Argosy University
COURSE SYLLABUS
B7413
Organizational Systems Theory
Faculty Information
Faculty Name:
Elias Demetriades, Ph.D.
Campus:
Chicago
Contact Information:
[email protected] , 312-301-1025 (cell)
Office Hours:
By Appointment
Short Faculty Bio:
 I have spent most of my career in various managerial and consulting engagements in the US, Europe and Africa. I have taught
undergraduate and graduate course for fifteen (15) years.
 I currently teach undergraduate math and economics courses, as well as economics, management and finance at the graduate
level while consulting in finance (quantitative modeling, alternative investments, risk management).
 I hold a BS in Business Administration (concentration in Marketing), an MBA from IMD in Switzerland and a PhD in
Management Science (concentration in Finance).
Course description: This course focuses on theories, research and practice at the organization level of analysis. Beginning with a
brief overview of the history of organization theory, the course focuses on contemporary perspectives including resource dependence
theory, structural contingency theory, social network analysis, organizational ecology and the impact of technology on work. The
emphasis will be on the applicability of theory in organizational life. Readings will ground the DBA student in the literature and a
project derived from the DBA students’ interests and professional experience will form the basis application of the theories and
research findings to business. The course will also focus on what theory is, and what theory is not and also on how to apply theory
effectively to develop robust solutions and achieve organizational results.
Course Pre-requisites: None
Required Textbooks:
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Hatch, M.J. & Cunliffe, A. (2006). Organization theory: Modern symbolic and postmodern perspectives. (2nd ed.). Oxford University
Press. ISBN: 0199260214
Senge, P. M. (2006). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. Publisher: Currency. ISBN-13: 9780385517256
Shafritz, J., Ott, J. S. & Jang, Y. S. (2004). Classics of organization theory (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN-13:
978-0534631567
Required Articles:
An, S, & Jin, H. S. (2004). Interlocking of newspaper companies with financial institutions and leading advertisers. Journalism &
Mass Communication Quarterly, Autumn 2004, 18(3): 578-600. (on interlocking Board of Directors)
Banathy, B. (2000). A taste of systemics. Retrieved March 10, 2006, from The Primer Project, a Special Integration Group of the
International Society for the Systems Sciences. Web site: http://www.isss.org/taste.html (basic system science theories)
Beer, M., & Nohria, N. (2000). Resolving the tension between theories E and O of change. In Beer, M., & Nohria, N. (Eds.). (2000).
Breaking the code of change. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, pp. 1-33. (new organizational change theories)
Dijksterhuis, M. S., Van Den Bosch, F. A. J., Volberda, H. W. (Sep/Oct 1999). Where do new organizational forms come from?
Management logics a form of co-evolution. Organization Science, 10477039, 10(5), from Business Source Complete
Database.
Calori, R.(Nov 2000). Ordinary theorists in mixed industries. Organization Studies, 21(6) pp.1031-1058.
Carlisle, Y., & McMillan, E. (2006). Innovation in organizations from a complex adaptive systems perspective. Emergence:
Complexity & Organization, 8(1), pp. 2-9.
Castka, P., Balzarova, M.A. Bamber, C.J., & Sharp, J.M. (2004). How can SMEs effectively implement the CSR agenda? A UK case
study perspective. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 11, pp. 140-149. (Action Research article)
Glazier, J. D., & Grover, R.(Wntr 2002). A multidisciplinary framework for theory building. In Library Trends, 50, p. 317(15).
Marangoni, Giandemetrio; Colombo, Gianluca; Fezzi, Giulio. (March 2004). Modelling intra-group relationships. Economic Systems
Research, 16(1), pp. 85-104.
Tsai, S.D., Pan, C.Y., & Chiang, H.Q. (2004). Shifting the mental models and employee innovation behavior: Action research of a
quality management system. Emergence: Complexity and Organization, 6:4, 28-39. (Action Research article)
Weber, R. (Sept 2003).Theoretically speaking. (1).(Editor's Comments). MIS Quarterly, 27, p.iii (10).
Wishnevsky, J.D., & Damanpour, F. (Spring 2006). Organizational transformation and performance: An examination of three
perspectives. Journal of Managerial Issues, 18(1): pp. 104-128.
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Recommended Reading:
Beer, M., & Nohria, N. (Eds.). (2000). Breaking the code of change. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Fairholm, M.R. (2004). A new sciences outline for leadership development. Leadership & Organization Development Journal. 25: 4.
369-383. (on leadership and autopoiesis)
Web Sites:
www.aomonline.org (Academy of Management)
www.ispi.org (International Society for Performance Improvement)
www.isss.org (International Society for the Systems Sciences)
www.solonline.org (Society for Organizational Learning)
pegasuscom.com—Systems thinking and other organization systems tools
www.systemsthinkingpress.com
Course length: 7.5 Weeks
Contact Hours: 45 Hours
Credit Value: 3.0
Program Outcomes:
1. Research
1.1. Performing – Design, conduct, and justify applied research in a business context using appropriate methodology
1.2. Understanding – Evaluate and apply existing theory and research to current business practice
2. Communication
2.1. Oral – Present orally, complex business information that is concise, clear, organized, and well supported in a professional
manner appropriate to the business context
2.2. Written – Present in writing, complex business information that is concise, clear, organized, and well supported in a
professional manner appropriate to the business context using required format
3. Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
3.1. Critical thinking – Evaluate relevance of established theory to current business practice and identify gaps in current literature
3.2. Problem Solving/Decision Making – Given a business situation, diagnose the underlying causes of the situation, evaluate
possible solutions, in relation to underlying business theory and determine and defend appropriate course of action
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
3.3. Information Literacy - Conduct an exhaustive literature search from a variety of sources, evaluate the credibility of the
sources, and apply that information to create new knowledge
Team
4.1. Leadership - Conduct an exhaustive literature search from a variety of sources, evaluate the credibility of the sources, and
apply that information to create new knowledge
4.2. Collaboration - Given a case study or business situation collect, assimilate, and disseminate the views of stakeholders
Ethics
5.1. Ethics - Given a case study or business situations, evaluate the ethical dimensions of decision situations and personal, social,
and corporate responsibility not absolved by market forces
Diversity
6.1. Diversity - Given a case study or business situation evaluate the multicultural dimensions of decision situations and
multicultural solutions to business situations
Strategic Planning
7.1. Strategic/Change Mgt – Develop clear initiatives to assist a business to reach its goals in a changing environment
Resource Management
8.1. Motivation, Coaching, and Delegating – Evaluate the potential effectiveness of a leadership strategy for training, coaching,
delegating, and motivation within a specific organizational context
Course Objectives:
1. Examine, research and analyze classical, neoclassical and modern organization theory and systems theory through the individual,
team, leader, and organization levels: (Program Outcomes: 1.1; 1.2; 3.1; 3.2; 3.3; 7.1).
2. Analyze and evaluate the principles and practices of leading and managing in a changing global business ecosystem, and within
diverse, multicultural organizations (Program Outcomes: 1.1; 1.2; 3.1; 3.2; 4.1;4.2; 6.1; 7.1).
3. Describe and evaluate the principles and practices involved in implementing systems change processes within organizations
(Program Outcomes: 1.2; 2.1; 3.2; 4.1; 7.1; 7.2).
4. Select and defend an appropriate organizational system model or approach to help lead an organization into the future (Program
Outcomes: 1.1; 1.2; 2.1; 3.1; 3.2; 4.1; 6.1, 8.1).
5. Evaluate and apply theories of organizational systems to solve workplace problems (Program Outcomes: 3.1; 3.2; 5.1; 6.1; 7.1,
8.1).
6. Apply ethical concepts, as related to organizational theory (Program Outcomes: 3.1; 3.2; 5.1; 7.1; 8.1).
7. Analyze the role organizational learning plays within organizational design, human resource development and long term
sustainability (Program Outcomes: 1.2; 3.1; 8.1).
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8. Design and evaluate the conditions in which individual and corporate learning is nurtured, evaluate organizational system learning
processes, and analyze whether systems thinking/tools can help get beyond the status quo to long term sustainability (Program
Outcomes: 1.1; 1.2; 2.23.1; 3.2; 5.1; 6.1 7.1)
9. Design a systems learning organization approach for your organizational context (Program Outcomes: 3.1; 3.2; 5.1; 6.1; 7.1)
Assignments:
Module Topics
1
 Weekly Overview; Brief
History of Organizational
Theory, Theory Building,
and the External
Environment
 Explore general theories of
organizations;
 Examine the role of theory,
theory building and action
research in leading and
managing organizations;
 Examine external
environment and other
organizational theories
including: resource
dependence, structural
contingency, social network
analysis;
 Summary.
2
 Weekly Overview; Strategy,
Structure, Technology
 Examine three of the
integrated elements of
Module
Readings
 Calori; Castka,
Balzarova, Bamber, &
Sharp(action
research); Glazier &
Grover; Tsai, Pan &
Chiang (action
research); Weber
articles
 Shafritz & Ott text,
Chapters 1-2, 9;
 Hatch text, Chapters
1-3
Assignments
Assignment #1.1
 Using the library resources, Internet, and course texts, extract a
workable definition of modern organizations that takes into account
the external environment (open vs. closed system);
 Write a 2-3 page paper on the process of how to analyze an
organizational environment. Cite your findings appropriately and
discuss relevant theories such as: contingency theories, resource
dependence, population ecology, transactions costs, institutional
theory etc.
Assignment #1.2
 Using the assigned articles, synthesize a model of action research
useful for current organizational systems or your context.
Assignment #1.3
 Begin to compile a list of definitions of organizational theories from
library resources, the Internet, and the course texts (begin by using
the core theories: resource dependence theory, population ecology
theory, institutional theory; agency theory.
 Compare your list and definitions with other students in the
course.
 Hatch text, Chapters 4- Assignment #2.1
6;
 Research and analyze, in a three page paper, the interconnections
and roles of strategy, structure and technology. Does strategy
 Shafritz, Ott & Jang
follows structure or vice versa? Can technology be used as a strategy
text, Chapter 4
Page 5
3
organizational systems:
Strategy, Structure and
Technology
o Explore past and present
strategies for
organizational
effectiveness
o Explore the
interconnection of
structure and technology;
o Explore the process of
strategy as decision
making;
o Examine the ways in
which the strategy,
structure and technology
are integrated in diverse
multi-cultural
organizations;
 Explore various strategies as a
means for resolving resistance
to change;
 Summary.
 Weekly Overview;
Leadership & Decision
Making
 Examine a macro overview of
leadership, decision making
and theory within
organizations;
 Explore intra organizational
relationships;
 Examine requirements of
 Dijksterhuis, Van Den
Bosch, & Volberda
article on new
organizational forms
for long term organizational sustainability? Support your rationale
with current Internet research from peer reviewed articles.
Assignment #2.2
 Using the internet, find two additional articles that discuss the
implications for using new organizational forms to promote growth,
resolve resistance to change, develop sustainable strategies etc.?
How could we use organizational theory within these new
organizational forms for growth and sustainability? Be prepared to
discuss the specific strategies used (in the classroom).
Assignment #2.3
 Differentiate (for your organization) between the three different
levels of an organization’s core technology: 1) technologies that
directly produce goods and services produced which are provided to
the environment, 2) technologies that indirectly maintain production
processes (i.e. accounting, HR), 3) technologies for adapting to the
environment Hatch, 1997, p. 131). How can we use knowledge
about their inter-connectivity to design more effective
organizational strategies and structures? What are the implications
of ‘high technology’ for organizations (see Milan Zeleny in Hatch,
1997, p. 132)? Be prepared to discuss this in class.
 Senge text, Chapter 14
& 15
 Hatch text, Chapter 9
 2-3 Articles on interlocking Boards of
Directors or
population ecology
 An & Jin article on
inter-locking Boards
of Directors
Assignment #3.1
 Using the Internet library resources, research two or three additional
journal articles, which explore or analyze differing views on intra
organizational relationships and list the key principles and concepts.
Write a two page paper analyzing the advantages or disadvantages
of inter-locking Boards. Take into consideration how corporate and
leadership ethics and diversity may affect organizational growth and
change.
Assignment #3.2
 Using Internet resources, find articles which illustrate how
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leaders work and decision
making from a big picture
systems perspective which
includes diversity and
organizational ethics/integrity;
 Summary.
4
 Weekly Overview; Power,
Politics & Culture
 Examine the core aspects
of organizational
cultures;
 Explore the implications
of and effectiveness of
agency theory, cybernetic
model of control,
institutionalization, and
resource dependency
theory on organizational
cultures;
 Explore the steps and
skills for building more
effective organizational
cultures;
 Analyze the various
perspectives and theories on
power and politics (i.e.,
strategic contingencies theory,
resource dependency theory,
etc.)
 Summary.
population ecology can be used for competitive advantage and be
 Marangoni, Gianluca
prepared to discuss the specific strategies in use (in the classroom).
& Fezzi article on intra
Assignment #3.3
group relationships
 Reflect on new requirements of leading and making decisions from
a systemic perspective. Begin to compile an ongoing list of what
these requirements are and which skills you have. Compare this list
with your peers.
 Shafritz, Ott & Jang
text, Chapters 6-8
 Hatch text, Chapters
7, 10-11
Assignment #4.1
 Research a minimum of three to five articles on differing
perspectives, theories and models of power, control and politics,
focusing on the effects to culture and organizational
performance/effectiveness. Write a 2 – 3 page analysis of the
information from the five articles. Answer the following questions:
1. What are the core characteristics of culture from three perspectives
of integration, differentiation and fragmentation? Within the
integration perspective, include Schein’s theory of organizational
culture.
2. What is the relationship of these characteristics to designing
effective organizational cultures?
3. How do these characteristics correlate with what you have learned
about theory creation for organizations, thus far in this course?
Support your rationale with research.
Assignment #4.2

Analyze the usefulness of theory (such as: agency theory, cybernetic
model of control, institutionalization, and resource dependency theory)
in solving cultural dilemmas. Support with the literature.
Assignment #4.3
 Begin to research organizational learning models and approaches
within an industry, or arena, in which you have a special interest.
This is the focus of the final reflective. See the details of the final
reflective requirements in the Module 7 assignment section.
Page 7
5
6
 Weekly Overview; Change &
Learning
 Explore, research and analyze
Organizational Learning in
terms of
o Leadership
o Teamwork
o Communication
o Diversity
o Ethics/Integrity
o Human Resources
o Structure
o Strategy
o Organizational
Sustainability
 Research and analyze the
organizational learning or
social change models
(Lewin’s model, Big Three
model, Fan model, Cultural
Dynamics model etc.);
 Analyze and evaluate the
resistance to change within
individuals and organizations.
o Contributing Factors
o Resolving Factors;
 Summary
 Weekly Overview;
Organizational Systems
Theory & Tools
 Beyond Senge: Other
organizational systems theory
 Synthesize and explore





Hatch text, Chapter
12
Shafritz, Ott & Jang
text, Chapter 8,
especially #41
Senge text, Chapters
14-15
Wishnevsky &
Damanpour article on
3 perspectives of
change: rational,
population ecology
and institutional.
Beer & Nohria article
 Senge text, Chapters
4-11;
 Banathy article;
 Wishnevsky &
Damanpour article on
punctuated
Assignment #5.1
 Write the final outline and abstract for your final reflective and
email to the professor.
Assignment #5.2
 Using the internet or the Beer and Nohria text, research Theories E
and O and write a 2-3 page paper analyzing their constructive or
destructive value to organizational change and learning/growth.
Also, analyze which theory is most useful to your context.
Assignment #5.3
 Research a minimum of three to five theoretical or empirical articles
on developing better organizations. Focus on the macro
requirements of organizations in terms of change strategies and the
benefits of diversity within a rapidly changing global business
ecosystem. Be prepared to discuss your findings in the classroom
(they can also be foundational to your final reflective).
Assignment #6.1
 Research articles on companies that use various organizational
systems theory and tools to change and grow their organizations
(you may want to look at some using action research methods).
Compile a chart of explicit systems tools, thinking, and strategies
useful for your final reflective paper. Ground your rationale within
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7
Senge’s 5 disciplines into a
comprehensive view of
dynamic organizational theory
in practice;
 Explore and further develop a
holistic view of organizational
systems;
 Integrate the manner in which
learning conditions are
developed and supported, in
individuals, organizations, and
across geographically
dispersed arenas;
 Summary.
 Weekly Overview;
Application of Organization
Theory for Sustainable
Results
 Application of Organization
Systems Theory and
Principles to Leading and
Managing Organizations
o Review and Integrate
Course/Program
Objectives.
o Demonstrate the
professional and personal
value of organization
systems thinking, models
and tools in PowerPoint.
 Summary
equilibrium theory
 Review: Shafritz, Ott
& Jang, Chapter 9, #
45
 Carlisle and McMillan
article
the research.
Assignment #6.2
 Begin writing your final reflective paper. Take into account research
from the previous modules, synthesize organization theory lists you
have developed, and factors such as: globalization, leadership,
management, team learning, diversity and ethics/integrity,
technology, Senge’s five disciplines, and other organization systems
theory such as punctuated equilibrium and autopoiesis.
Assignment #7.1
 Present/provide a PowerPoint presentation based on your research
paper. Keep the presentation to 1 hour (or split the hour among your
team).
Assignment #7.2
 Write a research paper, in which you or your team develops a
dynamic learning organization systems approach. Take into account
leadership, culture, strategy, structure, ethics, diversity, technology,
Senge’s five disciplines, other useful organizational system theories,
theories E and O, and above all learning and its application. Include,
in your analysis, information, supported by research (both theoretical
and empirical), regarding the levels covered in this course:
organizational; and/or industrial, as befitting your project.
Be sure to also discuss the following:
a.) the synthesis between organizational learning and dynamic
change processes (i.e. learning and creation or development of
products/services).
b.) the types of resistance to change and the ways in which
organization’s can resolve that resistance.
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c.) all the course objectives.
d.) the principles, tools and theories of systems and systems thinking
(seeing the big picture).
Final Reflective – Description & Parameters
The final paper for the course is expected to be 15 - 20 pages long, plus
a cover page, abstract, reference pages and appendices (if needed). The
paper is to be typed, double-spaced and written following the APA5th
form and style. The final reflective must contain the following
qualities:
 Introduction (a statement of the problem)
 Literature Review (a discussion of the pertinent literature)
 Body (a discussion of how the literature relates to the project
 Summary and Future Research Recommendations.
This assignment is designed to assist students in developing the
following course performance objectives:
1. Performing and Understanding Research
2. Written Communication Skills
3. Critical Thinking/Problem-solving/Decisionmaking/Information Literacy
4. Ethics/Diversity
5. Teams/Leadership
8
 Weekly Overview: Course
Review
 Compare, Contrast and
Integrate Course Learning;
o Summary and
PowerPoint.
 Review:
o All articles
o Hatch text, all
chapters read
o Senge text, all
Chapters read
o Shafritz, Ott &
Final Papers and PowerPoints (email submission) due to professor
at, or before,
Midnight, the last day of Module 8.
Assignment #8.1
 Evaluate the usefulness of this course to you in terms of professional
value. What was useful, what could be improved? Also choose 6 of
the course objectives and describe the value of your learning in
terms of leadership skill set, theory and practice. Post this
assignment to the Discussion Board, no later than the last day of this
course.
Page 10
Jang text, all
chapters read
Assignment #8.2
 Discussion of PowerPoint Presentations
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Grading Criteria
Grading Scale
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CF
100 – 93
92 – 90
89 – 88
87 – 83
82 – 80
79 – 78
77 – 73
72 – 70
69 and below
Grading requirements
Attendance/participation
Weekly Assignments
Final paper
Optional
Optional
25%
20%
35%
10%
10%
100%
Library:
All resources in Argosy University’s online collection are available through the Internet. The campus librarian will provide students
with links, user IDs, and passwords.
Library Resources: Argosy University’s core online collection features nearly 21,000 full-text journals and 23,000 electronic books
and other content covering all academic subject areas including Business & Economics, Career & General Education, Computers,
Engineering & Applied Science, Humanities, Science, Medicine & Allied Health, and Social & Behavior Sciences. Many titles are
directly accessible through the Online Public Access Catalog at http://library.argosy.edu. Detailed descriptions of online resources are
located at http://library.argosy.edu/misc/onlinedblist.html.
In addition to online resources, Argosy University’s onsite collections contain a wealth of subject-specific research materials
searchable in the Online Public Access Catalog. Catalog searching is easily limited to individual campus collections. Alternatively,
students can search combined collections of all Argosy University Libraries. Students are encouraged to seek research and reference
assistance from campus librarians.
Information Literacy: Argosy University’s Information Literacy Tutorial was developed to teach students fundamental and
transferable research skills. The tutorial consists of five modules where students learn to select sources appropriate for academic-level
research, search periodical indexes and search engines, and evaluate and cite information. In the tutorial, students study concepts and
practice them through interactions. At the conclusion of each module, they can test their comprehension and receive immediate
feedback. Each module takes less than 20 minutes to complete. Please view the tutorial at http://library.argosy.edu/infolit/
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Academic Policies
Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism: In an effort to foster a spirit of honesty and integrity during the learning process, Argosy University
requires that the submission of all course assignments represent the original work produced by that student. All sources must be
documented through normal scholarly references/citations and all work must be submitted using the Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association, 5th Edition (2001). Washington DC: American Psychological Association (APA) format. Please
refer to Appendix A in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition for thesis and paper format.
Students are encouraged to purchase this manual (required in some courses) and become familiar with its content as well as consult
the Argosy University catalog for further information regarding academic dishonesty and plagiarism.
Scholarly writing: The faculty at Argosy University is dedicated to providing a learning environment that supports scholarly and
ethical writing, free from academic dishonesty and plagiarism. This includes the proper and appropriate referencing of all sources.
You may be asked to submit your course assignments through “Turnitin,” (www.turnitin.com), an online resource established to help
educators develop writing/research skills and detect potential cases of academic dishonesty. Turnitin compares submitted papers to
billions of pages of content and provides a comparison report to your instructor. This comparison detects papers that share common
information and duplicative language.
Americans with Disabilities Act Policy
It is the policy of Argosy University to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities, in accordance with
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a student with disabilities needs accommodations, the student must notify the Director
of Student Services. Procedures for documenting student disability and the development of reasonable accommodations will be
provided to the student upon request.
Students will be notified by the Director of Student Services when each request for accommodation is approved or denied in writing
via a designated form. To receive accommodation in class, it is the student’s responsibility to present the form (at his or her
discretion) to the instructor. In an effort to protect student privacy, the Department of Student Services will not discuss the
accommodation needs of any student with instructors. Faculty may not make accommodations for individuals who have not been
approved in this manner.
The Argosy University Statement Regarding Diversity
Argosy University prepares students to serve populations with diverse social, ethnic, economic, and educational experiences. Both the
academic and training curricula are designed to provide an environment in which students can develop the skills and attitudes essential
to working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
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