Inter- and intra-organisational decision making

Organizations, whether large or small, public or private, old or new, make decisions on a daily basis. Organizations are comprised of individuals, and individuals can make around 35,000 decisions a day! What are some of the bases of individual decisions, how does this impact organisations and how does the wider societal context impact individual and organisation decisions? We may wish to believe that organisation decisions are well-planned and based on sufficient information. However, information is often incomplete and contested, and competing interests are involved, which make the decision process appear chaotic. The decision-makers, or individuals in organisations, also make these decisions based on their positionality, that is their social position and power. Decisions are also impacted by individual and societal biases which impact organisational decision-making

This course aims to help you realize that individual and organisational decisions whether internal or among them cannot be made purely with a rational problem-solving approach. The teaching team will introduce you to the theories that describe how decisions are made in practice, and why they are made this way. You will learn strategies to manage multiple actors in the decision process, while consider wider societal implications.

To support your reflexive learning process, you are asked to complete 3 main assignments. You need to pass each of the following three components to pass the course. The minimum passing grade is 5.8 for each component.

1. Short individual refection (pass/fail assessed by TA and module manager): 15% to apply theoretical knowledge and motivate active participation and application of course materials (5 in-class group assignments worth 3% each). After each lecture you have time to discuss the lecture content through a group assignment with your peers (4-5 people). You are then asked to submit an individual short reflection based on your discussion with your peers. This is to be submit by the end of the day for a pass/fail grade. There will be a total of 5 assignments opportunities offered. You are encouraged to submit your reflection at the end of each in-class. Assignment. The deadline for your assignment submission is the next day of the lecture by 5:00pm.

2. Individual assignment (marked by TAs): 35% towards the end of the course, you are asked to apply reflexive thinking to at least one conceptual framework discussed in class to explore how individual, intra- and interorganizational decision-making approaches helps/hinders addressing a real world wicked problem of your choosing.

3. Group paper (marked by the module manager/instructor): 50% to assess the ability to apply theory to a real-world problem and to write a well-argued research paper in a team environment.

To pass the group paper you must submit your topic for approval on time. The group paper assignment is explained in separate documents on Brightspace in more detail. The weekly participation assignments are also explained on Brightspace in each assignment’s description.

Students repeating the course can take part in the components they need to improve (group report and/individual assignment).