Organisation Structures and Processes

The Open Learning Foundation is the author of Organisation Structures and Processes: An Active Learning Approach, published by Wiley.

• Introduction. Section I: Identifying Structures:.1. Nature of organisations:.What is an organisation?.Organisational structures.Understanding an organisation's design.Organisational goals and effectiveness.2. Designing an organisation's structure:.Differentiation.Hierarchy.Grouping activities.Integration.Control.Section II: Changing Structures:.1. Organisational structures:.Types of organisational structure.Life cycle of the organisation structure.Authority, power and control.The future.2. Organisational change and its management.Sources of innovation and change.Planned organisational change and the environment.Resistance to change.Technology and change.Section III: Communicating in Organisations:.1. Communication systems.Communication.Models of communication.Channels and networks.Principal communication media.Feedback and control.Communication, information and technology.2. Communication and the organisation.Organisational concerns with information.Communication and organisation structure.Communicating change and culture.Increasing efficiency of information and communication.Section IV: Identifying and Changing Organisational Culture:.1. Organisational culture.Characteristics of organisational culture.Types of organisational culture.2. Culture in action.What determines specific organisational cultures?.Functions of organisational cultures.Social responsibility and organisational culture.Planning culture diversity.3. Culture and change.Strength of an organisational culture.Managing culture.Organisational culture change.Models for understanding culture change.Managing culture change.Section V: Resources:.Trevor Thompson Company.The crisis of leadership at Apple Computer.Chrysler's new team structure.Reorganizing the organisation.Culture and performance at Jaguar Cars.