WHAT INSIGHTS DOES A GIVEN THEORY OFFER TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF ORGANIZATIONAL SITUATIONS?

Read the following case:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html and discuss the following:

The marvels and monsters of Amazon: Whilst Amazon.com offers the impression of an exciting company to work for, recently it is described as a ‘bruising’ workplace. In this assignment, you will conduct a critical analysis of Amazon.com’s organisational practices by drawing on the literature related to two of the following UOP topics: Power & Politics and Organisational Structure (bureaucracy).

FORMAT

This is a 1500 word essay that requires independent research, evaluation and analysis of a topic(s) covered in the first part of the module.

Please note than in accordance with the university’s Word Count Policy, 1500 is the absolute maximum.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The main focus of assessment in UOP is based on 3 key elements and your work will be assessed against these criteria:

1. Knowledge: this is your ability to identify appropriate theories, to understand their purpose and what they mean and then your ability to demonstrate this knowledge in a scholarly manner.

Key Questions: Do you demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts that you have been taught to you in this module? I.e. In UOP lectures, the module textbook and core readings, in seminar activities and other relevant scholarly resources.

2. Analysis: this is working with theory in practice, making connections between what a given theory says and how it connects to the world of work. This is your ability to apply theory to organisational situations, experiences or events, and to use the theory to analyse and to understand them better.

Key Questions: What insights does a given theory offer to your understanding of organizational situations? How can you apply the theories you have learned to yourself, your own experience, the experience of others, to groups, and/ or to organisations so that it helps you to make sense or what is happening or might happen in the future?

3. Evaluation – this is your ability to make a judgement about the theories you have learned and used. This requires you toa adopt a questioning and critical approach rather than just an acceptance and description of concepts. This requires you to question concepts in the light of your experience of using them in your analysis – do they serve to explain, to enlighten, to predict? You can also offer ‘academic’ critique, recognising that ideas have context, assumptions, claims to knowledge and consequences and that others may have different or even opposing views.

Key Question: How do the ideas you have learned help you to understand behaviour in organisations? Does a given theory help you to think differently about organisations? How? Why? Why not? Are there different, and sometimes opposing, ways of thinking about organizational issues?