Instructions on Assessment:

Submit a 3000 word structured essay, in which you critically evaluate the practices/behaviours in an organisation of your choice. You will research the organisation to identify practices/behaviours that are problematic and require investigation as well as recommendations to attend to the issues identified.

You will write from either the symbolic or contemporary theoretical perspectives, using Organisation Theory from the most relevant theme taught in the module. The perspective needs to be carried through the assignment and present through every section.

The themes that we will cover in the module are:

• Structure and Agency
• Identity
• Culture
• Organisational Learning, Tacit Knowledge and Knowledge Management
• Aesthetics, Performance and Narrative
• Power and Control
• Gender

Guidance for writing the essay

You are encouraged to structure your essay as follows:

• Introduction to the essay and rationale for the choice of organisation [10%]
• A brief section justifying your choice of theoretical perspective: either the symbolic or the contemporary and how this impacts on your writing approach
• A critical literature review on the one theme that you consider to have the greatest importance for that organisation, using either the symbolic or the contemporary theoretical perspective as your context
• Critical evaluation of the practices/behaviours of the case organisation in relation to the selected theme through critical application of the reviewed theories

Guidance for choice of the organisation

You can select an organisation you are familiar with, e.g. your placement organisation or an organisation you would like to work with. You can alternatively select one of the following organisations:

• OXFAM https://www.oxfam.org.uk/
• British Cycling https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/
• Zara https://www.zara.com/
• Tesla https://www.tesla.com
• Tyneside Cinema https://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/
• HSBC https://www.hsbc.com.hk/