Lecture 3 "Extreme" theories

Lecture 3 "Extreme" theories

Different from the theories based on rationalism, in Lecture 3 you will learn the "extreme” theories. They are called "extreme”, because they challenge our predominant thinking and sometimes seem to be rather radical. The basic assumption of "extreme” theories is that people are not fully rational. Therefore, there is no one best possible way to optimize the organisation. Listen to students' discussion about the argument, that schools migh be anarchistic. In the last part, you will learn the garbage can model. This phenomenon is commonly seen in highly professional organisation such as university, where the problem and solution accidentally meet each other in decision making process.

Before any lecture either open or save to your computer the assigned PowerPoint presentations.

Assignment before the lecture: None.

Open or save the PowerPoint slides related to this lecture EDLS011_S1_L3.pdf

Listen to the lecture, and afterwards do the assignment given below.


Write your personal learning experiences into your personal Reflective report. The Reflective report for Session 1 will be submitted in one file after Lecture 4.<p="color:">

Assignment after the lecture: Do the following.

From your point of view, are schools anarchistic? Why or why not? Make some comments on your Reflective report.

Suggested further reading:

Read Tosi's commentary on Simon & March's article. Tosi, H. L. James March and Herbert Simon. Organizations.
http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/27411_7.pdf

Read the article by Cohen, March, Olsen (1972). A garbage can model of organizational choice. Administrative Science Quarterly. Vol 17. No. 1.