Organizational Sociology & Change Management

First study cycle, Bachelor

The participants:
• can name and classify key characteristics of organizations – membership, purpose and hierarchy.
• understand communication and the dynamics of communication patterns as a constitutive feature of organizations.
• understand organizations as decision-making systems and recognize the significance of decision premises and structural characteristics (programs, communication channels, personnel).
• differentiate the three sides of organizations (formal, informal, display side) and their interplay.
• use the meta-structure matrix to structure and interpret organizational dynamics and their management, especially in change projects.
• recognize organizational paradoxes and side effects and reflect on their significance from a systems-theory perspective.

none

• Key characteristics of organizations (membership, purpose, hierarchy)
• Decisions and decision premises
• The three sides of organizations (the formal side, the informal side and the display side)
• Structural characteristics of organizations (programs, communication channels, personnel)
• The meta-structure matrix of organizations
• Organizational development and change
• Paradoxes and side effects

• Dietrich, Peter (2025): Die Strukturmatrix. Organisationen strategisch steuern. FH Kufstein Tirol. Kufstein (improve - Praxisletter, 55).
• Kieser, Alfred et al. (Hg.): Organisationstheorien. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer (in der aktuellen Auflage).
• Kühl, Stefan: Organisationen. Eine sehr kurze Einführung. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. (in der aktuellen Auflage)
• Luhmann, Niklas: Organisation und Entscheidung. Wiesbaden: VS. (in der aktuellen Auflage)

Portfolio assessment

German

2

Blended learning

5