SOC 345Sociology of Organizations

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Soc 345 Syllabus

SOC 345Sociology of Organizations

Professor Becky Richards

Fall 2015

T,Th3:40-5:00p.m.

GBB 222

Professor Information

• Email:
• Mailbox: SS 339
• Office: SS 313
• Office Hours:12:45 - 1:15 T, Thor by appointment

Course Description

What are organizations? From the sociological perspective, they are enduring formal structures that direct human action, shape decision-making, channel wealth, concentrate power ,and institutionalize the ways in which people act in all spheres of society.

Organizations are ubiquitous parts of contemporary life in economics and business, politics, law, science, education, entertainment, media, leisure, and more. Most people on the planet today liveembedded in organizations. But beyond being “formal structures”, what are organizations? Where do they come from? How do they work? Why are they so important in contemporary life?

This class is organized in different modules based on a sociological, analytic framework that will help us understand these questions. First, we begin by examining the sources, arrangements, and functions of complex organizations and the analytical models by which we can understand them. Next, we apply these models to specific case studies that will help us understand the complex ways in which organizations shape our individual and collective lives.

Each stage relies on a combination of textbook readings and empirical case studies, often in video format. The readings will introduce you to the theories that have shaped our sociological understanding of organizations, while the cases provide empirical context for understanding and discussing those concepts.

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you should be able in oral discussion and written examinations to:

1. Identify, describe, and discuss the main theories and concepts in complex organizations. This includes demonstrating both a familiarity with the main issues and debates in the field and an ability to critically evaluate the assumptions underlying theories and concepts.

1. Use the theories and concepts above in summarizing the arguments of assigned reading and applying these in your own analysis of an organizational case study of a particular issue and/or problem. This includes demonstrating an awareness of the methodological and theoretical limitations in fully explaining such issues and/or problems.

Prerequisites

Sociology 101 (Introduction to Sociology) is highly recommended.

Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities may request reasonable modifications by discussing accommodations with me at the beginning of the course. Reasonable accommodations will be made for students who have a documented disability. (If you think you may have a disability adversely affecting your academic performance, and you have not already registered with Disability Services, please contact Disability Services in Lommason Center 154 or 406.243.2243.) “Reasonable” means the University permits no fundamental alterations of academic standards or retroactive modifications. Please notify me immediately following your first day in class (or shortly thereafter during office hours or by appointment) of any accommodations that you think you need for the course. Late notification may result in untimely delays in the requested accommodations. All accommodations must be approved through Disability Services for Students (DSS) in Lommasson Center 154 (243-2243). If you have any questions, please contact me via e-mail, speak with me after class, or visit me during my office hours. Communication is key—modifications will not be made nor grades changed retroactively.

Withdrawaing from the Course and Grading Options

The last date that you can withdraw from the course on Cyberbear without having to petition for late withdrawal is Monday, November 2. After November 2, you will not be able to drop this course without my, the Chair’s, and the Dean’s approval—and pay the $10 fee. This course is designated as a traditional letter grade only. However, because some students encounter unanticipated difficulties during the semester, you may discuss switching from a letter grade to a credit/no credit if you believe it is necessary with me. The deadline for such a change is before the last day of class, and I will need to discuss this option carefully with you well before the deadline.

Course Expectations and Requirements

Participation and Attendance

This course consists of lectures, films, discussion, class exercises and exams. Since the course requires ACTIVE and PREPARED class discussion (see Schedule), you will be assessed on your class participation, especially in class exercises. You will frequently be expected to enter into class discussion with informed comments. This requires knowledge based on your readings rather than just personal or popular opinion. The quality of your exams and assignments will inevitably reflect the contributions you make, and receive, from informed class and group discussion. Participation on the scheduled class and assignment days is not only expected but required. I expect everyone to come to class prepared for guided assignment discussion. For productive learning to take place in the classroom, respect is essential. Therefore, I expect each of you to listen respectfully when I or your peers are speaking. Similarly, active learning requires active engagement and thus you are not allowed to use cell phones, tablets, or any electronic device or programs during class other than for taking notes (see more below). Violating either, or both, of these expectations will result in your having to leave class and not being allowed to return until you have assured me by e-mail or talking to me during office hours that you understand these expectations and will observe them in the future.

Late Arrivals and Early Departure

Both are disruptive to the class and should be minimized at all times. Let me know before class begins if you have circumstances that will cause you to come late or leave early. Otherwise, I reserve the right to deduct points from your class attendance/participation if I believe late arrivals and/or early departures have become a problem. Since this course meets only twice a week, it is imperative that you be here on time and stay for the duration of the class. Similarly, getting up and leaving during the middle of class and returning is also distracting to me as a lecturer and to other students in the class and is not allowed unless you have a true, dire emergency. I reserve the right to deduct points from your grade if you frequently and/or chronically fail to adhere to these norms.

Attendance Requirement

This course meets only 2 days a week for 15 weeks for a total of 30 days (minus holidays). Therefore, I expect you to attend all class sessions on time with no late arrivals or early departures. Make-ups for university approved absences need to be arranged at least a week ahead of time. Unforeseen emergencies will be dealt with on a case by case basis, but in general,you need to notify me as soon as possible ahead of any class(es) you may miss by e-mail or office phone voice message (243-4061) so we can work out possible makeups. After the fact notification will result in your losing makeup opportunities if there is good reason for me to believe that you could have notified me ahead of time.. If family, health, work or other problems prevent you from attending class regularly, you should plan to drop the course and take it again when you can attend class. Finally, bringing children to class is not allowed per university policy that only enrolled students can attend class. If you have family emergencies, please let me know by phone or e-mail as soon as possible and I will try to assist you the best I can.

Student Misconduct

All students must practice academic honesty (no cheating, no plagiarism) and observe the student behavior conduct code. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All students must be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. Tthe Code is available for review online at (

Most students recognize the need for cell phones,tablets, and other electronic devices, including laptops, to be turned off and not used in class except for taking notes. Inappropriate electronic device use includes texting, surfing, Facebooking, and other non-academic uses. While some uses, like note translating and note taking, are legitimate learning activities, inappropriateuses distract other students as well as me as an instructor. Distraction interferes with my ability to communicate information as an instructor and with the ability of other students to process information. I therefore have the following electronicdevice use policy for the course:

• Legitimate use of an electronic device, e.g., notetaking or translating, will be allowed (except on exams) BUT monitored by me. IF AT ANY TIME you are found NOT to be using the device for a legitimate learning use, I will require that you leave classas this is a violation of the Student Conduct Code. In leaving class, you will lose any points for any exercise or exam held that class period.
• All electronic devices (cell phones, laptops, blackberries, IPODs, electronic translators, etc.)must be turned off and placed on your desktop during exams. Any student found in violation of these requirements will receive an F for the exam and potentially the course in accordance with the Student Conduct Code.
• No plagiarism will be tolerated. Plagiarism includes copying the work of any other student and submitting it as your own assignment or exam. Plagiarism on your part will result in my assigning you an F for the assignment or exam and potentially the coursein accordance with the Student Conduct Code. This course requires small in-class group discussionand individually written assignments that involve your participation and require you to hand in a written notes afterwards. Your written work will only be given credit when you complete the written assignment yourself. In other words, you cannot submit one written assignment as a pair/group and receive credit.

Required Texts

The following required text is available in the UM Bookstore: Morgan, Gareth (Updated Edition). 2007. Images of OrganizationsThousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press. You need to read the assigned material prior to coming to class. We have one textbook and the reading assignments are organized so that you can reasonably complete the reading on the schedule as assigned. Given the intensity of the course, you should plan on doing the assigned reading at least several hours before class each day.

Using E-Mail to Submit Work

Unless you secure approval from me before a due date, no credit will be given to any written work (assignments/exams etc.) submitted to me by e-mail attachment without prior approval (where prior is at least one day before the assignment is due).

Exams

There are 2 exams consisting of multiple choice, definitions, and essay questions. Each exam is worth 100 points for a total of 200 points. Exams will be based on lectures, readings, and small group assignments (see below). There are no makeup or otherwise early or late exams unless a truly dire emergency with documentation can be provided AND approved by mebefore the exam.

Organizational Analysis Case Study Assignments

There will be 6organizational analysiscase study assignments. These consist of video cases illustrating each organizational metaphor/model that we have covered in class. You will need to make sure that you are in class to complete the assignments. For each video, I will give you case study questions that you can EITHER review individually or discuss in asmall group. You will then hand in your notes responding to each of the question to me at the end of class. You do not need to write essay answers to the case study assignment questions BUT you will need to be able to write an essay answer about the case study video on the exams. Your notes should be written so that they can help you review for general questions about applying the organizational methaphor models to the case study videos on the exams.

Each assignment is indicated on the schedule below. Each completed assignment from the beginning of the video to handing in the written note responses is worth 20 points for a total of 120 points. Written discussion notes are graded on completeness, coherence and accuracy in applying the organizational metaphor. You are encouraged to discuss the case study questions in groups but you must submit your own individually written notes. There are NO makeup assignments unless you have a documented, dire emergency, which will be dealt with on a case by case basis. You must turn in your written-notes at the end of class on the assignment due date to receive credit unless you have made prior arrangements with me.

Organizational Analysis Paper

A typed, organizational analysis final paper of approximately 7 to 10 pages (depending on the number of figures, tables, illustrations or graphs you might include) is due the Monday of finals week by noon (or 30 points off for every day that it is late; see Schedule). The organizational analysis paper should be a complete and coherent paper describing the organization you have chosen to analyze and your findings according to the organizational frame analysis of Morgan (Chapter 11). The organizational analysis paper should also include complete citations and references following the American Sociological Association (ASA) Style Guide.

Further details on the actual paper will be handed out later in the course. The paper will be written incrementally throughout the course (with points for each stage of the paper successfully completed) as follows:

• A typed description of the organization you have chosen to analyze for your paper with a brief explanation as to why you have chosen this organization to study (5 points and no late papers)!
• A typed explanation of the progress that you have made in gathering information about your organization and what you have discovered so far is due at the beginning of class on (20 points and no late papers)!
• The final organizational analysis paper is due in my office (SS 313) by noon on the Monday of finals week. Detailed instructions on writing the final paper will be handed out later in the course. Any final paper over 3 hours late will be deducted 20 points with 30 points for every day after that. (The paper is worth up to 100 points total if handed in on time).
• Total points for the organizational analysis paper = 125 points.

Assignment / Points
Exam 1 / 100
Exam 2 / 100
Small Group Assignments (6 at 20 points each) / 120
Final Paper TopicWriteup / 5
Final Paper Progress Report / 20
Final Paper / 100
Total / 445

Course Requirements: No extra credit will be offered!

Your grade will be calculated on a straight percentage basis (100% base of 465points possible). I do not give final letter grades with pluses or minuses.

Grade / Percentages
A / 90% and above
B / 80 to 89%
C / 70 to 79%
D / 60 to 69%
F / 59% and below

At any point, you can calculate your grade by adding the number of points to date, dividing by the total number of points possible to date, and obtaining your percentage grade to date. Please note this syllabus may be changed as needs arise.

Communicating

I check e-mail regularly and I encourage you to use it (see e-mail address above). Observe the following:

• According to UM policy, all UM course related e-mail must be conducted using your UM e-mail address (umconnect address) ONLY. E-mail cannot be sent or forwarded to, or received from, an off-campus e-mail address (g-mail, yahoo etc.). Any e-mail sent to or received from students in this manner is a FERPA violation. If you communicate with me and/or my teaching assistant and/or preceptor, you must use your UM e-mail address.
• Your return address should be clearly your name
• Include a clearly relevant-to-the-course subject line, e.g., “Class attendance on March 1” or I may delete your message as junk mail spam.
• Avoid junk mail subject lines like “Hello” or “Hi”
• Be clear in e-mail and write complete sentences with punctuation, not all capital letters, and use other conventions of clear, correct writing – you are soon to be a university graduate!

Final Note

Finally, be cognizant of the fact that emergencies may happen to me as an instructor and thus this syllabus may have to be changed in terms of possible cancellations, alterations, or other adjustments. These will be announced and you will be kept apprised of any necessary changes.

Course Schedule

Note: Assigned readings should be done before the day scheduled below

Date / Topic & Assignments
Week 1
T, Sep 1
Th, Sep 3 / Course overview
Organizations as machines: Morgan Ch 1; Bibliographic Notes 1:
Week 2
T, Sep 8
Th, Sep 10 / Organizations as machines: Morgan Ch 2; Bibliographic Notes 2
Organizations as organisms: Morgan Ch 3; Bibliographic Notes 3
Week 3
T, Sep 15
Th, Sep 17 / Organizations as organisms (cont)
Video Case Study Assignment #1: Organizations as Organisms (Notes Due at the End of Class)
Week 4
T, Sep 22
Th, Sep 24 / Instructor Out of Town on Medical Leave; No Class; Choose an Organization for the Final Paper and Review for Exam 1
Instructor Out of Town on Medical Leave; No Class; Choose an Organization for the Final Paper and Review for Exam 1
Week 5
T, Sep 29
Th, Oct 1 / Organizations as brains: Morgan Ch 4; Bibliographic Notes 4
Organizations as brains (cont); Final Paper Topic Typed Writeup Due (5 points)
Week 6
T, Oct 6
Th, Oct 8 / Video Case Study Assignment #2: Organizations as Brains (Notes Due at the End of Class)
Review for EXAM 1 (Time in Class to Review Notes and Ask Questions)
Week 7
T, Oct 13
Th, Oct 15 / EXAM 1 (Organizations as Machines, Organisms, and Brains)
Organizations as culture: Morgan Ch 5; Bibliographic Notes 5
Week 8
T, Oct 20
Th, Oct 22 / Organizations as culture (cont)
Video Cast Study Assignment #3: Organizations as Culture (Notes Due at the End of Class)
Week 9
T, Oct 27
Th, Oct 29 / Organizations as political systems; Morgan Ch 6; Bibliographic Notes 6
Organizations as political systems (cont)
Week 10
T, Nov 3
Th, Nov 5 / Video Case Study Assignment #4: Organizations as Political Systems (Notes Due at the End of Class)