37 575 308 02 SP11 Ali
DYNAMICS OF WORK AND WORK ORGANIZATIONS
Course Number 37:575:308:02
Index #54661
Spring 2011
Class Times: Mondays, 7:15pm – 10:05pm
Class Location: Douglas Campus, Hickman Hall, Room 131
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
School of Management and Labor Relations
Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations
Instructor: Mohammad A. Ali
Office: Labor Education Center 156
Phone: 732-529-6161
Email: maali1969@gmail.com
COURSE OVERVIEW
Workplaces have changed in fundamental, and sometimes contradictory, ways over the last few decades. On one hand there has been an enormous growth in teamwork, involvement, communication, and other forms of “empowerment.” On the other hand, there has been an increase in restructuring and layoffs, even among white-collar or unionized employees who had long been secure. This course will examine the “dynamics” of these developments; that is, how they are experienced in daily work. We will focus less on organizational structures (which is at the core of the course Managing People at Work), and more on the functioning of teams and on work relations.
The course has two major parts. The first part will deal with the dynamics of traditional “blue-collar” and front-line sales work; the second with managerial and professional work. We will look at a number of cases of work reform, including quality circles, autonomous teams, and total quality management. We will discuss both the large organizational and social implications, and the more immediate questions of how to work most effectively in these environments. We will also examine in detail how to create effective teamwork. Finally, we will also consider how unions have responded to contemporary workplace developments. The class will be conducted as a mix of lecture, in-class group work, and class discussion.
GRADING RUBRIC & COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The final grades will be calculated as such:
CLASS PARTICIPATION:
WEEKLY HOMEWORK MEMOS:
SMALL GROUP CASE ANALYSIS:
MID-TERM EXAM
FINAL
Course Number 37:575:308:02
Index #54661
Spring 2011
Class Times: Mondays, 7:15pm – 10:05pm
Class Location: Douglas Campus, Hickman Hall, Room 131
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
School of Management and Labor Relations
Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations
Instructor: Mohammad A. Ali
Office: Labor Education Center 156
Phone: 732-529-6161
Email: maali1969@gmail.com
COURSE OVERVIEW
Workplaces have changed in fundamental, and sometimes contradictory, ways over the last few decades. On one hand there has been an enormous growth in teamwork, involvement, communication, and other forms of “empowerment.” On the other hand, there has been an increase in restructuring and layoffs, even among white-collar or unionized employees who had long been secure. This course will examine the “dynamics” of these developments; that is, how they are experienced in daily work. We will focus less on organizational structures (which is at the core of the course Managing People at Work), and more on the functioning of teams and on work relations.
The course has two major parts. The first part will deal with the dynamics of traditional “blue-collar” and front-line sales work; the second with managerial and professional work. We will look at a number of cases of work reform, including quality circles, autonomous teams, and total quality management. We will discuss both the large organizational and social implications, and the more immediate questions of how to work most effectively in these environments. We will also examine in detail how to create effective teamwork. Finally, we will also consider how unions have responded to contemporary workplace developments. The class will be conducted as a mix of lecture, in-class group work, and class discussion.
GRADING RUBRIC & COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The final grades will be calculated as such:
CLASS PARTICIPATION:
WEEKLY HOMEWORK MEMOS:
SMALL GROUP CASE ANALYSIS:
MID-TERM EXAM
FINAL