Learning outcomes: After the course, students will
- be able to distinguish between different approaches to organizational culture, and to understand the methodological implications of interpretative conceptualizations of culture when engaging in the study of organizations and organizing
- understand the main currents and traditions in organizational ethnography as well as the main challenges facing the ethnographer in organizational settings
- be better equipped to employ analytical approaches such as narrative method and symbolic and spatial analysis in his or her research project
- be offered methodological insights from the experiences of senior researchers as well as from the presentations of other doctoral students

Time and place:
Thu-Fri 18.-19.10.2012 at 10-16 o'clock in Room LS A2A Main building

Aims: The aim of this course is to familiarize the student with some of the main cultural approaches to organizational analysis. Module focuses on field work methods such as organizational ethnography, the study of symbols, artifacts and space and narrative analysis. Attention is also devoted to the connections between theory and method, especially to the various traditions and development of the concept of organizational culture. Course suits doctoral students across various disciplines employing qualitative field work methods in organizational settings.

Course schedule:

Thursday 18.10.2012:

10.00 – 10.10  Welcome and introduction (Tuomo Peltonen)
10.10- 11.30  Concepts of culture and organizational analysis (Anni Paalumäki & Tuomo Peltonen)
11.30-12.15 Traditions in organizational ethnography (Tuomo Peltonen)
12.15.-13.15 Lunch
13.15.-  14.15 Experiences from a study of artefacts: Case SOL (Anni Paalumäki)
14.15.- 14.30 Coffee Break
14.30 – 16. 00 Discussion of students’ projects

Friday 19.10.2012

10.00 -12.00 Narrative approach to organization studies and leadership (Tommi Auvinen)
12.00- 13.00  Lunch
13.00 – 14.00 Narrative approach to organization studies and leadership (Tommi Auvinen)
14.00- 14.15  Coffee Break
14.15- 16.00 Discussion of students’ projects

Teachers: Professor, Dr.Sc. (Econ.) Tuomo Peltonen; Dr.Sc. (Econ.) Anni Paalumäki, Lic. Sc. (Econ.) Tommi Auvinen

The student has to check the selection from NettiOpsu after the enrolment period.

3 credits

Pre-assignment in which students write:

- a short description of their research project
- what method they are using/planning to use
- willingness to present their work at the course

Pre-assignment is sent via Moodle by 8 October (https://learning2.uta.fi/course/view.php?id=732)

After the course students write an essay about their work and methods (more detailed info on the essay will be given during the course).

Course presentation gives one extra credit (4 credits in total)