Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of the critical theories of organizational design.
Understand the relationship of strategy with organizational design.
Develop an understanding of internal and external factors managers face while designing organizational structures.
Learn the dynamics of organizational designs in different organizations, including multinational, social, entrepreneurial, and platform enterprises.
Apply theoretical frameworks to solve real-life organizational design issues through case studies.
Develop skills in self-organization, formal presentation, communication, and teamwork,
Engage effectively in discussion by making pertinent and constructive comments.
Content
The organizational design course will help improve student's understanding of how to gain and sustain competitive advantage by configuring organizational designs in innovative ways. We will explore the classic patterns of organizational design and how these patterns can be used to implement strategies and achieve organizational goals. Also, we will study the new approaches emerging in organizational design in the 21st century and how managers can use these innovative approaches to design contemporary organizations. The course comprises lectures and in-depth discussions using the case studies of multinational and entrepreneurial organizations.
LEARNING ASSESSMENT
Students are expected to work intensively during the course weeks. Please be aware that this is
an advanced-level course that requires skills beyond the basic understanding of concepts. Thus,
students must demonstrate higher-order skills (e.g., critical thinking, creativity, and problemsolving) to achieve higher grades. The assessment is aligned with Bloom’s taxonomy, which
provides a structured framework for educators' instructional design and assessment. Throughout
this course, we will delve into each taxonomy level, equipping students with the tools to craft
effective learning experiences. Accordingly, the assessment will mainly follow the below criteria:
Grade 1: Students can summarize theories and concepts in their own words (conceptual
understanding)
Grade 2: Students can apply theories and concepts to new scenarios or problems
(application skills)
Grade 3: Students can contrast different theories and dissect cases (theoretical integration
skills)
Grade 4: Students will critique and improve upon a given case or theory (critical thinking)
Grade 5: Students will design new framework solutions (problem-solving skills, creativity)
a. Weekly personal learning reflections
The course is designed to be hands-on and interactive, focusing on practical applications, in-depth
discussions, and collaborative activities. Throughout the course, students will be evaluated based
on their participation in group activities and the quality of their weekly learning reflections. The
above classification of 5-grade levels will be used to assess both activities. However, the level of
preparedness, the strength of argumentation, the extent of the involvement in-class activities, and
collegiality will also be given consideration.
You do not need to submit
reflections every week. Instead, you can combine all reflections in one file and submit the main
file at the end of the course. Each reflection should be a minimum of two pages. The first page
should focus on the session's content, exploring key concepts and theories. The second page
should highlight your personal insights (including contributions to group activities), evaluating
how the session and activities helped develop your understanding. Please note again that you
should write in a reflective tone, showing depth in thought and clear evidence of critical analysis.
The reflections should describe the learning experience and demonstrate how the content and
activities influenced your thinking and skill development.
b. Weekly group reports
Each week, you will be given an activity that you need to complete in your group. You are required
to prepare weekly reports, and one of your group members can submit them in the ‘Weekly Group
Reports’ section in Moodle. At the end of the course, combine all weekly reports in one Word/PDF
file and submit it to the ‘Final group reports’ in Moodle.