PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS IN SOCIETY - SOC282 Spring 2025
Course

Syllabus and Project requirements.
Here is the course outline:
1. Week 1 - The individual, the group and institutions
Jan 30 11:15am .. 2pm, Room 326
Basic Introduction to the discipline and the course content; Institutions: an overview; Understand the concept of Institutions and why they are important to social scientists. |
2. Week 2- Continuation from Week 1; Understand the fundamental institutions in society
Feb 6 11:14am .. 1:59pm, Room 326
Understand and analyse how Institutions interact, their functions, and the ways in which they shape and govern our lives; Develop a critical understanding of family as an institution. |
3. Week 3- Social Institutions, Understanding the structure of social institutions
Feb 13 11:15am .. 2pm, Room 327
--Develop a critical understanding of key Institutions, such as religion education and work. - Interdependency of social institutions To understand the structure of social institutions. - Define the hierarchical structure with division of labor principle as it applies to formal institutions. |
4. Week 4 - Online Quiz- Understanding the foundation of structure and culture in organizations
Feb 20 11:15am .. 2pm
To understand the structure of social institutions. - Identify the features and functions of an organization chart - Understanding organization structure from different perspectives. Understand the concept of organizational culture - Understand ways of assessing and studying organizational culture Please check the link- Institutional Culture in Higher Education https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkOJRzkKV2M Finalise groups (for the group project) and post requests for topics; Discuss individual project. |
5. Week 5 - Understanding group and team behavior in institutions
Feb 27 11:30am .. 2:15pm, MT
- Explain what a work team is and be able to distinguish between real teams and other organizational groupings. - Understand and examine the relationships between teamworking and team member well-being, satisfaction, and organizational performance. - Understand how psychological theories relate to group and team behaviour. - Understand the processes that affect team performance and appreciate its distinct elements. - Explain why it is important to be able to manage conflict in teams. Half an hour class time assigned to work on projects. |
6. Week 6 - FIELD VISIT 1 (Czech National Bank)
Mar 6 11:16am .. 2:01pm
Aim is to understand the role of financial institution and its impact on people. Time of visit- 11:45 AM to 1:15 PM. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the tour. You can find more information on Visitor Centre web. |
7. Week 7 - Motivational factors, Perception, and Individual decision making
Mar 13 11:15am .. 2pm
- A framework for motivation theories, concepts, and its applications - Cognition and motivation - Treating people fairly: Justice and equity perspectives on motivation - Motivating people at work: Integrating theories of motivation. Reading: Chap. 5 (West & Woods); Chap. 7 & 8 (Ashleigh & Mansi) Midterm revision Part of class time assigned to work on group project proposal. |
8. Week 8 - MIDTERM EXAM
Mar 20 11:14am .. 1:59pm, Neo
All topics covered will be included in the midterm Each group to submit draft group project proposal to my email and on Neo (electronic) based on the template provided (Check on Neo under syllabus) by 23.00 hrs. (CET), March 20th |
9. Week 9 - Midterm Break- No class
Mar 27 11:15am .. 2pm
|
10. Week 10 - Individual assignment, Influence of power dynamics (if time permits)
Apr 3 11:16am .. 2:01pm
(1) Each student will make a ten-minute presentation, which will be online, followed by an open class discussion. Electronic copy to be uploaded on Neo. Hard copy of the paper to be submitted when in class. (2) Topic: Influence of power dynamics and politics- if time permits - Understand the sources of social power in institutions and organizations. - Understand the interaction patterns used by agents to bring about the target’s compliance with a particular request. - Tips for managing organization politics. Reading: Chap. 15 (Fellenz & Martin)- available on Neo Simulation exercise: Class and Power. A chance for you to confront the issues of resource distribution and stratification in our society. You and a group of other students will work up a highly detailed budget for an institution |
11. Week 11 - FIELD VISIT 2- RFE/RL
Apr 10 11:14am .. 1:59pm
Aim is to understand the role of the media as an institution. Deadlines: Each group to submit final group project proposal (electronic and hard copy) based on the template provided. |
12. Week 12- Inter group relations
Apr 17 11:16am .. 2:01pm
Compare and contrast different kinds of pro-social behavior; Analyse different explanations and motives for helping |
13. Week 13- Team Project Presentations
Apr 24 11:16am .. 2:01pm
Each group will make a 20 minutes presentation (final time to be decided based on size of group) to the class on a topic mutually agreed. Both electronic and hard copy of the Group Report and other required material to be submitted. |
14. May 1st & May 8th - State holidays
May 1
No classes will be held on these days. Classes have been adjusted. |
15. Week 14- Final Exam
May 15 11:15am .. 2pm
Cumulative- All topics covered in the class will be included in the exam. All the best! |