If you've come to this website at least once, you've probably noticed that a lot of the entries are written by an Organizational Studies major from the University of Michigan. I thought I would take a little bit of time to explain the major, because it is relatively new but is by far and away one of the best and most exciting programs that Michigan has to offer.

Organizational Studies at the University of Michigan is an interdisciplinary major that explores the "behavior, structure, and dynamics of organizations through a variety of disciplinary lenses, and investigates such questions as why human beings organize, how organizations interact with each other, and what makes organizations effective" (Price). Organizational Studies is becoming a increasingly competitive major to enroll in at the University of Michigan. This past year there were in excess of 250 applicants for approximately 50 spots. The small size of the program also makes it appealing, because it gives you an opportunity to get to know the faculty, and you get a sense of being nurtured even in such a big environment like the University of Michigan. So far, I am enjoying the core class of Organizational Studies very much which is taught by Professor Jason Owen-Smith. The class continues to wet my appetite and pose questions that I too have thought about for a long time. The rest of my classes are composed of a varied curriculum that explores both macro and micro aspects of organization. The major opens many doors to those who are accepted. I am interested in going into IT Management Consulting, and a large number of the people in the major also are interested in consulting. Other areas of interest include law and non-profit.

Students apply to Organizational Studies in their sophomore year. This year, I have heard that they require an essay (no longer than 250 words) and a resume. Last year, the selection committee wanted two essays (250 words each) that I have added here. I hope that these provide you with inspiration if you are looking into Organizational Studies. Best of luck! Be smart. Be aware. Be the solution.

1) The recent and dramatic increase in top executives’ salaries, relative to those of other workers, reflects a fundamental overvaluation of the importance of individual leaders to an organization. Discuss.
Top executives in any organization are responsible for strategy and vision, building culture, and leadership. Sergey Brin, Larry Page, and Eric Schmidt are the top executives at Google Inc., an Internet search engine. While there is enormous competition in the search engine market, especially from Yahoo! and Windows Live, Google has surpassed these companies in revenue and market share. One of the main differences between Google and its competitors is outstanding leadership.
Google’s executives have been at the forefront of Internet development since the company’s inception. Though it started out as just a search engine, Google's executives trailblazed the Web 2.0 revolution by expanding Google's capabilities creating a more comprehensive Internet experience for web users. Google is used for email, video, news, and an endless array of other activities. Without the executive’s ingenuity to foresee the potential growth of this website Google would have been left in the dust ages ago.
Google’s executives also conjured up, Googleplex, Google's offices, so that employees would love going to work every day. They knew that employees would work more efficiently if they were provided with incentives such as having a massage, playing volleyball, bringing their pets to work, and many other aspects that create an enjoyable work environment for employees.
Google's leaders have built an unrivaled product in an unparalleled way. Their leadership has been indispensable and is a significant part of the reason why they are leaders in their field. Companies run on initiative and guidance, and as Mastercard famously tells us, "there are some things money can't buy.”



2) Under what circumstances would anarchy be better than organization?
It is said that “variety is the spice of life.” The world is a fascinating place because of its immense variety. On Earth, there are six billion individuals who possess their own unique desires and talents. This variation is the result of chaotic poetry that occurs during the formation of life.
For all humans on the planet, life typically starts out the same way. A cell will undergo a process known as meiosis, which produces two haploid cells. These haploid cells, containing half the required genetic material for human life, are combined and this union is the spark that generates life. Any high school biology student will be able to rattle off the methodical steps that make up meiosis, but embedded within this system is an anarchy that provides an unusual flavor to all of life.
In a step known as chromosomal crossover, two “sister” chromosomes made up of genetic material, will frantically and unexplainably exchange genes. Genes carry inherited information that determines physical and perhaps even emotional expression. This random exchange evokes variation on an unmatched scale.
Chromosomal crossover has no formula. It is unpredictable and happens arbitrarily. There is no proven method to map out its occurrence. Yet, out of this extreme chaos comes beauty. This anarchy has the power to develop exceptional minds like Einstein, artists like Michelangelo, and leaders like Golda Meir. Without this crossover, humans would walk the world as replicas. If variety is in fact the spice of life, chromosomal crossover is life’s most essential ingredient.

This post was originally written by Tyrone Schiff
University of Michigan · Organizational Studies · 01 Oct 2007