ORGANIZATIONS

Why Applied Sociology?
    1. Most projects involve organizations.

      2.  

      1. Need to understand organizations so you can answer client’s question.

       

      b. Need to know how to act in an organization.

    2. If project doesn’t involve an organization, findings often involve organizational change.

      3.  

    3. Organizations surround every aspect of life: school, work, religion, entertainment, food, shelter

 

Examples of Organizational Applied Projects

  1. Hired to help determine which jobs to cut and how to "restructure" remaining jobs.
    1. Quality Management department

     

  2. Hired to help plan automation

    3.  

    1. Sociologists anticipate impact of change on participants’ lives

      2.  

    2. Develop interventions: newsletters, education, increase staff meetings

     

  3. Impact of floods on eastern North Carolinians

    4.  

    1. Findings suggest organizational change:

 

Organizational Data Collection

    1. Usually requires triangulation

      2.  

    2. Often data exists on organizations

      3.  

      1. Data collected by organization
        1. Annual or monthly reports
        2. Mandated data collection
        3. Bias

         

      2. Data collected by others
        1. Government
        2. Newspapers, media

       

    3. Surveys: Types = ?
      1. Of people who work for organization

        2.  

      2. Of people who consume organization’s product

        3.  

      3. Busy people don’t respond: Need incentives

       

    4. Observation and/or In-depth Interviews

      5.  

      1. Minimize disruption of natural activity

 

 

Student Internships: Organizational Issues