MB 851 - Macro-Organizational Theory
FULTON 240 Tuesday 1:30-4 PM
Professor Candace Jones
Organization Studies Dept
Phone : 617-552-0457
Office: Fulton 435
Office Hours: Tuesday 4-5 pm & by appointment
e-mail: jonescq@bc.edu
SEMINAR OVERVIEW
This course exposes students to foundational and current research in organization theory. Organization theory examines organizations as complex systems interacting with their environment. Macro organization theory emphasizes the interplay of organization-level structures, processes, and mechanisms with their wider environmental and political context. Although we are exposed to both economic, ecological and sociological theoretical traditions, much of the research and theory traditions derive from sociological foundations (as opposed to psychological foundations in the Micro-Organization course). The course sessions will introduce key papers dealing with three kinds:
- Theoretical approaches to studying organizations. Foundation and review articles of a theoretical tradition are provided.
- Criticisms of each theoretical tradition by scholars.
- Empirical research from a particular theoretical tradition, or research that combines and contrasts traditions are provided. Contemporary research is drawn from our primary research journals such as Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, American Journal of Sociology, Organization Science, Organization Studies
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Scott, Richard W. 1998. Organizations: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems. EnglewoodCliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 4th edition.
Aldrich, Howard E. 1999. Organizations Evolving. London: Sage.
Most articles are available in PDF format through links embedded in this page. For other articles or book chapters, hard copies will abe available in Fulton 430.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The seminar is reading- and writing-intensive. Each week we will use a set of required readings to identify and explore key theoretical, conceptual, and methodological issues in the behavioral study of organizations. Designated class members will each week prepare short critical review commentaries on the readings for the particular session; these can be done in collaboration. In class, we will combine short lecture with focused discussion of the readings and the broader session topic. In addition to reading and the preparation of short critical memos during the term, there is a paper.
 | Critical reading memos on an article emailed to me the day before each class session. 25%. The memo should roughly folow the flowing format: |
| 1 to 1 ½ page single sided |
| In the first paragraph, please answer the following questions: what is the research question in this article? What are the basic assumptions of the author(s)? What are the author(s)’ key constructs in the theory? How do organizations change or evolve (e.g., who acts and what mechanisms/processes enhance or deter change)? |
| In the second paragraph, please provide your response to the theory: does it convince you? Why or why not? How does this theory compare with a theory that you does convince you? What are the similarities and/or differences? How does this theory extend (or misguide) our understanding of organizations and environments? |
| Participation in the course. 25%. |
| Research paper. 50%. An outline of the final paper is due February 26th. A rough draft is due April 26 to all class members. As a class, we will read and feedback ways to improve the paper on April 30th. The Final paper is due May 7th. |
| The paper should be a review and extension of a theoretical stream or issue covered in the course. |
Several colleagues, who shared their syllabi with me, aided the development of my syllabus. I thank Doug Creed, Frank Dobbins, Joe Galaskiewicz, and Marc Ventresca for their experience, insights and generosity.
| Date | TOPIC AND READING ASSIGNMENTS |
| Jan. 15 | INTRODUCTION A Map of the Territory: Overview Scott- chapters 1-5 pp. 1-116 Astley, G. & A.H. Van de Ven. 1983. Central Debates In Organization Theory, 28: 245-273 |
| Jan 22 | Scott chapters 6-8, pp. 118-209 |
| Jan 29 | TECHNOLOGY AND CONTINGENCY Scott chapter 9 pp. 210-239 Thompson, J.D. 1967. Organizations in Action. New York: McGraw –Hill. Chapters 2, 4 & 5 pp. 14-24, 39-50, 51-64. |
| Feb. 5 | STRATEGIC CONTINGENCY, POWER & POLITICS Theory Scott chapter 11 pp. 267-294 Emerson, R.M. 1962. Power dependence relations. American Sociological Review, 27: 31-40. March, J.G. 1962. The business firm as a political coalition. Journal of Politics, 24: 662-678. Thompson, J.D. 1967. Organizations in Action. New York: McGraw –Hill. Chapter, 3, pp. 25-38. Pfeffer, J. & Salancik, G.R.. 1977 "Who gets power—and how they hold onto it: A strategic-contingency model of power." Organizational Dynamics (winter):70-77 Application: |
| Feb. 12 | AGENCY Theory Application: |
| Feb. 19 | TRANSACTION COST ECONOMICS Theory: Hesterly, W.S. Liebeskind, J. & Zenger, T. 1990. Academy of Management Review, 15: 402-420. Application: Dyer, Jeffrey H. 1997. Effective interfirm collaboration: How firms minimize transaction costs and maximize transaction value. Strategic Management Journal, 18: 535-556. Criticisms & Extensions: Zajac, E. J. & Olsen, C.P.. 1993. From transaction cost to transaction value analysis: Implications for the study of interorganizational strategies. Journal of Management Studies, 30 (1): 131-145.
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| Feb. 26 | EMBEDDEDNESS & NETWORKS Theory Granovetter, Mark S. 1982. The strength of weak ties: A network theory revisited. In P. Marsden & N. Lin (Eds.), Social structure and network analysis: 105-130. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. Powell, Walter W. 1990. Neither Markets nor Hierarchies: Network Forms of Organization. In Staw and Cummings (eds) Research in Organizational Behavior. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, 12: 295-336. Application: Criticisms & Extensions: Dacin, M.T., M.J. Ventresca, & B.D. Beal. 1999 'The embeddedness of organizations: Dialogue and directions. Journal of Management, 25, 317-356. OUTLINE OF PAPER DUE including paper topic, gap in prior research you wish to explain, and research question driving the paper. |
| March 5 | SPRING BREAK |
| March 12 | NETWORKS & SOCIAL CAPITAL Theory Aldrich, HE. & Whetten, D. 1981. "Organization-sets, Action-sets, and Networks: Making the Most of Simplicity." Pp. 385-408 in Handbook of Organizational Design, Vol. 1 edited by Paul C. Nystrom & William H. Starbuck. New York: Oxford University Press. Application: Criticisms & Extensions: Optional: Galaskiewicz, Joseph. 1985. Interorganizational relations. Annual Review of Sociology, 11:281-304. |
| March 19 | INSTITUTIONAL THEORY
Selznick, Phillip. 1957. Leadership in Administration: A Sociological Interpretation: Chapter 1 (pp. 1-28) Berkeley: University of California Press. Criticisms & Extensions: |
| March 26 | NEO-INSTITUTIONAL THEORY Theory Oliver, C. 1991. 1991 ‘Strategic responses to institutional processes. Academy of Management Review, 16: 145-179. Application Mizruchi, Mark & Fein, Lisa C. 1999. "The social construction of organizational knowledge: A study of the uses of coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphism." Administrative Science Quarterly, 44: 653-683. Criticisms & Extensions Hirsch, Paul M. & Lounsbury, Michael. 1997. Ending the family quarrel: Toward a reconciliation of "old" and "new" institutionalisms. American Behavioral Scientist, 40: 406-418. Optional: Powell, Walter W. 1985. The institutionalization of rational organizations. Contemporary Sociology, 14: 564-566. |
| April 2 | SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION AND ENACTMENT Theory Weick, Karl E. 1969. The Social Pscyhology of Organizing. New York: Random House. Chapter 1 pp. 1-23.. Weick, Karl E. 1977. Enactment processes in organizations. In Barry Staw and Gerald R. Salancik (eds), New Directions in Organizational Behavior: 267-333. Malabar, FL: Robert Kreiger. Application: Barley, S.R. 1986. Technology as an occasion for structuring: Evidence from observations of CT scanners and the social order of radiology departments. Administrative Science Quarterly, 31: 78-108. (From Jan 29th) Rao, Hayagreeva. 1994 'The social construction of reputation: Certification contests, legitimation, and the survival of organizations in the American automobile industry, 1895-1912,' Strategic Management Journal, 15, 29-44 |
| April 9 | POPULATION ECOLOGY Theory: Stinchcombe, Arthur. 1965. Social structure and organizations. In James G. March (Ed.), Handbook of Organizations: 142-169. Chicago: Rand McNally. Aldrich, Howard E.1999. Organizations Evolving. Chapter 10 pp. 265-297. Baum, Joel A.C. 1996. Organizational ecology. In Stewart R. Clegg & Hardy, Cynthia (eds), Handbook of Organization Studies: 177-214. London: Sage. Criticisms & Debates: |
| April 16 | EVOLUTION & CHANGE Aldrich, Howard E. Organizations Evolving. Chapter 2-4 pp. 20-74 Chapters 7-9 pp. 163-258 Nelson, R.R. 1994. Evolutionary theorizing about economic change. In Smelser, N.J. & Swedberg, R. (eds.), The Handbook of Economic Sociology: 108-136. |
| April 23 | COEVOLUTION Aldrich, Howard E. Organization Evolving. Chapter 11 pp. 298-330. Lewin, Arie Y. & Volberda, Henk. 1999. Prolegmena on coevolution: A framework for research on strategy and new organizational forms. Organization Science, 10: 519-534. Applications: Jones, Candace. 2001. The coevolution of entrepreneurial careers, institutional rules and competitive dynamics in American film, 1895-1920. Organization Studies, 6: 911-944. ROUGH DRAFT OF PAPERS DUE - April 26 |
| April 30 | Class feedback on rough draft of papers |
| May 7 | FINAL PAPERS DUE |
Additional Articles:
Davis, G. 1996 Review Symposium: Evolutionary Dyanmics of Organizations. Administrative Science Quarterly, 538-543.