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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Organizational Analysis by Stanford University

4.6
stars
1,651 ratings

About the Course

In this introductory, self-paced course, you will learn multiple theories of organizational behavior and apply them to actual cases of organizational change. Organizations are groups whose members coordinate their behaviors in order to accomplish a shared goal. They can be found nearly everywhere in today’s society: universities, start-ups, classrooms, hospitals, non-profits, government bureaus, corporations, restaurants, grocery stores, and professional associations are some of many examples of organizations. Organizations are as varied and complex as they are ubiquitous: they differ in size and internal structure; they can entail a multiplicity of goals and tasks (some of which are planned and others unplanned!); they are made up of individuals whose goals and motivations may differ from those of the group; and they must interact with other organizations and deal with environmental constraints in order to be successful. This complexity frequently results in a myriad of problems for organizational participants and the organization’s survival. In this course, we will use organizational theories to systematically analyze how an organization operates and can best be managed. Organizational theories highlight certain features of an organization’s structure and environment, as well as its processes of negotiation, production, and change. Each provides a lens for interpreting novel organizational situations and developing a sense for how individual and group behaviors are organized. Theories are valuable for the analyst and manager because most organizational problems are unique to the circumstances and cannot be solved by simple rules of thumb. Armed with a toolset of organizational theories, you will be able to systematically identify important features of an organization and the events transforming it; choose a theoretical framework most applicable to the observed mode of organizing; and use that theory to determine which actions will best redirect the organization in desired directions. In sum, the course has three goals: to become familiar with a series of real-world organizational phenomena; to learn different theoretical perspectives that can elucidate these phenomena; and to apply these different ways of “seeing” and managing organizations to cases. In such a fashion, the course is designed to actively bridge theory and practice, exposing students to a variety of conceptual tools and ways to negotiate novel situations....

Top reviews

MT

Apr 11, 2022

Best course for understanding organisations and a lot about it....loved every part of it! The way things were explained it was so easy to understand..Thank you to the faculty!!

MK

Mar 21, 2024

This course expanded my thought process beyond organizational change. Organizational creation and stability are now included in my engagement model. Thank you Professor McFarland, team and partners.

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326 - 350 of 477 Reviews for Organizational Analysis

By Sultan M A

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Jul 24, 2023

good course and useful

By Yosor A A

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Jul 5, 2025

the course is amazing

By A B

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Aug 21, 2024

It was great course !

By Rashad S

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Apr 16, 2024

life changing course!

By Avaz M

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Sep 9, 2022

An excellent course.

By Arunachalam R

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Jul 27, 2021

EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE

By MD. A A

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Feb 10, 2018

great course indeed.

By Milad J

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Sep 16, 2017

very helpful course

By Joe M

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Feb 12, 2017

Enjoyed the course!

By Javier F S

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Jan 11, 2025

Curso muy completo

By M N A R

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Jul 7, 2017

helpfull thanks !

By Dr J W L

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Jun 16, 2017

The lecture was e

By berna y

•

Sep 5, 2023

I just loved it!

By Claudio T

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Nov 19, 2021

Excellent course

By ViBiN V

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Nov 13, 2020

Very informative

By Venkateswararaju B

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Oct 31, 2020

Excellent course

By Carlos M

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Sep 11, 2020

Excelent course.

By Robert B C

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Jan 15, 2018

Excellent course

By Nikita K

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Jan 11, 2018

So informative!!

By Rajan S

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Mar 7, 2017

Excellent Course

By Billy H

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Sep 5, 2021

This is tough.

By Kevin E G V

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Aug 31, 2020

EXCELENTE CURSO

By Franco D H F

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May 21, 2020

Excelente curso

By Ajay C

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Dec 27, 2024

Great Learning