DWO 2024-25

Indian Institute of Management
Lucknow
POST GRADUATE PROGRAMME

DESIGNING WORK ORGANIZATIONS (DWO)
COURSE OUTLINE
TERM II, 2024-2025
Instructor and Contact Information

NAME: PROF SUSHIL KUMAR; PROF. ANJALI BANSAL; PROF PAVNI KAUSHIVA
E-MAIL:
OFFICE:
OFFICE TEL:
COURSE CREDIT: 0.75
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The management of complex organizations requires a thorough understanding of the impact of organization
design on organization effectiveness. The Designing Work Organizations course responds to this need and
focuses on the fundamental design principles, contingencies governing design choice and the evolution of
organization design with changes in the internal/ external environment. Topics include introduction to
organization theory; relationship between environment, strategy & structure; key design challenges &
structural forms; contingencies governing design choice: environment, technology; organization culture;
change management; organizational learning; & Organization life-cycle.
The course is designed to provide a powerful learning experience through a combination of pedagogy
methodologies including engagement in dialogues on various academic perspectives through lectures, case
analyses, assignments, field exploration through industry/ research based projects, and reflective learning.
Students will have opportunities to hone their conceptual and behavioral skills in the safe environment.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to:

1. Provide a strong conceptual understanding of how the theories and findings of organisational and
behavioural sciences are applied to designing work organisations.
2. Impart theories and frameworks to examine the reciprocal relationship between the organisational
characteristics (e.g. environment, structure, strategies, system, culture etc) and managerial behavior.
3. Develop students’ abilities to devise strategies for bringing about effective change, learning and
development in work organisations throughout their life-cycle.
4. Provide opportunities to practice the use of these conceptual frameworks through their application to
organizational problems.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course the student should be able to:
1
2
1. Understand and explain the broad organization theories and their implications in
organizational settings.
2. Understand and explain how effectiveness is interpreted and defined in various organizational
contexts, appreciating the role that different stakeholders play.
3. Understand the inter linkage between environment, strategy and structure.
4. Understand basic design challenges and how structures evolve to address these challenges.
Appreciate the rationale and utility for the various structural types for making effective design
decisions.
5. Understand the contingencies that impact the choice of structure (for e.g.: environment, strategy,
technology) during different stages in the organization’s life-cycle.
6. Develop an appreciation of the role that organizational culture and learning play in driving
organization effectiveness.
7. Understand and appreciate the need for managing change and the tools and techniques for change
management.
8. Develop the competence to evaluate a business scenario, identify organization design criteria,
generate structural options, evaluate structural choices and recommend optimal solution.
9. Develop the competence required to work effectively in a team.
10. Appreciate the organizational context and apply relevant contemporary organizational theories,
concepts and models in order to analyze and act on organizational cases and issues.
ALIGNMENT OF INTENDED PROGRAM & COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Sn Course Learning (CL)

Programme Objectives
. outcomes
1 To develop an understanding of the key functions of businesses CL 1-8
2 To develop critical and analytical skills that equip students to excel CL 8,9,10; Case studies,
in complex, uncertain and dynamic business environments Project
3 To enable application of business knowledge in a global context Case studies
4 To acquire skills and capabilities for generating sustainable CL 2,8,9,10
competitive advantage in organizations
5 To equip students with skills and ethics that promote organizational CL 8-10; Case studies,
well-being and ideal corporate citizenship Project
6 To lay the foundation of an entrepreneurial mind-set and continued CL 2,7,9,10; Project
learning for future ready leaders
COURSE MATERIALS AND READINGS
TEXTBOOK
Daft, R.L and Uppal, N., Understanding Theory and Design of Organizations, 11th Indian Edition,
Cengage Learning.
REFERENCE BOOKS
Jones, Gareth. R., & Mathew, M. Organizational Theory, Design, and Change, 7th edition, Delhi: Pearson
Education
CASES:
If required, additional cases may be given. Cases will be shared during the classroom sessions or
3
distributed separately prior to the class.
EVALUATION
 Exams: There will be one examination. This would be held at the time of end term examinations.
 Quizzes: There will be minimum of two quizzes held during the course.
 Group Project Report: Each student will be assigned to a group consisting of 8 – 10 students to
complete project. More details of this group project report will be discussed in class.
GRADING SCHEME
Mid Term Exam Not Applicable

End Term Exam 50% - 60%
Quizzes/ Assignments 20% - 25%
Group Project 20% - 25%
Participation 10% (Optional)
Total 100%
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty or misconduct is cheating that relates to an academic activity. It is a violation of trust
between the Institute and its stakeholders. Plagiarism, fabrication, deception, cheating and sabotage are
examples of unacceptable academic conduct. Please consult the PGP Manual for the section on academic
dishonesty.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Sessio Topics Readings Evaluation

n
1 Introduction to Organization Theory Chapter 1
2 Organizational Effectiveness Chapter 3
3 Environment – Strategy Relationship Chapters 4
&6
4 Organizational Design: Basic concepts and Chapters 2
challenges; International and Virtual &5
organizations
5-6 Structure: Dimensions and Types 2
4
7 Environment-Strategy-Structure Relationship Chapters 2

&6
8 Technology and Design Chapter 13
9-10 Organizational Culture Chapter 9
11 Organizational Learning Chapter 10

12 Change Management Chapter 8,
10
13 Organisational Life Cycle Chapter 12
14-15 Project Presentation
*Additional reading and cases may be provided later during the course, if need is felt for the same by the
instructor.
Cases for Prof. Sushil Kumar

1. Session 5: Appex Corporation. HBS 491082-PDF-ENG
2. For Sessions 3and 7: Arla Foods: Matching Structure with Strategy. 8B13M112
3. For Sessions 9-10: Tony Hsiech at Zappos: Structure, Culture, and Change. IN1250
For Prof. Pavni Kaushiva

Cases:
1. Session 3: Netflix in India: The Way Ahead:- IVY W17100-PDF-ENG
2. Session 5: Appex Corporation :- HBS 491082-PDF-ENG;
3. Session 8: The Dabbawala System: On-Time Delivery, Every Time:- HBS 610059-PDF-
ENG
4. Session 9: Columbia’s Final Mission. HBS 9304090
5. Session 12: Transforming Hindustan Unilever, HBS – 9120022
Articles:
1. Ambidextrous Organization - R0404D-PDF-ENG;
2. Beyond the Holacracy Hype by Ethan S. Bernstein, John Bunch, Niko Canner, Michael
Lee
Cases for Prof. Anjali Bansal

1. Session 5-6: Procter & Gamble: Organization 2005 (A)
2. Session 9: Four Seasons goes to Paris
3. Session 13: The New HP: The Cleanroom and Beyond

DWO 2024-25

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DWO 2024-25

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

DWO 2024-25

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Indian Institute of Management

POST GRADUATE PROGRAMME

Instructor and Contact Information

COURSE CREDIT: 0.75

This course is designed to:

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course the student should be able to:

ALIGNMENT OF INTENDED PROGRAM & COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Sn Course Learning (CL)

COURSE MATERIALS AND READINGS

distributed separately prior to the class.

Mid Term Exam Not Applicable

Quizzes/ Assignments 20% - 25%

Group Project 20% - 25%

Participation 10% (Optional)

Sessio Topics Readings Evaluation

7 Environment-Strategy-Structure Relationship Chapters 2

9-10 Organizational Culture Chapter 9

11 Organizational Learning Chapter 10

14-15 Project Presentation

Cases for Prof. Sushil Kumar

For Prof. Pavni Kaushiva

Cases for Prof. Anjali Bansal

You might also like