Is the modern large corporation alienating, inflexible, unproductive? Is the small organization or work team engaging, innovative or creative, productive? Has it always been this way in the U.S.? Is change possible? In this unique, informal, "turbo" seminar we will examine the large corporation in terms of history, governance and control, and delivery of (office) work. We will consider whether "bigness" and bureaucracy are inevitable, and how organizations of the present, and probably the future, are affected by those of the past.

This seminar has been structured to cover a good deal of ground in a short time. The seminar will meet on six Saturdays. The subject matter of the seminar is the large-scale organization. Questions to be raised include:

• Is the modern large corporation alienating, inflexible, unproductive?
• Are bigness and bureaucracy inevitable?
• Is the small organization or work team engaging, innovative, creative, productive?
• What does the historical record for the United States reveal?
• Are organizational alternatives and change possible?

Syllabus

Spring 2012 syllabus

What students are saying

Excellent course covering the history of the rise of big corporations and their functions. this is a business history course and the title doesn't do the course justice.

This course name should be changed, as this would generate greater interest and truly represent the course. Nonetheless, the course was well conceptualized, planned and executed by the professor. An exceptional job by the professor and his teaching style and material fit quite well. Well done Professor Licht. I was able to utilize the concepts in my thesis.