• Gmür Markus

• Lang Bernhard

The course is a mix of lecture and case study work. It is based on a selection of texts that are to be prepared for the classes. Students join groups of 3-5 members and choose a real case study example of an organisation during a crisis or a fundamental change. They analyse the case referring to theories and concepts from the lectures and based on published information.

Major topics:
• Organization Theories of Change
• Methodological Issues in the Research of Organizational Change
• The Multidimensional Analysis of Organizational Change
• Institutions and NPO Change
• Individual and Organizational Sensemaking in Crisis Situations
• Structural Change During Disasters
• Organizational Change Management in NPO
• The Role of Leadership During Change Processes
• Organizational Decision-Making in Crisis Situations
• Risk Management in NPO

Students get an overview on relevant theories and concepts of organisational crisis and change in organisations beyond profit orientation.

From the practical point of view we will focus on:
- emerging organisations after catastrophic events
- stages of organisational development under conditions of threat and uncertainty
- structural resistance against change in mature organisations
- factors of success and of institutionalized management of organisational crises

Attendance for the first lecture is absolutely mandatory. Students who are not able to attend the first lecture are requested to send a mail to Prof. Gmür for registering for the course until Friday of the first week of lectures. The mail address is: markus.gmuer@unifr.ch. Late registrations will not be accepted.

The course is based on a wide range of research papers. A collection of selected paper will be provided as a reader.

Selected readings:
- Demers, C. (2007) Organizational change theories. London.
- Jones, G. (2006) Organizational theory, design and change. Englewood Cliffs (5th ed.)
- Morgan, G. (2006) Images of organization. Thousand Oaks (4th ed.)
- Gmür, M. (1996) Normale Krisen: Unsicherheit als Managementproblem. Bern/Stuttgart/Wien.
- Meyer, M.W./Zucker, L.G. (1989) Permanently failing organizations. London

Students are expected to attend all the classes and to participate actively in class discussion and case study work.

Grading is based on two elements:
- 40% Mid-term exam, essay style, based on the main topics from the
  mandatory readings.
- 60% Group presentation of a case analysis
   (free choice of an organisation for a team of 3-5 students)

Course with continuous evaluation: after the registration period, you can no longer cancel your registration (see session calendar on the Faculty's website).

Exam duration: 90 min.

Only as a retake exam