Sociology of Work and Occupations

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

A total of 120 hours

SOCI20011 Organisations, Power and Society

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject will undertake a critical analysis of the structure and behaviour of organisations in modern society. It will engage with the theoretical debates and empirical research that focus on different organisational forms and management approaches, notably bureaucracy, scientific management, and the human relations and institutional schools of thought. Moreover, it will explore the intricacies of organisational partnerships by examining government and private enterprise relationships, and government and NGO relationships. Finally, the subject will critically analyse the role and behaviour of micro-level actors embedded in the organisation, such as ethnic minorities, women and the professional. By engaging with the subject's discourse and the various modes of analysis we will come to see organisations as contested sites of power and authority.

On completion of this subject students should:

• be able to understand the contemporary theoretical and empirical sociological approaches to organisations;
• develop an intimate understanding of organisational partnerships within modern society;
• be able to critically analyse the behaviour and relationships of micro-level actors with various organisational forms;
• have a good knowledge of research on global and comparative organisational practices;
• be able to critically engage with research on organisations that uses sociological research methods.

A take-home test of 1000 words (25%) due early-semester, a take-home test of 1000 words (25%) due mid-semester, and a A research essay of 2000 words (50%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: This subject has a minimum Hurdle Requirement of 75% Tutorial attendance. Regular participation in tutorials is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A Subject Reader will be available from the subject’s LMS site.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

• Research Skills - developing a range of research skills, from library to internet-based research.
• Thinking Theoretically - learning how to critically engage with the theoretical approaches introduced in this subject both in written assessments and tutorial discussions.
• Thinking Creatively - constructing questions, developing arguments, and exploring ideas beyond that which is presented in lectures and reading material.
• Analytical Skills - developing basic reading and analysis skills through weekly tutorial quizzes on assigned reading material.
• Written Communication - developing writing skills through essay preparation and composition.
• Oral Presentation and Co-operative Learning - building the confidence to participate in the context of group discussions.
• Time Management and Planning - learning how to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and examination revision.