SOC 3740 A01: Complex Organization < Youngstown State University

SOC 3740 - Complex Organizations

Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section A01, CRN 43180,
Credit hours: 3

Course Meeting Times

Instructor

James Tague

Email: jetague@ysu.edu

Public Instructor Information

Instructor Title: Professor
Instructor Professional Qualifications:

Master’s, Sociology, St. John’s University, 2018

Bachelor’s, International Relations, Seton Hall University, 2017

Bachlor’s, Philosophy, Seton Hall University, 2017

Instructor Office Location: n/a
Instructor Office Phone: 610-612-6448

Private Instructor Information

Course Description

3740. Complex Organizations. Structures and processes of large-scale organizations: leadership, control techniques, tensions, bureaucratic pathologies, organizational change. Prereq.: SOC 1500. 3 s.h.

Course Readings

Group	Title	Author	ISBN
Required	Complex Organizations: A Critical Essay	Charles Perrow	978-1626549029

Perrow, C. (2014). Complex organizations: A critical essay (3rd ed.). Echo Point Books & Media.

The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.

Additional Course Materials

Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives/Goals

How to Succeed in This Course

Attendance Expectations

Late Work Submission Policy

Additional Course Expectations

Artificial Intelligence Policy Statement

Assignments/Assessments

Grading and Grading Scale

University Policies

Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Week of	Reading(s)	Proposed Topic	Due/To Prepare for Class
10/19	Complex Organizations Chapter 1: Why Bureaucracy? Supplementary readings and videos.	Student Introductions Why Bureaucracy? Discussion Bureaucratic Organizational Chart Assignment	October 25th
10/26	Complex Organizations Chapter 2: Managerial Ideologies and the Origins of the Human Relations Movement Complex Organizations Chapter 3: The Human Relations Model Supplementary readings and videos.	Managerial Ideologies Discussion Human Relations Video Analysis Assignment	November 1st
11/2	Complex Organizations Chapter 4: The Neo-Weberian Model: Decision Making, Conflict, and Technology Supplementary readings and videos.	Systems and Dysfunction Discussion Video Analysis of Organizational Decision-Making and Conflict Assignment.	November 8th
11/9	Complex Organizations Chapter 5: The Institutional School Supplementary readings and videos.	Institutional Norms Discussion Draft and Outline for Final Paper	November 15th
11/16	Complex Organizations Chapter 6: The Environment Supplementary readings and videos.	Environmental Constraints Discussion Environmental Forces Presentation Assignment	November 22nd
11/23	Complex Organizations Chapter 7: Economic Theories of Organization Supplementary readings and videos.	Transaction-CostTheory Discussion Economic Models Comparison Worksheet Assignment	November 29th
11/30	Complex Organizations Chapter 8: Power in Organizational Analysis: Illustrations, Summary, and Conclusions Supplementary readings and videos.	Power in Organizations Discussion Final Cumulative Research Paper	December 6th

The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.

SOC 3740 A01: Complex Organization