Module BUSI49J30: Organisation Theory and Strategy

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI49J30: Organisation Theory and Strategy

Tied To

• N1R660: Business Administration

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To develop students' knowledge and critical understanding of key theories and debates in organisation theory and strategic management.
• To explore how organisations are structured, evolve, and adapt in complex and dynamic environments, and how strategic choices shape and are shaped by these organisational processes.
• To enable students to evaluate and integrate diverse theoretical perspectives (e.g. ecological, institutional, resource-based, socio-cognitive, processual, and practice-based) that explain organisational phenomena and strategic behaviour.
• To strengthen students’ ability to apply organisation theory and strategy frameworks to real-world contexts, and to use these for developing rigorous and relevant doctoral research questions.

Content

• Core paradigms in organisation theory and strategy, including ecological, institutional, socio-cognitive, resource-based, and practice-oriented views.
• Organisational change, adaptation, and strategic responses to dynamic environments.
• Strategy as a social and political process shaping organisational outcomes.
• Integrating organisation theory and strategy to address grand challenges and inform DBA research.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of major theories and debates in organisation theory and strategic management.
• Critically evaluate how organisational contexts, structures, and processes shape and are shaped by strategic choices and outcomes.
• Integrate and compare theoretical perspectives to analyse contemporary organisational and strategic challenges.

• Ability to critically evaluate and apply theoretical frameworks organisations theory and strategy;
• Ability to formulate and justify researchable questions in organisation theory and strategic management;
• Ability to integrate insights from multiple theoretical traditions to develop coherent, evidence-based arguments.

• Ability to articulate complex theoretical concepts clearly in written and oral communication.
• Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Reflexivity in linking personal, organisational, and theoretical perspectives.
• Ability to design and complete research at doctoral level.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module will be delivered in a workshop format over an intensive three-day teaching block. Workshops will comprise a balanced mix of lecture- and seminar-type delivery combined with small group discussions and other activities as appropriate to the nature of the material. This range of methods will ensure that students will acquire the advanced skills and knowledge to enable them to develop a thorough understanding of this specialist field of study.
• The assessment of the module, by essay, is designed to test students' knowledge and understanding of the subject-matter and their ability to articulate a researchable issue.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Presentations and tutor feedback within workshops (PowerPoint/Poster format, 2500 word equivalent) assignment. The formative assessment is a smaller version of the summative assessment and serves to provide students with feedback prior to submitting their summative assignment. It will compromise an initial critical review of the literature to be included in the summative assessment, and initial ideas on the themes emerging from the critical analysis.