24445 - Organizational Psychology

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will know: - the main theories in Organizational Psychology; - the main principles of organizational structure and design - the main psychosocial processes related to organizational behavior; - the main goals of psychologists’ professional activity in such domains.

Course contents

The course examines the themes of Organizational Psychology in-depth, explaining the theoretical, research and professional aspects that characterize the discipline. Specifically, it aims to develop knowledge and skills on the following areas:

• The Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations of Organizations
  
• Organizational Climate and Culture
• Organizational Development and Change
• Hot Topics in Organizational Psychology (e.g., technologies [ICT, IoT, AI], big data, smart working and the challenges for the discipline)

Readings/Bibliography

• Lecture slides and materials presented/suggested in class.
• Suggested textbooks/chapters:

Truxillo, D., Bauer, T., & Erdogan, B. (2016).Psychology & Work: Perspectives on Industrial & Organizational Psychology. NY: Routledge. [Chapter 14]

Landy, F.J., & Conte, J.M. (2012). Work in the 21st Century: An Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology. NY: Wiley. [part 3 module 14 The Organization of Work Behavior]

Leonard, H.S., Lewis, R., , Freedman, A.M., & Passmore, J. (2013). The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Leadership, Change, and Organizational Development. London: Wiley Blackwell. [parts II and III]

Schneider, B., & Barbera, K. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Organizational Climate and Culture. NY: Oxford University Press.

Teaching methods

The teaching methods used for the course are: lessons, case analysis and discussions, practitioners' reports, individual and group assignments, simulations, presentations of assignments.

The course is designed to be very interactive, based on students’ active participation. Therefore, students are requested to attend systematically all the lectures. Exchange students, aiming to choose this course for their learning agreement, should carefully consider – in their own interest – that they are requested to attend the full course.

Assessment methods

The exam aims to verify the achievement of the following learning goals:

• in-depth knowledge of different theories and approaches of Organizational Psychology;
• being able to apply the acquired knowledge to analyze and interpret organizational cases and phenomena;
• being able to apply the acquired knowledge to realize and design organizational interventions.

The grading will be given on a 30-point scale.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint, paper-pencil instruments, audiovisual materials, guided discussions.

Office hours

See the website of Sara Zaniboni