Overview

The Sociology of Organization and Management Department is one of eight departments constituting Institute of Sociology on Lodz University. Its history goes back to 1961 when a newly established Faculty of Economics and Sociology included a Department of Sociology of Industry. Its first principal was Prof. Jan Szczepański, who set main tracks of the departments interest's, later continued by his successors: Prof. Jolanta Kulpińska and Prof. Krzysztof T. Konecki. Today it is a dynamically developing unit, connecting traditions of its founders and various interests of its academics in scientific and educational action.

A perfectly educated group of academics is a factor that decides about its successes, achievements and peculiarity. The academics are active on Polish and international field of scientific life (conferences, workshops), they are members of Polish and international scientific associations, publish their own books as well as articles in periodics and textbooks. (more in Faculty)

High level of the personnel is proven by numerous prizes for both, individual and collective achievements (more in Grants & Awards). The basic value of our department is tolerance for variety of academics' interests, which enables them to develop individually in tracks and scientific orientations closest to them. This effects in individual projects of various themes (more in Faculty).
Except for individual academic's researches we also realize scientific projects granted by KBN (Committee for Scientific Research) and Soros Foundation (more in Grants & Awards). A well developed scientific cooperation with foreign centres effects in widely oriented research (more in Research).

As science may progress only by discussions, unlimited information exchange between scientists and evaluation of achievements by others, conferences and workshops organized by the department are a very important part of its actions (more in Conferences).

Department of Sociology of Organization and Management is an important centre of qualitative sociology. Empirical researches applying methodology of qualitative sociology are continued for many years. Simultaneously we develop a theoretical and methodological thought concerning grounded theory. Also master theses and doctorates apply the interpretative paradigm and enrich the department's achievements on this field.

To create a platform for thought exchange, enable an unlimited access to the newest ideas and theoretical orientations and also to integrate Polish and international qualitative researchers, an international periodic - Qualitative Sociology Review and its Polish Edition Przegląd Socjologii Jakościowej- was established by our academics. It is a periodic open for all types of qualitative research in social sciences and its aim is to integrate scientific researchers and to combine the high quality of articles with short publication expectancy. This initiative was very welcome worldwide, the first issues are to be published (more information on website: http://www.qualitativesociologyreview.org).

The department's academics are very active regarding education. This concerns numerous courses, both obligatory for all types of sociological studies and the department's specialization: Sociology of Human Resources, as well as on other faculties (more in Courses).

The department manages as well Postgraduate Public Relations Studies and Postgraduate Human Resources Management Studies. The main reason for which these were established was to enable our students to get not only a theoretical knowledge, but also to combine applying it in practice.

A nice and friendly work atmosphere in the department includes also student-teacher relations. Numerous workshops, practices and field exercises managed systematically by the academics promote such open contacts. These relations are prooved by a high level of master theses written in the department, of which many were rewarded in Jan Lutyński and Florian Znaniecki contests.

Regarding dynamic, active and eager academics and the atmosphere of work rich in initiatives the department has the best possible development perspectives.