Contemporary Management Theory

QHO-420
Seminar-Week-1
First, open the email you’ve received student services. It has a link and password to join your online class.

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 TODAY’S SESSION
PLAN
1. Revise Assessment Brief . (10 Min)
2. Q&A (3-5 mins)
3. Nature of Organization. (10 min)
4. Rational Systems. (15 min)
5. Natural System(10 min)
6. Closed System.(10 min)
7. Open System. (10 min)
8. Examples. (10min)
9. Seminar Student Worksheet Activity (20 min)
10.Lecture Review/ Summary (10min)
11.Core Text Book and additional readings-(10 min)
If you have any difficulties, please email
QAHEOnlineLearning@qa.com
or call QAHE Online Learning team in case you are
experiencing any issues with WeBex is
03450747958.
 Nature of Organizations

• Natural versus Rational Systems

• Are organizations organisms that grow change and adapt or are they tools
that are designed for a specific purpose?

• Open versus Closed Systems

• What level of interaction do the parts of the organization have with each
other and the environment?
Nature of
organisations

• Watch the video and

complete activity on
SOL page
• NOTE: click the text 'Nature of
organisations' to open the activity -
will take a few seconds to open.
• Video
 Rational Systems

• Organizations as tools that are controlled as purposeful and

coordinated agents for the principal
• Rational calculation
• Goal Specificity
• Formalized planning
• Translation of plans into specific objectives
• Formalization of structure
• Explicit and visible
• Division of labor
Natural Systems
• Organizations as natural organisms that exist
within an environment
• Goal complexity
• Informal structure
• Irrationality leads to informal norms and
behaviors
• Functional analysis of organizations
• Population ecology
Closed Systems
• One or few points of contact with the environment

• No change of system

• No intake of energy, material, or information

 Open Systems
• Connection of many parts that make up the organization
• Multiple or many points of interaction with the environment
• Self-maintenance
• Goal directed
• Reciprocal ties that bind and relate the organization to the
environment
• Environment is ultimate source for materials energy and
information
 Examples
Schools Prisons
Franchises Boarding schools
Rational Police Departments Military schools

Social clubs Hmmmmm?

Universities
Corporations
Natural

Governments

Open Closed
 Task 2
• Part 1:
Task 2 - Read extract (2 pages) - Explaining Organizational Behaviour (20 mins)File

• Part 2:
Think of up to 10 organisations that you have had recent contact with and make a
note of them.

Reference:
• BUCHANAN, D. and A. HUCZYNSKI, 2019. Organizational behaviour. 10th ed.
Harlow, England: Pearson
Read the article below
• 9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2023 and Beyond (hbr.org)
 Organisational behaviour

• Read this article on SOL page: Inclusive organizational behaviour

– the dynamic rules of building new workplaces (Kar et al 2023)

This article will extend your learning about organisational behaviour - it

reflects on the future of work dimensions with a focus on inclusivity.
Important Guidelines for Essay:
• For your topic you should discuss relevant theories and their impact on
organisations. You should illustrate your essay with examples of
organisations which have implemented the various models, theories or
laws (or have failed to do so) and discuss their influence. You should
reflect on the role of leadership and management within the context of your
essay. This assignment relies on you carrying out research from a number
of sources, formulating appropriate arguments, and applying informed
judgement in order to draw evidence-based conclusions
• 1,800 words +/- 10% (not including references)
• Submission Date: Online- on SOL Page- 29th January 2024 before 4pm.
 Propose Structure

• Introduction – 300 words

• Main body – 1200 words to be divided up as below:

 Implementation and impact [of your topic] underpinned by theory – 400 words

 Application to a case study – 400 words

 Reflect on leadership & management within the context of the essay – 400
words
NOTE – these word counts are to offer guidance, they are not compulsory
to follow. For your topic you should discuss relevant theories and their
impact on organisations.
 Reference
• BUCHANAN, D. and A. HUCZYNSKI, 2019. Organizational behaviour. 10th ed. Harlow, England:
Pearson
• 9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2023 and Beyond by Emily Rose McRae, Peter Aykens, Kaelyn
Lowmaster, and Jonah Sheppby Emily Rose McRae, Peter Aykens, Kaelyn Lowmaster, and Jonah
Shepp.
• Harvard Business Review, 18 January 2023
KAR, S., M. YADAV and T.K. PANDA, 2023. Inclusive organizational behaviour – the dynamic rules
of building new workplaces. VINE journal of information and knowledge management systems
Core Text Book& Additional Reading
• Core Book
• Boddy, D. (2014) Management: An Introduction.
Harlow: Pearson Education. Chapter 2 [All editions].
• Additional Reading
• Boddy, D. (2014) Management: An Introduction.
Harlow: Pearson Education. Chapter 2 [All editions].

• Clegg, S. Kornberger, M & Pitsis, T. (2016)

Managing and Organizations – An introduction to Theory and Practice.
(4th Ed.) London: Sage. Chapter 2.
• Jones, G. & George, J. (2016) Contemporary Management.
(9th Ed.) New York: McGraw Hill. Chapter 2.