Video:
https://vimeo.com/419
2258
Conclusion.
 Practice.
• Work on producing ONE piece of written work. Word limit: 500 words. Please do not
go over the word limit.
• See essay questions below. Choose one.

• Discuss in detail Trait Theory, Human Psychology and Psycho-dynamic Approach, and make a case
for which of these theories is ideal (best suited) for human resources. Use scenarios/examples to
justify your choice of the ideal theory.
• Elaborate on TWO motivational theories, content theory and process theory, and make a case for
which of these theories is best suited for human resources. Use scenarios and/or examples to
justify your choice of the ideal model.
• As argued by Senge (1990) teamwork results to better ideas than if the contributing
individuals worked alone. Critically discuss this statement, drawing on the literature
regarding groups and teams, and use practical examples to support your argument.

Elaborate: Examine a proposition or statement by considering pros and cons. Make an

informed judgement, justified by your argument, at the end.

Discuss: Examine through debate and argument the implications of; consider alternatives
in investigating a proposition.
 Five disciplines proposed by Senge to become a
learning organization. (Peter Senge -1990)

System thinking
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXdzKBWDraM
Peter Senge - 1990
• Pugh, D. and Hickson, D. (2007) Writers on Organisations, 6th edition. Bury St
Edmunds: Penguin.
• Chapter 5: Organizational change and learning
Thanks