22910276 - PSYCHOLOGY OF ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS

The course aims to provide the students with the key concepts and tools to understand the various relationships between the individual, the job task and the work organization, in light of the recent changes of the labor market and organizational structures.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to achieve the following educational objectives:

In terms of knowledge and understanding:
- know the basic theoretical models in organizational psychology;
- know the theoretical and epistemological foundations of research applied to organizational contexts;
- know the basic methodological approaches used in the psychological analysis of organizations.

In terms of ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- know how to apply theoretical knowledge to organizational diagnosis and interventions to produce organizational change
- know how to choose methods and instruments of analysis and intervention based on the characteristics of the specific organizational context.
In terms of independent judgment:
- interpret individual-task-organization interactions in the light of theoretical models and empirical studies in organizational psychology
- critically analyze and compare theories and methods based on the specific practical application or the specific work context.

In terms of communication skills:
- know how to synthesize and effectively present ideas, problems and solutions, on individual-task-organization interactions.

In terms of learning ability:
- deepen the acquired knowledge using manuals and theoretical models developed within the field of organizational psychology.
scheda docente | materiale didattico

Programma

The syllabus will highlight the changes that have occurred in the organization of work and the effects that these changes have had on organizational, individual and collective behaviors. The main theoretical approaches and some of the current issues in the psychological analysis of the organizations will be presented. Areas of application of this knowledge will also be identified to promote the efficiency of the organizations.
The course deals with two thematic modules: an introductory part on concepts and methods in organizational psychology and a second part on the current topics in organizational psychology.
In the first part, methodological elements will be examined, to show different ways of conducting organizational diagnosis and interventions to produce organizational change. Topics such as the relationship between new technologies and organizations, organizational change, organizational climate and cultures, and organizational socialization will be studied in depth.
In the second part, theoretical tools and intervention methodologies will be provided on topics such as ergonomic work analysis, leadership and motivation, and organizational justice. An in-depth analysis will be dedicated to the topic of the aging workforce in organizations.

Testi Adottati

1) Chmiel N., Fraccaroli F., & Sverke M. (eds). An introduction to work and organizational psychology. An international perspective. Third Edition. Wiley, 2017. Chapters: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21.

2) Truxillo, D. M., Cadiz, D. E., & Hammer, L. B. (2015). Supporting the aging workforce: A review and recommendations for workplace intervention research. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 2, 351-381.

The slides presented during the lectures are part of the course syllabus. Therefore, they will be included in the exam.

Modalità Erogazione

The course will consist in 36 hours of lectures. The slides and other teaching materials (audio-video and scientific articles) will be mostly in English. Classes will be based on a strong interaction between teacher and students, group discussions and group works. Attending and non-attending students can register on the course page on the "Formonline" platform and access the slides and other teaching materials used during the classes. In the event of an extension of the health emergency related to COVID-19, the lessons will be delivered remotely through slides with audio commentary and synchronous lectures (live events) on the Microsoft Teams platform.

Modalità Frequenza

Class attendance is optional but highly recommended.

Modalità Valutazione

The final evaluation will be carried out through an oral exam with minimum three questions on the topics included in the full syllabus. Each answer is rated with a score from 0 to 30 and the overall rating is calculated as a mathematical average. Aspects of knowledge and ability to reason and methodological choice in relation to the application hypothesis, together with the language property, will be considered. The oral questions test the students' ability to understand and communicate both general and specific concepts of the discipline, including analytical and methodological aspects. In case of an extension of the health emergency related to COVID-19, the exam will take place through an audio-video conference with the use of the Microsoft Teams software.