00745 - Organizational Behaviour

Learning outcomes

The course is designed to introduce students to fundamental questions and approaches to the study of organizations. To this end, the course is structured around three macro-areas: first of all, the concept of organization will be analyzed, highlighting the most important
theoretical approaches. Then, the course will focus on the theoretical contribution of James Thompson. The final section of the course will be devoted to the interpretation of the most important trends characterizing organizational theory, with particular references to organizational change, to the introduction of new information and communication technologies, and to the development of innovative organizational configurations.

Course contents

What is an organization. Main approaches for studying an organization. Literature review.
Organizations in action. The problem of rationality: bounded and objective rationality.
Technology and the organization. The organizational action plans: institutional, technical, structural.
Domain and Task Environment. Power-dependency relationships. Interdependencies, coordination and departmentalization. The organizational design and the problem of the boundaries. How to
evaluate an organization.
Individuals and organization: the decision to participate. Incentives and contributions. Power and authority. The regulation of the cooperative action.
Autonomy and Eteronomy. Discretionary decisions.
The definition of the organizational goals.
The dominant coalition and the strategies for controlling the organization. The administrative paradox: effectiveness, efficiency and flexibility.
Typical organizational structures. Organizational change. The organizational impact of the new information technologies. Cooperation among enterprises. Virtual enterprises. Fordism and Post-Fordism. Case studies.

Readings/Bibliography

J.D. Thompson, L'azione organizzativa, Isedi, Torino, 1990. The original text in English is available in paperback edition: Thompson J.D., Organizations in Action: Social Science Bases of Administrative Theory, Transaction Publishers, 2003.  
F.M. Barbini, L'impresa virtuale, Isedi, Torino, 2007
Lesson notes and other course material made available during the course.
Additional readings:
G. Masino, Le imprese oltre il fordismo, Carocci, Roma, 2005
B. Maggi, G. Masino, Imprese in cambiamento, Bononia University Press, Bologna, 2004

Assessment methods

Written examination composed by muliple-choice questions and open-answer questions.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Maria Barbini