Organizational Theory for Profit and Purpose 7.5 credits

This course presents a spectrum of theories, concepts and models in the fields of organizational theory that broaden students’ understanding of purpose and profit. The course looks at purpose from beyond a profit-driven view and includes social, ecological and economical perspectives on what drives human organizing activity. The course provides frameworks to develop business models, partnerships, and/or joint ventures to eliminate poverty, inequalities and/or ecological deterioration, including: - organizing as an outcome of institutional logics for sustainability such as a purpose-driven logic, a business-driven logic (including a shareholder driven logic, a profit-driven logic, and a hybrid-driven logic, - organizing as an outcome of a sensemaking process for sustainability, - organizing as an outcome of an imprinting process for sustainability, - organizing as modelling sustainable enterprises, including NGOs and public-sector organizations, and - organizing for different markets – including the bottom of the pyramid and the lifestyle of health and sustainability. - problems and limitations of purely profit-driven purpose - problems and limitations of social and ecological approaches to organizational purpose **Connection to Research and Practice** The course is focused on organizational theories and sustainability and connects to research in this area by the following: - Connecting students with internal and external faculty who are research focused in the areas of organizational theories and sustainability through lectures and seminars. - Introducing students to the traditional and contemporary organizational theories in structural and human organizing