Organizational Analysis and Design (GSB624)

Spring Semester 2009 (January 15th – April 30th)

Thursdays 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. – Lewis 302

Faculty Information

Professor:       Vince Sperduto, Ph.D., MBA

E-mail:            vsperduto@dom.edu

Phone:            708.205.1179

Office hours:  By appointment

Course Description

This course examines organization theories, concepts, and real-world practices to help students understand, analyze, and improve organizations.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Students will learn to analyze organizations from both a theoretical and a practical perspective in order to solve organizational problems and enhance organizational effectiveness. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Explain the nature of organizations and organization theory.
2. Identify different types of organizational goals, their purpose, and competitive strategies for achieving them.
3. Explain the basic concepts of organization structure and structure an organization.
4. Identify and define elements external to an organization that impact its structure.
5. Explain how organizations should be designed to accommodate and facilitate operational work processes.
6. Explain the nature of organization technology, its impact on organization design, and its impact on interorganizational relationships.
7. Identify and predict the probable impact of cultural, ethical, and political changes within an organization.
8. Describe how organizations change and how managers direct the innovation and change process.
9. Describe when and how different decision-making models should be used.
10. Explain how managers use power and politics to manage and resolve conflict.

Instructional Method

This course will be taught using a variety of instructional methods including lectures, case studies, group discussion, and small group activities.

Required Text:

1. Text: Daft, R. L. Organization Theory and Design, 9^th ed. Thomson ISBN: 9780324405422  (Bookstore)
2. Greenhouse, Steven (2008). The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker. Alfred A. Knopf New York 2008. (Available at Borders as well as online)

Supplemental Readings: will be provided by the instructor

Case Studies & Business Articles: as appropriate

Assessment of Learning: Late submissions will lose one grade.

Grades will be based on:

• Class Assignments, Chapter Presentations, Participation and Attendance = 20%
• Exams (2)  = 40%
• Wal-Mart Case Study – Group Project = 10%
• Organization Development and Change Management paper = 20%
• Organization Development and Change Management presentation = 10%

Writing Standards

1. All papers should be double-spaced with one-inch margins.
2. Use Times New Roman font, size 12.
3. Include a page number on all pages except your title page.
4. Use quotes and references to strengthen your writing.
5. Make sure anything not written by you is properly referenced.
6. Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation before finalizing your paper.

Grading Standards

Percentages required for letter grades are:
A:  93-100

A-: 90-92

B+:87-89
B:  83-86

B-: 80-82

C+:73-76
C-: 70-72
F:   Below 70%

Group Work
A significant portion of your grade will be determined by projects you will be doing in small groups either in class or outside of class. There are two reasons for this. First, the assignments require a fair amount of analysis of both existing research and your own experiences. Consequently, outcomes can be enhanced when multiple perspectives and interpretations are heard and incorporated. Second, working in groups is reflective of the corporate world where increasing emphasis is being placed on teams and project groups.

Group or team work in both classroom and corporate-world settings involves being able to effectively work with others as well as being able to manage group processes and dynamics. While it may be easy for an individual to perform very little work in a group setting and take advantage of the diligence of colleagues, there are penalties for such lack of performance in the corporate world, namely formal reprimands and subsequently, dismissal.

Group Break-up and Presentations of Chapters:

Chapters will be presented through lectures, case studies, group discussion, and small group activities.

• A designated group of students will present their assigned chapter(s) and:
1. Apply the information from the chapter to your organization
2. Relate how the reading applies to you as a scholar-practitioner and as an MBA student.
3. Prepare two or three insights or questions on your chapters so that you can lead us in an examination of the chapter.
• The name of the discussion leaders for each chapter will be decided in the first class.
• Be creative in how you present your information.

Presentations:                                                            Org. Theory     The Big Squeeze

& Design

Group 1: Davis/Han/Soin/Tursi/Tyler                           Ch. 1             Ch. 1 & 2                   

Group 2: Adeyemi/Consiglio/Kirby/Chayapun/Pisa     Ch. 2             Ch. 3 & 4

Group 3: Frawley/Gak/Lucarelli/Ortale/Zych               Ch. 3             Ch. 5 & 6

Group 4: LaPorta/McCulloch/Morali/Defeo/Sakesa.. . Ch. 4             Ch. 7 & 8

Group 5:Albrecht/Balsavich/Dauer/Gorniak/MalooleyCh. 5             Ch. 9 & 10

Group 1: Davis/Han/Soin/Tursi/Tyler                           Ch. 7             Ch. 11

Group 2: Adeyemi/Consiglio/Kirby/Chayapun/Pisa     Ch. 9             Ch. 12 & 13

Group 3: Frawley/Gak/Lucarelli/Ortale/Zych               Ch. 11           Ch. 14

Group 4: LaPorta/McCulloch/Morali/Defeo/Sakesa.. . Ch. 12           Ch. 15

Group 5: LaPorta/McCulloch/Morali/Defeo/Sakesa.. . Ch. 13           Ch. 16

Class Participation

Please note that class participation is extremely important in this class. Participation does not just mean class attendance. Participation includes active contribution to class discussion. Each of you, in every session, is to come prepared to face your colleagues (and your instructor) with a thorough reading of the assigned material and some thought as to the issues raised within the readings. It is also critical that we take full advantage of the experiences and knowledge that all class members have in our discussions. Your work experience has provided you with numerous examples of successful and unsuccessful management actions. If we are to meet the objectives for the course, it is critical to explore how, why, and under what circumstances various approaches work or fail in actual practice.

Organization Effectiveness Paper and Presentation

Group Paper: Using theories, concepts, and real-world practices learned in the course and their application both for you individually and for your organization. Your paper should be 10 -12 pages in length, include appropriate citations from the literature, and conform to the writing standards outlined on page two of this document. You will have 30 minutes to present your findings to the class. (Time allotted may change based on the number of students enrolled in the class.) Your paper and your PowerPoint presentation are due on the last session. Late submissions will automatically lose one grade. Detailed paper requirements will be discussed in class.

Caveat
The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and/or associated course requirements.

Course Calendar:

Session	Org Theory & Design	The Big Squeeze	Articles	Case(s)/Workshops
1 1/15/09	N/A Course Intro	N/A		Built to Change Lecture/Survey/Work-shop
2 1/22/09	Ch. 1	Ch. 1 & 2	Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow	Measuring Dimensions of Organizations
3 1/29/09	Ch. 2	Ch. 3 & 4	Real Leaders Ask	The University Art Museum/ Identifying Company Goals and Strategies
4 2/5/09	Ch. 3	Ch. 5 & 6	How Industries Change	C&C Grocery Stores, Inc/ Aquarius Advertising Agency/ Organization Charts
5 2/12/09	Ch. 4	Ch. 7 & 8	Meeting the Challenge of Disruptive Change	The Paradoxical Twins
6 2/19/09			Test 1 – Chapters 1 - 4	Wal-Mart Video
7 2/26/09	Ch. 5	Ch. 9 & 10	Cracking the Code of Change	Ugli/Orange Case
8 3/5/09	Ch. 7	Ch. 11	Overcoming Resistance to Change	Acetate Department
3/12/09			Mid Semester Vacation NO CLASS
9 3/19/09	Ch. 10		Musings on Management Wal-Mart Case due/discussion	Does This Milkshake Taste Funny?/ Culture Survey Discussion
10 3/26/09	Ch. 10-Continued			Enron: The smartest guys in the room—video/ Ethics Discussion
11 4/2/09	Ch. 9	Ch. 12 & 13	Leading Change Without a Burning Platform	Sunflower Incorporated/ Windsock, Inc
4/9/09			Easter Vacation NO CLASS
12 4/16/09	Ch. 11	Ch. 14	Test 2 – Chapters 5, 7, 9, and 10	Southern Discomfort
13 4/23/09	Ch. 12	Ch. 15	Presentations Start	Decision Styles
14 4/30/09	Ch. 13	Ch. 16	Paper & Presentations due & Presented (Continued)	How do you Handle Conflict