The purpose of this course is to provide you with the analytic framework and tools needed to analyze, manage, and lead the organization and workforce of the future. We will examine some of the features that are supposed to characterize the emerging "new" organizational forms-it is networked, flat, flexible, diverse, and global. We contrast these characteristics to the more traditional organizational form. We will consider the pros and cons of each, as well as the forces that help or hinder movement from the old to the new forms. The focus is at the individual/group level (e.g., the ability to work in teams, to negotiate, and to resolve conflicts) and managerial/organizational level (e.g., the ability to lead employees in a flat organization, the ability to manage across organizational and national boundaries)-centered on the skills you will need to perform effectively and lead in the organizations of the future.
Consistent with the overall perspective of the TPP Program, we give special emphasis to developing a systems' view of organizational analysis and public policy.This includes examining how these organizational concepts and changes are affecting the management of government agencies and technology intensive organizations. It also includes building an appreciation for the ways that public policy is dependent on organizational processes.
The readings for the course come from a "modular" textbook, Managing for the Future: Organizational Behavior and Processes, written by a team of Sloan School faculty members Deborah Ancona, Thomas Kochan, Maureen Scully, Eleanor Westney, and John VanMaanen. Each "module" includes an introductory note that synthesizes material from the research literature as well as the business press, drawing on the research of the authors and contributors. Following the introductory note, there are cases for students to prepare and/or selected readings from the business press to help students assess critically the emerging patterns. In this syllabus, we distinguish Required readings from Recommended readings and include a description of what you need to do to prepare for each class.
Learning in this class requires personal participation and involvement. Sharing perceptions and ideas with each other is crucial for learning and for understanding how the diverse opinions that you are likely to encounter in an organization get articulated and debated. You will find yourself presenting and testing out new ideas that are not wholly formulated and assisting others to shape their ideas. You should be prepared to take some risks and be supportive of the efforts of others.
For the major class project and certain other activities, you will be organized into industry teams. This is a functional way to accomplish the tasks and it is also part of the class learning. To help you become an effective work team, our Team Handbook is included in Module 3 of the course readings. This handbook is a resource for you and your team to use in managing relationships and productivity of your team.
Many of our classes will conclude with a 20-30 minute interactive skill module. These cover a wide range of skills relevant to being effective in organizational settings. Each is taught in a "train-the-trainer" format so that you can help build these skills in organizations, as well as utilize them yourself.