24445 - Organizational Psychology

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the main theoretical models of Organizational Psychology and their implications for work motivation, leadership, teamwork, digitalisation and organizational change; analyse the structure and functioning of organizations as complex social systems, focusing on roles, communication, and decision-making processes; apply psychological principles to promote well-being, collaboration, innovation and performance within organizational settings; identify the professional roles and ethical responsibilities of work and organizational psychologists in supporting individuals, teams, and organizations.

Course contents

The course examines how organizations structure work, coordinate people and groups, allocate responsibilities and respond to change. Organizations will be considered as complex social systems in which formal structures, informal relationships, culture, technology and decision-making processes jointly shape behaviour and workers’ experiences.

The first part of the course introduces the main principles of organizational and work design. Roles, authority, specialization, formalization, centralization, communication and interdependence will be examined, with particular attention to their consequences for autonomy, responsibility, collaboration and performance.

The course then explores the psychological relationship between people and organizations through organizational identity and identification, justice, trust, participation and the psychological contract. These concepts will be used to interpret employees’ attitudes, behaviours and reactions, including in situations involving uncertainty, conflict and transformation.

Specific attention will be devoted to leadership and teamwork, team design and functioning, collaboration in distributed and cross-cultural settings, and the role of leadership in supporting coordination, development, feedback and participation. The course will also address training, competence development and organizational interventions, focusing on problem diagnosis, implementation and the evaluation of intended and unintended effects.

A central part of the course considers digital transformation. Students will examine the introduction of artificial intelligence and different forms of algorithmic management, considering their implications for work design, performance control, autonomy, skills, accountability, organizational justice and employees’ opportunities to participate in and challenge decisions.

Cases, exercises and applied activities will be used to examine how work and organizational psychologists can diagnose organizational problems and design and evaluate interventions for individuals, teams and organizations, while considering their professional and ethical responsibilities.

Readings/Bibliography

There is no single compulsory textbook.

The compulsory examination materials will include course slides, scientific articles and selected book chapters. The final list of compulsory materials and information on how to access them will be published on Virtuale. Non-attending students are required to study the same materials identified as compulsory.

The following handbook is recommended for consultation and further reading:

Ones, D. S., Anderson, N., Viswesvaran, C., & Sinangil, H. K. (Eds.). (2018). The SAGE Handbook of Industrial, Work and Organizational Psychology. Volume 2: Organizational Psychology (2nd ed.). SAGE.

Students are not required to study the entire volume unless specific chapters are identified as compulsory on Virtuale.

Teaching methods

The course consists of in-person teaching and is delivered in English.

Lectures will introduce the main theoretical models and research findings and connect them with organizational cases, contemporary transformations and professional practice. Classroom activities will include discussions, case analysis, individual exercises and small-group work.

During the course, students will complete individual tasks and develop a final team project. Instructions, deadlines and operational requirements will be presented in class and published on Virtuale. The activities will focus on applying concepts, diagnosing organizational problems and developing possible interventions.

The course requires continuous and responsible participation. To access the assessment route for attending students, students must attend at least 70% of the teaching activities. Students who do not reach this threshold will complete the assessment for non-attending students.

Assessment methods

Assessment is graded on a 30-point scale. The exam is passed with a minimum mark of 18/30.

• Attending students

Students who attend at least 70% of the course will be assessed through:

• individual tasks: 30%, up to 9 points;
• final team project: 60%, up to 18 points;
• participation in teaching activities: 10%, up to 3 points.

The final mark is the sum of the points obtained. No separate minimum threshold applies to the individual components.

The individual tasks assess the ability to apply course models to organizational problems. The team project assesses the quality of the analysis, the appropriate use of concepts, the coherence and feasibility of the proposal, and the quality of the presentation. The working arrangements will also allow individual contributions to be considered.

Participation will be assessed through completion of the required activities, the relevance of contributions, and constructive collaboration during discussions and exercises. Attendance alone does not determine the participation score.

 

• Non-attending students

Non-attending students, or students who attend less than 70% of the course, will take an individual written test lasting 90 minutes, consisting of:

• 30 multiple-choice questions, worth up to 30 points;
• 5 open-ended questions, worth up to 20 points in total.

Incorrect or unanswered questions do not incur penalties. Open-ended answers will be assessed on accuracy, completeness, clarity, and the ability to apply and connect course concepts.

The maximum score is 50 and is converted into a mark out of 30. The result is rounded to the nearest whole number. The exam is passed with at least 30/50. No separate minimum threshold applies to the open-ended questions.

Students may not use study materials or electronic devices during the examination. Registration through AlmaEsami is compulsory.

 

Assessment criteria

An essential and mainly descriptive preparation corresponds to a mark of 18–19; adequate preparation, with the ability to apply concepts, to 20–24; broad preparation and good analytical and integrative skills to 25–29. Complete, independent and critically argued work corresponds to 30–30 with honours.

 

Use of AI

Regarding learning assessment, limited, declared and non-substantial use of AI is permitted for support activities such as summarising and rephrasing. Substantial use of AI to complete parts of the assessment is not permitted.

 

 

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the responsible University office in good time: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students . The office will propose any appropriate adjustments, which must be submitted to the lecturer for approval at least 15 days in advance. The lecturer will assess their suitability in relation to the course learning outcomes.

Teaching tools

Course slides, readings, cases, activity instructions and course communications will be made available through Virtuale.

Digital tools may be used during classes to collect responses, discuss cases and support collaborative work. Materials will be provided in accessible digital formats whenever possible.

AI tools may support individual study, for example by generating self-assessment questions, comparing explanations or reorganizing notes. AI-generated content must be critically checked against the scientific materials of the course and does not replace the study of compulsory sources.

Office hours

See the website of Marco De Angelis