Duration
30h Th, 15h Pr
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 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
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course includes one 2-hour lecture per week. Class lectures will take place on Thursdays from 10h30 to 12h30 in B7a A500 (Liège Sart-Tilman - Agora)
The course is divided into 3 different modules and the unit structure looks as follows:
Introduction
Lecture 1 : What is an organisation?
Module 1 : Organisational workforce
Lecture 2: The individual employee
Lecture 3: Groups and teams
Lecture 4: Leadership
Module 2 : Organisational processes and practices
Lecture 5 : Power and decision-making
Lecture 6 : Communication
Lecture 7 : Organisational culture
Module 4 : Organisational structure
Lecture 8 : Division of labour
Lecture 9 : Organisational configurations
Review
Lecture 10 : Synthesis, integration, and Q&A
Additionally, students are invited to participate in five seminars (of 2 hours each) scheduled throughout the first semester from October to December. The purpose of these seminars is to delve deeper into topics that are only briefly covered in the regular classes, to reflect on theory, and to help students prepare for the exam at the end of the course. Detailed information regarding the seminars, including dates and times, will be shared during the opening class lecture and posted on the student platform "eCampus"
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Blended learning
Further information:
Blended learning
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 and actively participating in seminars. 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 and seminar 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. 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
Student platform "eCampus".
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.