Semester 182 MGT 511: Organization Theory and Design (Prerequisite: Graduate Standing)
Semester 182 MGT 511: Organization Theory and Design (Prerequisite: Graduate Standing)
COURSE OUTLINE
SEMESTER 182
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COURSE INTRODUCTION
This course is about organizations. The concept of organization and organization theory and
design is evolving. A lot of research into how organizations are formed and how they work has
been done. Much information is available from classical theories of organization. At the same
time, we are faced with some special challenges like competing globally, maintaining high
standards of ethics and social responsibility, responding rapidly to customer needs and wants and
to myriad environmental changes, managing the digitalized workplace, and nurturing diversity
within organizations. We will get an opportunity to delve into many of these issues in this course.
This is a basic course in management that almost all students such as you, anywhere in the world,
learn in a formal management program. It requires the development of in-depth understanding on
your part. This course, therefore, would require active participation by all possible means. I
believe active participation can come through attempting to gain a deeper understanding of the
concepts and theories. For this you would have to do prior study of the textbook and then come to
attend the class.
As we go along, we will discuss illustrations and cases related to the organizations in the Middle
East especially in Saudi Arabia that will impart a deeper understanding to you of how
organizations can be managed effectively. Be ready to come forward to share your experiences of
working in organizations with your classmates and me. Being graduate students, I am sure all of
you would thoroughly enjoy the course and find it challenging.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The objectives, we set in coming together to learn this course, are stated as below.
To familiarize ourselves with the basic concepts and theories in the discipline of
organization theory and design
To understand how organization design can contribute to organizational effectiveness
To gain insights into the manner in which external elements such as the external
environment, interorganizational relationships, and international environment contribute
to organization design
To explore how the internal elements like manufacturing and service technologies,
information technology, and the issues of organization size, life cycle and decline
contribute to organization design
To develop understanding of organizational issues such as culture and values, innovation
and change, decision-making processes, and conflict, power, and politics impact
organization design.
To comprehend how the above objectives might apply in the context of Middle-Eastern
and Saudi Arabian economies.
REQUIRED READING
TEXTBOOK: Richard L. Daft, Jonathan Murphy and Hugh Willmott: Organization Theory and
Design: An International Perspective 2nd Edition Cengage Learning, EMEA. ISBN: 978-1-4080-
7237-0
ARTICLES posted by me on the Blackboard CE (WebCT) course page from time to time.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
You will be awarded a grade based on a maximum of 100 points that comprise the elements listed
below.
Major and final examination could comprise of short-answer questions and application
questions. The date for major examinations is mentioned in the course schedule below. The
Registrar announces the date and venue for final examination.
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Oral case presentation details are as below.
Right at the beginning of the session, you will form yourself in teams and submit the
names of the team members to me. The first-named person would be the team leader.
I will assign one case study from the textbook to each team. Each team would work on
the case study as a group assignment. The team leader would divide, assign, and
coordinate the work.
Each team will make a short presentation of about 30 minutes of the assigned case. You
will select at least half of the number of group members to make the presentation
A question and answer session of about 20 minutes will follow your presentation.
Your group should be able to identify the important managerial issues related to the
case and use analysis to define a concise and logical position on the issues. Your group
should be able to show how a particular concept is illustrated in the case or suggest how
the substantive problem presented in the case can be solved
Evaluation of case presentation will be based on: content of presentation, quality of oral
presentation, evidence of cooperative group work, handling questions, and the overall
impression created in the class.
Evaluation of the written case will be on an individual basis. This means you will be
awarded marks based both on the quality of your team performance as well as the peer
evaluation done by other students in your team.
The team will write a written analysis of the case based on instructions that I will be
providing in the class. A note on case analysis is also available on the Blackboard.
Evaluation of the written analysis will be based on the originality of writing, clarity in
identification of issues or problems, quality of discussion, completeness of analysis,
quality of presentation and providing references.
Evaluation of the written case will be on an individual basis. This means you will be
awarded marks based both on the quality of your team performance as well as the peer
evaluation done by other students in your team.
Submission deadline: Immediately after case presentation
Each chapter in your textbook has a workbook assignment. I will assign two workbook
assignments to one team.
The same teams as for case presentation will work for the workbook assignments.
Evaluation of the workbook assignment will be based on the originality of work, quality
of assignment writing, quality of assignment presentation, evidence of hard work and
mentioning the sources of data and references, etc. Plagiarism would be severely dealt
with and you would be awarded zero marks.
Evaluation of the workbook assignment will be on an individual basis. This means you
will be awarded marks based both on the quality of your team performance as well as the
peer evaluation done by other students in your team.
Submission deadline is mentioned in the course schedule below
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Class participation details are as below.
Each class is a combination of lecture and discussion of the topic for that day. You are
expected to ask questions to me, make comments based on your own experience, and
respond to your classmates’ queries.
You are expected to cooperate with me and with your classmates in ensuring smooth
conduct of the classes. Good manners and conduct is always expected.
You are expected to participate in case discussion by listening attentively to the case
presentations and asking questions, sharing your experiences and responding to your
classmates’ queries.
Consistent use of mobile devices and laptop computers during lectures and case
presentation may cause your class participation grade to suffer.
Regular attendance is essential, without which, class participation is not possible.
The evaluation of your class participation is subjective based on my observations and
impressions of your performance.
GRADING POLICY
The university grading policy for graduate courses will be applicable. I will use averaging for
awarding your final grades.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
The KFUPM rules regarding attendance will be strictly enforced. Any official absence should be
limited to six sessions only during the whole semester. One mark for each absence of more than
six absences will be deducted. DN grade may be given in case the absence exceeds nine sessions.
COURSE CONDUCT
IMPORTANT DATES
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COURSE SCHEDULE
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NOTES