96166 - FREE CONTENT COURSE

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

At the end of the module students will: be able to: understand changes in the role of work in people's lives; understand innovation processes in workplaces and organizations, identify contribution of WOP Psychology in the design of innovative interventions, products and services

Contenuti

This course explores current and emerging trends in Work and Organizational Psychology, focusing on how technological, social, and cultural transformations are redefining the meaning of work and the relationship between individuals and organizations.

The first part of the course addresses the evolving meaning of work across life phases and generations. Particular attention is given to how people attribute value and purpose to their professional life in a context increasingly marked by precariousness, gig economy, hybrid working models, and phenomena such as quiet quitting. Through a psychosocial lens, students will reflect on how these shifts influence identity, motivation, and well-being.

The second part delves into the implications of digital transformation. Starting from conceptual definitions, we examine how digitalisation and artificial intelligence are reshaping organizational design, decision-making processes, and workplace culture. The course investigates how emerging technologies affect professional roles, skill requirements, and human-technology interactions, with a focus on the challenges of obsolescence and upskilling. Ethical considerations related to algorithmic management and technological integration are also critically discussed.

In the final part, the course introduces students to futures thinking and scenario planning. Rather than limiting themselves to reactive approaches, students are encouraged to anticipate possible futures of work and careers through structured foresight methodologies. Scenario-based exercises support the development of strategic thinking and promote the design of proactive, adaptive responses at both individual and organizational levels. These activities are grounded in real-world cases and participatory foresight labs.

Testi/Bibliografia

The slides and scientific articles presented during the course and uploaded to the VIRTUAL e-learning platform will constitute the basic material for the  assignments and the final team presentation.

Some useful readings:

• Ulfert, A. S., Le Blanc, P., González-Romá, V., Grote, G., & Langer, M. (2024). Are we ahead of the trend or just following? The role of work and organizational psychology in shaping emerging technologies at work. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 33(2), 120–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2024.2324934
• Linthorst, J., & de Waal, A. (2020). Megatrends and disruptors and their postulated impact on organizations. Sustainability, 12(20), 8740.
• Felknor, S. A., Streit, J. M. K., Edwards, N. T., & Howard, J. (2023). Four Futures for Occupational Safety and Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054333
• Nekkers, J. (2016). Developing Scenarios. In P. van der Duin (Ed.), Foresight in Organizations, (pp. 11–39). Taylor & Francis

Metodi didattici

Participation. The course is designed to be highly interactive, relying on active student participation. Therefore, attendance is strongly encouraged. Small group work, simulations, case studies and classroom presentations are the main elements of the course. Classroom discussions will be stimulated by reading scientific articles provided on the VIRTUALE platform.
The final team assignment work includes the elaboration of four future scenarios and the elaboration of related strategies for individuals and organisations.

Policy on the use of technology in class. Students are encouraged to take notes on their personal laptops, any other use is highly discouraged. The use of any other devices in class (mobile phones, cameras, etc.) is not permitted. Students who need to use voice recorders for class lectures must receive explicit permission from the teacher to do so.

Code of Ethics. All students are required to follow the University of Bologna's code of ethics. Furthermore, students are expected to treat others, themselves, the professor and the teaching staff with respect and courtesy, including respect for diversity of all kinds.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

The course incorporates multiple assessments, each contributing to the student's final grade. The grading scale ranges from 0 to 30, with 18 being the minimum passing grade. The assessments include:

1. Individual Class Assignments (up to 10 points):

• Students will receive instructions for these assignments during class.
• These assignments are designed to reinforce concepts learned in class and prepare students for upcoming topics.
• The assignments are designed to be carried out and completed during class as workshop activities.

2. Team Project Assignment (up to 20 points):

• The course will conclude with a practical application phase where students, divided into teams, will develop a foresight scenario study.
• Each team will present their expected findings, potential impact, and receive feedback from their peers.

The team project is evaluated based on two components:

a. Content and Proposal Quality, Understanding and Feasibility (up to 15 points): The research and innovation proposal will be assessed on its technical content, feasibility, and potential impact.

b. Presentation and Communication (up to 5 points): The final presentation will be evaluated on the effectiveness of the team's communication of technical contents and the visual quality of the presentation slides.

The individual assignments and the team project collectively contribute to the student's final grade in the course, with a maximum of 30 points available across all assessments.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

The VIRTUALE e-learning platform will be the main support for teaching activities.Scientific papers, useful materials, further reading, teaching slides and assignments will be made available on the e-learning platform.

At the beginning of the course, all course-related information (exercises, deadlines, assessment criteria, etc.) will be available on the VIRTUALE platform. The detailed rules for group work will be available for download on the platform VIRTUAL at the beginning of the course and will be explained on the first day of the course.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Marco De Angelis

Consulta il sito web di Federico Fraboni