Duration
27h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Welcome to the course Introduction to Organisational Analysis. This course will run in the autumn (September to December) term. Please read this document carefully as it contains important information regarding the structure, delivery, and assessment of the course. The course leader is Professor Wouter Vleugels. In addition, teaching support for this course will be provided by Ms. Lorane Berton. Their contact details are as follows:
Email: w.vleugels@uliege.be / lorane.berton@uliege.be
Office number: N1D 5ème étage
This course provides a broad introduction to the workings of the organisation, focusing specifically on three key dimensions: its employees, its operational processes and practices, and its structure. It is designed to help students develop a nuanced understanding of organisations and identify challenges that may arise.
The course is based on the notion that satisfactorily understanding organisations requires the application of different lenses drawn from different disciplines including psychology, sociology, management studies, organisation theory, political science, and economics. Moreover, such an understanding also requires that we look at different levels of the organisation. At the workforce level, topics such as employee motivation, team dynamics, and leadership will be discussed. With regard to processes, the course examines power dynamics and decision-making strategies, communication patterns, and organisational culture. Finally, and in terms of structure, the focus will be on the division of labour and various organisational configurations.
The main goal of this course is to provide insights into the inner workings of organisations and the key principles for effective management. This expertise is crucial for various managerial positions spanning marketing, operations, human resources, finance, and accounting. It is also invaluable for those considering roles in start-ups, family businesses, management consultancy, auditing, or investment banking.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
On successful completion of this course you will be able to:
- Understand key concepts focusing on various levels and aspects of the organisation, including its workforce, operational processes, and structural design.
- Compare and contrast diverse theories and models related to employee behaviour and organisational management.
- Identify and discuss various challenges that could emerge within organisations.
- Analyse organisational issues and recommend solutions for improvement.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
None
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course includes one weekly lecture. Each lecture will also be recorded and made available as a podcast. Class lectures will take place on Tuesdays from 12h45 to 14h15 in N1a 59 (0/59) [Liège centre - Louvrex].
The course is divided into 3 different modules and the unit structure looks as follows:
Introduction
Lecture 1: What is an organisation?
- Introduction, lecture plan, content, assessment/evaluation
- Unit structure : Analysis of the organisation at three levels (3 modules: individuals, processes & practices, design)
- The organisation: definitions, objectives and goals, key concepts
- The value of work for individual employees
- The three organisational dimensions : individuals, processes and practices, design
Lecture 2: The individual employee
- Motivation, emotions, work values, personality
- Work attitudes (e.g., work engagement and job satisfaction)
- Impact of psychology and individual perception on organisational behaviour
- Group dynamics and group development
- Properties and processes of groups
- Problems associated with teamwork in organisations
- Purpose of leadership
- Leadership vs. management
- Different approached to leadership
Lecture 5: Power and decision-making
- Authority vs. power
- Conflict and organisational politics
- Decision-making in organisations
- Organisations as communicating entities
- Importance of communication processes at different levels
- The role of the organisation in driving and structuring communication
- Purpose and meaning of organisational culture
- Types of organisational cultures
- Impact of organisational culture on equity, diversity and inequality
Lecture 8: Organisational structure
- Work roles, job functions, and competencies
- Cooperation
- Coordination of labour
- Different organisational designs
- Contextual and contingency factors
- Organisational life cycle
Lecture 10 : Synthesis, integration, and Q&A
Two additional "walk-in" feedback sessions ("classe de remediation") will be held midway through and at the end of the course.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Face-to-face course
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège
Further information:
The primary textbook for this course is:
Robbins, S., Judge, T., & Tran, V. (2023). Comportements organisationnels (19e Édition). Pearson.
Additional course materials are sourced from:
Clegg, S., Pitsis, T., & Mount, M. (2021). Managing and Organizations: An Introduction to Theory and Practice (6th edition). Sage: London
Purchasing the textbook(s) is optional. Students can successfully complete the course by studying the weekly PowerPoint presentations. Students who are interested in obtaining the textbook(s) but are mindful of their budget are encouraged to choose the electronic versions, as they are typically more affordable.
All PowerPoints materials will be shared via the student platform "eCampus".
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )
Further information:
Your knowledge of this course will be tested and evaluated through an individual assessment at the end of the semester.
Specifically, students will be required to answer a set of multiple-choice questions with correction for guessing applied. This will be a "closed-book" and "no-notes" exam, meaning you will not be allowed to use any supporting materials during the exam. Each multiple-choice question will offer four options, with only one correct answer. The questions will cover a mix of (i) purely theoretical topics and (ii) practical applications of the models and theories discussed in class and during seminars.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Communication for this course will primarily take place online via eCampus. There are three main ways students can interact with the teaching team:
- Online via the eCampus message board: To efficiently manage communication with a large number of students, we strongly encourage the use of the eCampus message board for any questions or concerns. The teaching team will actively monitor this message board, and students are invited to post their questions there
- Face-to-face during classes and seminars: Students are also encouraged to ask questions directly during face-to-face classes or seminars. These in-person interactions offer an opportunity for immediate clarification and discussion.
- Face-to-face during a "classe de remédiation": Two "walk-in" feedback sessions (classe de remédiation) will be held midway through and at the end of the course. These sessions are informal, meaning you can come and go as you please, and you can bring up any questions or concerns to discuss with the teaching team.