Sociology of Organisations

Recommended Prerequisites

As this is an optional curricular unit for several FEUC courses (and not just FEUC), it is important for students to be able to bring themes related to the life of organisations from different scientific areas into the field of sociology.

Teaching Methods

The teaching method of this curricular unit is face-to-face. Classes present a theoretical-practical profile, based on contextualising themes and issues related to the life of organisations. Prior reading of the texts under discussion is crucial so that each student can contribute to the dynamisation of class debates. Since the course is based on periodic assessment (see assessment method below), strong class attendance is expected, as this is the only way to reinforce the participation component.

Learning Outcomes

General objectives:
Understanding the decisive role of the social, cultural, political and symbolic dimensions of organisations.
Specific objectives:
- Understand individual and collective dynamics;
- Understand the role of people as ‘resources’ and the factors surrounding the formation of identities and motivations at work;
- Identify power relations (formal and informal);
- Characterise negotiation and conflict processes;
- Analysinf organisational culture;
- Identify mechanisms leadership and change
Generic competences
Systemic: identification and general characterisation of issues related to the sociology of organisations.
Specific competences
Instrumental: cognitive (reading and learning), methodological (combination of methodological tools and forms of assessment), linguistic (oral presentation and written synthesis of programme topics);
Interpersonal: participation (individual and/or group) in classes.

This course articulates with the UN's SDGs 4 and 8.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. The organization, the individual and the group. 2. The identity, people and work at the organizations. 3. The actor and the system: power relations and strategic analysis. 4. Conflict, negotiation and associative strategies. 5. The role of culture in organizations. 6. Leadership and organizational development.

Assessment Methods

Final Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Continuous Assessment
Written work during classes : 20.0%
Presentations in class: 30.0%
Midterm exam : 50.0%

Bibliography

Bernoux, Philippe (2004), Sociologie du changement: dans les entreprises e les organisations. Paris: Éditions du Seuil
Caetano, António; Neves, José Gonçalves das; Ferreira, José Maria Carvalho (2020), Psicossociologia das Organizações - Fundamentos e Aplicações. Lisboa: Edições Sílabo.
Edgell, Stephen; Gottfried, Heidi; Granter, Edward (eds.) (2016), The sage handbook of sociology of work and employment. London: Sage.
Ferreira, Aristides I.; Martinez, Luís F. (2023). Manual de Diagnóstico e Mudança Organizacional (2.ª edição revista e aumentada). Lisboa: RH Editora.
Godwyn, Mary (ed.) (2022), Research Handbook on the Sociology of Organizations. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Luoma-aho, Vilma; Badham, Mark (2023), Handbook on Digital Corporate Communication. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
Thompson, Neil (2024), Authentic leadership revisited. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing