DYNM 501: Foundations of Organizational Dynamics

Program Information

This is a graduate course that satisfies the following requirements:

Session Information

This course starts on 01/15/2010 during the Spring 2010 Semester.

Course Information

The information on this page is intended only to provide, as is available, a summary of the course objectives, requirements, and readings. A full course syllabus will be given out in class.

Description

This is a foundation course intended for MSOD students at any point in the program, particularly in their first year, and for non-MSOD students. This course serves to elaborate on central themes of Organizational Dynamics and offers the specialties of several faculty members. Lectures, discussions, simulations, and experiential learning are used to build an informed grounding in the philosophy, theory and practice of Organizational Dynamics. The course requirements are active class participation, a midterm paper and a final paper.

Undergraduates may enroll in 500-level courses only with permission of the instructor

Requirements

• Class grade is based on active seminar participation and preparedness, weekly journals and two short papers.
• Journals: (due each session except for weeks 1, 8 and 12). Create a 1-2 page learning journal of your thoughts and/or observations from the week’s readings, your questions, your reflections on yourself or your organization. Each journal will be read and responded to, with a grade given for the collection as a whole, resubmitted in Session 11.
• Paper #1 (due Session 8): Based on your readings and class discussions so far, identify 5 questions that appear to be rich veins for your exploration over the course of your Organizational Dynamics program. Discuss why you believe each question seems to resonate with your experiences or goals and represents a pathway of significant learning for you. (5-8 pages).
• Paper #2 –due one week after last class. Throughout this course you have been introduced to several fundamental perspectives on organizations and on yourself as an evolving organization actor. The ability to recognize one’s perspective or mental framework is itself a fundamental leadership dynamic. For this paper, recount a recurring situation you face in your organization, use 3-5 perspectives to illuminate the dynamics at play, and suggest ways to approach the situation productively that flow from your new understanding. Refer to material from the readings and presentations (using APA style) in support of your ideas. 5-8 pages.

Readings

Readings will be assigned from the following:

• Gareth Morgan, Images of Organization, Sage Publications, 2006.
• Gary Hamel and Bill Breen, The Future of Management, 2007.
• Articles and other readings will be handed out in class.

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