Sociology of Administration

Study:
Code:	61363
ECTS:	4.0
Course coordinators:

Literature:

Description:

The development of sociology of administration
The emergence of sociology of administration and its position in the system of administrative sciences. Specific features of sociology of administration and its relation to general sociology. The relation of sociology of administration, political sociology and sociology of law. Max Weber's theory of bureaucracy. The classical school of administrative technique. The school of "human relations". Functionalist criticism of Weber's bureaucratic model (dysfunction of bureaucracy). The criticism of rationality of organisation. Modern perspectives in sociology of administration: theory of decision-making, theory of power and domination, theory of exchange, cybernetic theory, theory of system. Post-modern theoretical approaches: theory of communication, cultural approach, institutional and new institutional approach, new evolutionism, theory of determinist chaos, feminist approach etc.

Administrative organisation as a social system
The individual in an organisation. Behaviour, role, conflict of roles. Motives, needs, interests, values. Theories of motivation and models of motivation.
Group behaviour in the organisation. Individual motives and group goals. Cohesion and control in the group. Communication in small groups. Leadership and leadership styles in the group. Participation and productivity in the group.
Organisational structure. Formal and informal structure. The influence of size, technology, surrounding, culture and communication on the organisation structure. Dysfunction of hierarchical structure. The theory of the development of co-operative relations. New structural forms.
Power in organisation. The concept of influence and power. Foundations and types of power. Intensity, sphere and scope of power. Control of uncertainty as a source of power in the organisation. Research of power in the organisation.
Conflict in the organisation. The concept and types of conflicts. Different views on conflicts. Conflict and co-operation. Manners of conflict resolution. Contemporary theoretical models and empirical research of conflicts.
Decision-making in the organisation. The concept and kinds of decision-making. The classic model of decision-making and its criticism. Formalised decision-making processes. Contemporary descriptive decision-making models.
Communications in the organisation. Communication channels. Communication system and communication network. Characteristics of the communication network. Communication styles and practice. Communication and power. Communication and governance. Communication and management.
Organisational culture. Types of organisational culture. Organisational culture and communications. Organisational culture and public management.
Leadership in the organisation. Theoretical basis of management. Management in public administration. Functions, role and styles of managers.
Differentiation and pluralism of the approach to the study of administrative organisations. Pluralism of approaches as a theoretical and practical advantage.

Public administration in social surrounding
The relation between the public administration and citizens. The development of the relation between the public administration and citizens. The differentiation of the role of citizens towards the administration (subject, source of power, user, associate, consumer of public services). Public quality of administration. The doctrine of public relations and its application in public administration (spokesperson as a new administrative function, the administration and media etc). The participation of citizens in the work, creation of public policies and administrative decisions. Organisation of citizens in the relations with the public administration. Civil society. Public perception and public opinion of the state administration, public services and local self-government.
The administration in local community. The concept of local community. Local identifications and local self-government. Urbanisation and administration (the process of stratification and segmentisation). The influence of urbanisation on decentralisation. Regionalism, regionalisation and multi-level governance.
The role of administration in the political system. Ruling political parties and public administration. Public administration in the democratic political system. The administration as the footing of the non-democratic government. Political control of the administration.

Cognitive Skills:

After successfully completing the course, students will be able to:

A.a. Knowledge and understanding

1. Describe the development of the organisation theory and identify basic theoretical approaches to organisation

2. Explain the concept of bureaucracy and bureaucratic dysfunctions

3. Identify basic social changes that affect the administration and their reflection in new values, administrative doctrines and reforms

4. Explain the structure of an organisation, especially its types, factors of influence, cooperative relations and new structural forms

5. Describe the phenomenon of organisational communication and types of organisational culture

6. Describe and explain the role of ethics in administration and professionalism of civil servants in the functioning of an administrative organisationž7. Define and explain relations between the citizens and administration

A.b. Application

1. Interpret the settings of different directions of the theory of organisation and the concept of bureaucracy

2. Demonstrate the application of acquired knowledge about different organisational variables on examples

3. Select and apply theoretical settings about organisational communication, organisational culture and structure

4. Demonstrate and practically apply acquired theoretical knowledge for solving problems in administration

A.c. Analysis

1. Distinguish basic directions and approaches to the study of organisation

2. Analyse basic social changes that influence the administration and their reflection in new values, administrative doctrines and reforms, as well as in the relation between the citizens and administration

3. Explain and interpret the role of regulation and law as the instruments of administration and factors of influence on the administration, and explain the role of political leadership on administrative organisations

4. Recognise and interpret specific values and moddalities of development in public administration in countries in transition

5. Connect organisational variables and analyse their interdependence

A.d. Synthesis

1. Give examples of the position and activity of individuals and groups in an organisation

2. Formulate elements of organisational structure appropriate for the realisation of certain organisational aims

3. Prepare theses about interdepedneance of different organisational variables

A.e. Evaluation

1. Examine basic tenets of different directions of the study of organisation

2. Evaluate the role of law in administration

3. Assess and compare the role of individual organisational variables in administrative organisations

4. Evaluate value aspects of public administration and recommend their application in concrete cases

Practical and Generic Skills:

After successfully completing the course, students will be able to:

1. publicly present acquired learing outcomes

2. actively monitor and analyse the development of individual sociological phenomena in administration (professionalisation, ethics, culture, values, leadership etc.)

3. adequately present and express their own standpoints and opinions about different organisational variables and their implications to concrete organisations

Matching Assessments to Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge is tested by an oral examination and written paper.

1. Oral examination

The oral examination consists of testing the application of basic concepts and phenomena of the sociology of administration, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of acquired knowledge (learning outcomes A.a - A.e).

2. Written paper

The written paper consists of defining, categorizing and explaining basic concepts and phenomena in the sociology of administration, recognition and grouping determined phenomena in an organization (learning outcomes A.a-A.c).

Consultations schedule: