This class exists in these courses :
• IÉSEG > IESEG Degree - Programme Grande École > Semester 1 > 2,00 ECTS

Prerequisites

The aim is to encourage the student to take a critical view on what happens behind the organization. Students who sign up for this course should have at least basic knowledge of strategic management. They should also have good knowledge of current events in business and institutions. It is imperative that they are willing, and able, to study (and then analyse) academic texts on their own. The ability to ask critical questions and to pursue independent work is essential for success in this course.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
Understand and be able to apply the major approaches and related methodologies and techniques for structures’ design;
Describe Hierarchical and non-Hierarchical structures;
Comprehend the PM Structure, PjM Structure and Matrix;
Understand the zero based review technique;
Understand the integration systems and their impact on the organizational structures;
Describe the concept of differentiation & integration;
Describe a reticular connection in organization;
Comprehend the elements of the N-organization (reticular organization).

Course description

Introduction - The introduction’s aim is to help all students to understand the basic tools of organizational design. So the first lesson concerns the general definition of organization, including some consideration about the peculiarity of the international contest

Part 1-.The org-chart technique and the basic tool of all the course.
Following the program, the student will be introduced to the theory of the organizational structuring: basic, functional and departemental structures. These are the so called hierarchical structures, since the integration model they normally use is based on the hierarchical relation between the actors.
In particular the student will analyse the following models: "Worldwide Functional Structure", "Intl. Division Structure", "Geographic Area Structure" and "Global Product Division"

Part 2 – Non-Hierarchical structure
This traditional approach to the organization is attenuated by using different models based on the mutual adjustment, the negotiation between the actors, the shared interests and the common culture.
Using these tools we create the non hierarchical organization, by which the most important examples are the "Project Manager Model", the "Intl. Area Manager Model" and the Global Matrix.

Part 3 – Network Organization
At the end of the course, the students will be introduced to the newest concept of the reticular organizations or Net-organizations. This innovative idea of organization seems to be an efficient answer to the request coming from the enterprises which need to be international, flexible and custom-based

Class type

Class structure

Teaching methods

• Case study
• Presentation
• Seminar

Assessment

Class Participation
The participation to the guided discussion (proposed by the professor) and the presence to the lessons are part of the assessment

Case Presentation
The students have to discuss (in team) 4 cases (provided by the professor) and make a written report on each case.

Final Exam
At the end of the course, a written exam with 4/5 open questions and an exercise, will complete the evaluation

Recommended reading

• Mintzberg H. (1989), Mintzberg on management: inside our strange world of organizations Free Press, 1989 -

Internet resources

• IESEG Online

  A set of articles will be posted on the course website around one week prior to the beginning of the course.