90451 - Services Organisational Behaviour

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with foundational knowledge to better understand organizational behavior. Through lectures, case study discussions, and practical exercises, the course will address key topics related to individuals, groups, and organizational processes in workplace settings.

Specifically, the course is designed to:

• Introduce theoretical frameworks and managerial tools to analyze the main models of organizational behavior and people management
• Develop and enhance critical thinking skills in decision-making by examining the implications of organizational theories
• Identify effective problem-solving approaches through the discussion of real-world case studies

In addition, the course seeks to foster teamwork skills by engaging students in the analysis of complex scenarios, the development of shared action plans, and the formulation of solutions within group projects. To this end, students will be organized into work groups.

Course contents

5The Individual in Organizations:

1. 1.1.Individual differences: personalities and skills
   • 1.1.1.Definition of personality
   • 1.1.2.The Big Five model
   • 1.1.3.The most relevant personality traits
   • 1.1.4.Personality assessment
   • 1.1.5.The development of cognitive skills
2. 1.2.Values, attitudes, moods and emotions
   • 1.2.1.The nature of values, attitudes, moods and emotions
   • 1.2.2.The relationships between values, attitudes, moods and emotions
   • 1.2.3.Job satisfaction
   • 1.2.4.Potential consequences of job satisfaction
3. 1.3.Perceptions and attributions
   • 1.3.1.Perception process
   • 1.3.2.Characteristics of the perceiver, target, and situation
   • 1.3.3.Perception biases
   • 1.3.4.Attribution theory
   • 1.3.5.Attribution biases
4. 1.4.Motivation at work
   1.4.1.What motivation in work settings is: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
   • 1.4.2.Why people act the way they do: Motivational theories
   • 1.4.3.Goal setting, performance assessment, compensation, and career management as motivational tools
5. Group and Team Processes
   • 2.1.Work groups
     • 2.1.1.Different kinds of work teams and the 5-stage development model
     • 2.1.2.Team characteristics
     • 2.1.3.Team effectiveness
     • 2.1.4.How to measure team effectiveness
     • 2.1.5.Team dysfunctional processes
     • 2.1.6.Virtual teams
6. Decision making processes
   • 3.1.Types of decisions
   • 3.2.Decision making process:
     • 3.2.1.The rational model
     • 3.2.2.Bounded rationality
     • 3.2.3.The Carnegie model

7. Power, Politics and Conflicts
   • 4.1. The natura of organizational power and politics
   • 4.2 Sources of individual formal and informal power
     
   • 4.3.Politics as the exercise of power in organizations
   • 4.4.Conflict in organizations
   • 4.5.Sources of conflict in organizations
   • 4.6.Pondy's model of organizational conflict

Tacticts to handle conflict in organizations

Readings/Bibliography

The handbook of the course is:

• Pilati M. e H. Tosi. Comportamento Organizzativo – 3^rd edition. Milano: Egea (Chapters. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9). The digital version is available at http://www.egeaeditore.it/ita/catalogo/risultato-ricerca.aspx?Testo=pilati%20tosi

 

Additional References:

· Robbins S.P., Judge T.A., Bodega D. (2016). Comportamento organizzativo. Conoscere e sviluppare competenze organizzative. Milano: Pearson Italia (Chapters: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13). The digital version is available at https://www.pearson.it/opera/pearson/0-6288-comportamento_organizzativo

§ Kreitner R. e A. Kinicki. (2013). Comportamento Organizzativo. Milano: Apogeo (Chapters: 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13).

Teaching methods

The course includes interactive lectures, case study discussions, media analysis, and group activities. It is designed to introduce students to organizational behavior models and practices with the following objectives:

• Understanding and applying key organizational behavior concepts
• Developing critical thinking skills to support organizational decision-making
• Identifying suitable approaches to organizational problem-solving

Moreover, the course aims to equip students with the ability to address complex organizational challenges through effective group work and collaborative dynamics.

The course is structured as follows:

• 34 hours of in-person lectures, focused on introducing and exploring organizational behavior theories and models
• 6 hours of online sessions via MS Teams, dedicated to supporting the preparation of the group video project

 

Assessment methods

The course assessment consists of two components, applicable to both attending and non-attending students:

a) A group project involving the creation of a video (maximum duration: 5 minutes) on a topic covered in the course.

b) An individual written exam consisting of two to three open-ended questions.

The final grade for the integrated course is calculated as follows:

• 50% based on the video grade (identical for all group members)
• 50% based on the individual written exam grade

Each group must consist of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 members. Groups are self-organized by students with the aim of ensuring high heterogeneity in terms of members' characteristics.

Each group must prepare a video (maximum duration: 5 minutes) on a topic assigned by the instructor, to be submitted by Thursday, January 15, 2026. Two to three class sessions will be dedicated to supporting the online setup of the video.

Non-attending students may submit a written paper on a topic assigned by the instructor as an alternative to the video.

If the final weighted average grade includes a decimal, it will be rounded arithmetically (rounded down if below 0.50, rounded up if 0.50 or above).

Excellence in both components of the assessment is rewarded: if a student achieves a grade of at least 27/30 in both the video and the individual exam, the final weighted average grade will be increased by 3% (before rounding).

Grade registration sessions will be conducted online. Students must register through the dedicated Almaesami recording lists, which will be opened and announced on Virtuale after each exam session. All communications between the instructor and students will take place via Virtuale (virtuale.unibo.it). Teaching materials and supplementary readings will also be made available on the same platform during the course.

Teaching tools

Case studies, literature (book chapters and international papers), and further material available on the Internet will be provided on the website on https://iol.unibo.it, handed over or suggested during class activities.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Rita Tagliaventi