Organizations and Strategy Specializations

The Ph.D. with a major in Organizations & Strategy involves the study of organizations, the individuals and groups who participate in them, the role and problems of general managers, and the larger social and economic context in which organizations operate. Students within the Organizations & Strategy specialization will be exposed to literatures drawn from both Organization Science and Strategic Management, and then will concentrate their doctoral studies in one of these two areas.

Organization Science Concentration

Organization Science encompasses a wide variety of topics including individual, group, and organizational decision making, the management of human resources, and the design of organizations and inter-organizational networks. Current faculty research interests include:

• individual and group responses to ethical dilemmas in organizations
• conflict resolution and negotiation
• designing effective organization structures
• the changing nature of work and alternative pay systems
• organizational salary structures and promotion paths
• cultures in organizations and work/family issues
• the psychology of judgments and decision making by members of organizations
• organizational decision making
• psychological attachments between individuals and organizations
• effects of the legal environment on organizational adaptability and learning
• organizational change

Strategic Management Concentration

Strategic Management is concerned with the role and problems of general managers, studied from the perspective of those managers. General managers are, in turn, those individuals responsible for entire businesses or multifunctional business units. Examples of major topics studied in this area include:

• strategy formulation and implementation
• strategic decision processes
• executive compensation
• diversification
• competitive strategy
• industry analysis
• selection and behavior of general managers
• the composition and processes of top management teams
• relationships between CEOs and boards of directors

Because of the wide range of rich topics pursued in both the Organization Science and the Strategic Management areas, research in this field frequently builds on contributions from diverse disciplines, including sociology, psychology, communications, industrial organization economics, political science, anthropology, and decision theory. In addition, a wide variety of research designs are used and mastery of both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques is essential. The formal training pro gram begins with coursework. However, the program emphasizes early and continued involvement in collaborative research projects with faculty. A list of current faculty publications is available upon request. Specific program requirements are outlined below.

Major Area Requirements:

Organizations & Strategy area students must take three core courses: MAN. 390.2 - Introduction to Research Methods in Management; MAN. 390.5 - Organizational Theory and Design; and MAN. 393.2 - Contemporary Issues in Strategic Management. These courses should be taken upon entry into the program.

 

Organization Science:

Students concentrating in Organization Science are also required to take MAN 390.4 - Seminar in Organizational Behavior.

 

Strategic Management:

Students concentrating in Strategic Management are required to take MAN 390.4 or a course approved by the faculty.

 

Electives:

Students must take a minimum of two formal courses in their respective concentration (Organization Science or Strategic Management), as well as two courses outside the Department (e.g., Sociology, Psychology, Economics).

 

Statistics/Methodology Requirement:

Each student must take a minimum of three advanced statistics/methodology courses in addition to MAN. 390.2, Introduction to Research Methods in Management.

 

Research Colloquium:

Students are required to register for either MAN 390.1, Research in Organizational Science, or MAN 393.3, Research in Strategic Management after they have advanced to candidacy. Attendance at the colloquium will be required for all students, regardless of whether or not they are registered for the course.

 

Research Requirement:

By the end of the first summer that the student is enrolled in the Organizations & Strategy specialization, s/he must design an empirical research study and describe this design in a research proposal. The student should arrange to receive general guidance in this endeavor from two of the area faculty, but the design and proposal are to be the individual student's work. The proposal will be evaluated by two faculty members and will be used to assess each student's progress in the doctoral program. It may include material contained in papers used to fulfill previous course requirements.

 

Other Requirements:

For students concentrating in Strategic Management, it is critical for them to be familiar with all functional areas of business. Demonstrated competence could be achieved through significant work experience, or through an MBA degree.

 

Examination:

A written Comprehensive Examination composed of two parts will be administered by the area faculty: (1) Generals - covering the content area of Organization Science or Strategic Management, and (2) Research Methodology. The examination is normally offered in August. Both parts must be taken at a single offering and, unless a written exception is granted, must be taken at the end of the second year that the student is enrolled in the Organizations & Strategy specialization.

 

Dissertation:

A successful oral presentation of an extensive dissertation proposal is required after admission to candidacy. The final examination will be an oral defense of the completed dissertation. Both of these oral presentations are open to all members of t he Department faculty and must meet the approval of the student's dissertation committee.

For Additional Information or to Request an Application Please Contact:
chris.scherwin@mccombs.utexas.edu