2020-2021 / SOCI0060-1

Sociology of organized action

Duration

45h Th

Number of credits

 Master in political sciences : general (120 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in sociology, professional focus in Immigration Studies (Liège - Barcelone : double diplomation)6 crédits 
 Master in human resources management (120 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in human resources management (120 ECTS) (Gestion)5 crédits 
 Master in human resources management (120 ECTS) (Management des organisations et des systèmes en transition)5 crédits 
 Master in sociology (120 ECTS)6 crédits 
 Master in labour sciences (120 ECTS)6 crédits 
 Master in sociology and anthropology (60 ECTS)6 crédits 
 Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculté des Sciences sociales)6 crédits 

Lecturer

Coralie Darcis, Frédéric Schoenaers, Sophie Thunus

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Students improve their ability to understand and assess organisational situations and everyday life social activities through the reading of scientific articles and in-depth analysis of empirical cases.
By learning the key concepts of the sociology of collective action, students become able to understand different types of collective actions and the nature of the relationships between the involved actors. They perform "organisational diagnosis" which means: identifying conflict/cooperation relationships, defining what is at stake is such relationships, describing and understanding organising process and sensemaking operations involved in it.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Following the course of sociology of organised action, students:

  • Understand the key concepts and methodological tools exposed through the course;
  • Are able to apply them for analysing concrete situations of collective action.
These skills are specific to the sociology of organised action and can be used in different fields of study, including the political, economic, social and cultural fields.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Students must deal with theoretical approaches and concepts presented in the first section of the course "De Taylor à la sociologie de l'action collective".
This course section includes:


  • The first chapter of the Friedberg's book (Le pouvoir et la Règle - compulsory reading);
  • A summary of the main theoretical approaches at the origin of the contemporary sociology of organisations (compulsory);
  • Complementary readings.
 

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The main activities included in the course's programme are:



  • Lessons 1 to 5: key concepts of the sociology of organised action based on empirical and theoretical scientific articles.
  • Lessons 6 to 9 : key aspects of sensemaking in organisations
  • Lessons 10 : methods and exercises (organisational diagnosis)

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Classroom teaching, discussions of scientific articles and exercises.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

Recommended or required readings

Reading material available on MyUliege, inluding:


  • Compulsory and complementary readings (scientific articles);
  • Presentation of empirical cases;
  • PowerPoint presentations.
  Reference books


  • Crozier, M., & Friedberg, E. (1992). L'acteur et le système: les contraintes de l'action collective. Éd. du Seuil.
  • Friedberg, E. (1988). L'analyse sociologique des organisations. POUR.
  • Friedberg, E. (1997). Le pouvoir et la règle: dynamiques de l'action organisée. Éd. du Seuil.
  • Weick, K. (1995). Sense-making in organisations. SAGE Publications.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

Final exam (key theoretical concepts and organisational diagnosis)
Second session: idem or oral examination

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

 

  • The list of the scientific articles that will be presented and discussed through the course is available on myuliège

Contacts

F. Schoenaers : F.Schoenaers@uliege.be
C. Darcis: coralie.darcis@uliege.be
S. Thunus : sophie.thunus@uclouvain.be