Sociology for Business Syllabus - BIM (TU)

Module Objectives

This module aims to inculcate knowledge of basic sociological concepts and methods so that students are equipped with an adequate understanding of the sociological perspectives on management and business administration.

Contents

Introduction to Sociology, Basic concepts in Sociology; Social Institutions: Social Processes; Social Stratification; Social Disorder, Deviance and Social Control; Social Change; Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology; Research Methods in Sociology and; The Sociological perspectives on Management and Business Administration.

Detailed Course

Unit 1: Introduction to Sociology                                                                                                                    LH 4

• Meaning, nature, subject matter and emergence of
• Relationship of sociology with economics, psychology and
• Relevance of sociology in management and business

Unit 2: Basic Concepts in Sociology                                                                                                                LH 4

• Meaning and definition of society, community, culture, group, norms, values, status, role, ethnicity, gender, class and
• Implication of sociological concepts in management and business administration related issues/problems.

Unit 3: Social Institutions LH 4

• Meaning and definition, and basic features of family, kinship, economy, polity, education and
• Linkage of social institutions with management and business administration related issues/problems.

Unit 4: Social Processes    LH 4

• Meaning and definition of socialization, adaptation, cooperation, competition, conflict,
• Implications of social processes in management and business

Unit 5: Social Stratification                                                                                                                               LH 5

• Meaning and definition of social differences, inequalities and stratification
• Caste, class, ethnicity and gender dimensions of social stratification in Nepal
• Social stratification vis-à-vis management and business administration

Unit 6: Social Disorder, Deviance and Social Control                                                                                   LH 2

• Meaning and definition of social problems (disorder and deviance) and social
• Linkage with management and business

Unit 7: Social Change                                                                                                                                        LH 4

• Meaning and definition of social and cultural
• Factors of social and cultural
• Connection of management and business administration to social and cultural

Unit 8: Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology                                                                                               LH 6

• The sociological imagination and sociological
• Functionalism: basic assumptions.
• Conflict Theory: basic
• Postmodernism: basic
• Implications of sociological theories in management / business

Unit 9: Research Methods in Sociology                                                                                                         LH 5

• Nature and trend of sociological research
• Choosing a research problem or a topic
• Formulating hypothesis or assumptions
• Designing a research or writing a research proposal
• Collecting / acquiring data through fieldwork
• Processing, analyzing and interpreting data / findings
• Writing up the report and Presenting / disseminating the findings

Unit 10: The Sociology of Management and Business Administration                                                   LH 10

• Sociology of organizations
• Networks and organizations
• Analysis of organization
• Organizational / bureaucratic goals and societal expectations
• Managers and corporations vis-à-vis politics and power
• Work and leisure
• Group dynamics and intergroup relations
• Indigenous management and management of indigenous knowledge
• Dynamics of social capital
• Interdependence of social and technical skills
• Market and political culture
• Management of non-government development organizations
• Social movement politics and organization
• Relations in Business

Project Work (Specify the hours allocated to Unit 10)

• Choosing a topic for research
• Preparing research plan / proposal and developing research tools
• Conducting fieldwork / research
• Writing report and presentation

Addendum: At least one case will be administered in the end of each chapter. The students will also complete a project work and few other assignments as specified by the faculty member.

References

Abraham, M. Francis, 1982, Modern Sociological Theory: An Introduction, Calcultta: Oxford University Press, pp. 72-113, 209-242.

Chaturvedi, A. and A. Chaturvedi 1995, The Rationale of a Sociology of Organizations: Introduction, In The Sociology of Formal Organizations, Delhi: Oxford University press, pp. 1-40.

Fligstein, N. 2002, Markets as Politics: A Political – Cultural Approach to market Institutions. In Readings in Economic Sociology, London: Blackwell.

Haralambos, M. and RN Heald 1980, Sociology: Themes and Perspectives, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp 228-324.

Lewis, D. 1999, The Management of Non-governmental Development Organizations,

Shankar Rao, C.N. 2000, Sociology: Primary Principles, Third Edition, New Delhi: S Chand and Company. Turner, J.H. 1994, Sociology: Concepts and Uses, New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. pp. 139-172.

Vidyabhusan and DR Sachadeva, 1983, An Introduction to Sociology, New Delhi: Kitav Mahal.