01353 - Psychology of Work and Organisations

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, the student will attain the following results:

• He/she will be familiar with the main concepts and theoretical approaches developed in the field of Work Psychology in order to explore the interdependent relationships between workers, work tasks, and organizational contexts;
• He/she will develop social skills specific for managing group interactions and conflicts;
• He/she will be able to analyze real organizational contexts and to select and employ tools and methodological approaches suitable for acting effectively according to the characteristics of each specific work environment.

Course contents

The course aims to the knowledge of theoretical, research, and practical features of Work Psychology. The main goals are diagnosis, design, and intervention for organizations and teams. A special attention will ne devoted to make the students able to apply techniques, and also adapt and improve solutions fitting the diversity of work contexts.

In detail, the course deals with:

1. Analysis and design of work in organizations
2. Goal setting and performance assessment
3. Relationships between work, organizations, technology
4. Power and leadership in organizations
5. Working in teams
6. Organizational change
7. Well being at work

 

Readings/Bibliography

The basic and mandatory text is:

Chmiel, N., Fraccaroli, F., Sverke, M. (2019). Introduzione alla psicologia delle organizzazioni. Bologna: Il Mulino

Students are strongly invited to read all the handbook. However, the content of chapters II, VI and XVI will be not part of the final assessment.

Other documents will be made available by the teacher through the dedicated IOL platform. All complementary materials needed for the final evaluation will be clearly communicated and made available on the platform

Teaching methods

The course will be highly interactive. New contents will be systematically discussed through team work, problem solving activities, guided discussions, in order to make visible strengths and weaknesses in applying constructs and theoretical models to occupational and professional practice. Students may experiment a cognitive anticipation of main issues concerning diagnosis, design and management of working contexts, that they will encounter.

Given the interactive and problem-oriented character of such teaching and learning approach, students will find many advantages in attending classes regularly.

Assessment methods

The final examination will be a written test that will be presented in a closed-ended, and open-ended questions (five questions of each type) format. Duration: 60 minutes.

Questions aim to test whether students have acquired a basic knowledge in the three main areas above mentioned.

Open-ended questions:

• are formulated not to rely mainly in memorized notions, but rather on student’s ability to apply theories and models to concrete situations proposed;
• because of their greater difficulty, contribute four times more in average than the closed-ended ones to the final mark;
• are assessed against a mix of: a) precision (they require specific answers, not only to "talk about" the topic); b) adequate and proper terms; c) quality of comments/explanations, and (when requested) presence of adequate examples.

Closed-ended questions :

• come with three options to choose;
• every wrong answer pays 1/3 of what would be gained by a correct answer;
• no penalty for missing answers.

Students may at every moment decide to withdraw from the exam, without any penalty.

IMPORTANT: Please consider that on line registration to the exam list is mandatory (registration will be closed 3 working days before the day of the exam). For further info about rules and procedures for examinations, please read the F.A.Q. section in prof. Depolo's institutional website.

EXCHANGE STUDENTS may answer open-ended questions in English, Spanish or French upon previous agreement with the teacher

Teaching tools

IOL platform

Slides uploaded by the teacher

Other documents to be downloaded by students from the dedicated platform.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Depolo