B5731 - ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students: - know the salient characteristics of individuals, work teams and organizational processes that influence organizational performance in face-to-face and virtual work settings; - are capable of analyzing risks and opportunities of different work designs, managing complex decision processes, and detecting and implementing strategies to solve organizational conflicts, particularly in globally distributed teams.

Course contents

This course is meant to provide theoretical concepts and managerial tools to (a) understand and analyze the main models underlying organizational behavior and people management; (b) develop and increase critical skills in decision making through the analysis of the impact of theories; c) identify problem solving approaches through discussion of case studies.

1. The Individual in Organizations:

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

1.2. 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

1.3. Motivation at work

1.3.1.What motivation in work settings is: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

1.3.2.Why people act the way they act: Motivational theories

1.3.3.Goal setting, performance assessment, compensation, and career management as motivational tools

2. 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

3. Power, Politics and Conflicts

3.1. Sources of individual formal and informal power and organizational units' power

3.2. Politics as the exercise of power in organizations

3.3. Conflict in organizations

3.4. Sources of conflict in organizations

3.5. Pondy's model of organizational conflict

3.6. Tacticts to handle conflict in organizations

Readings/Bibliography

Course Textbook

The official textbook for the course is:

George, J. M., & Jones, G. R. (2014).
Understanding and Managing Organizational Behavior.
London: Pearson Education.

Additional Materials

Case studies, selected literature (including book chapters and international academic papers), and other relevant resources will be made available on the course platform:
🔗 https://virtuale.unibo.it
Further materials may also be distributed or recommended during class activities.

The group project will be based on a Harvard Business School case study, which will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Additional References

Students are encouraged to consult the following supplementary texts:

Kayes, A., Kayes, D. C., & Elsbach, K. D. (2016).Contemporary Organizational Behavior: From Ideas to Action. India: Pearson.

Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2017). Essentials of Organizational Behavior, Global Edition.

• London: Pearson.

Teaching methods

Lectures, case study discussions, and practical exercises will focus on topics related to individuals, groups, and organizational processes within workplace settings.
More specifically, the course aims to provide students with key concepts and practical tools to:

a) understand and apply the fundamental theories of organizational behavior;
b) enhance critical thinking skills by analyzing how organizational behavior theories inform organizational decision-making;
c) identify approaches to solving organizational problems through the in-class discussion of relevant case studies.

In addition, the course is designed to strengthen students’ ability to work in teams by analyzing complex situations, identifying shared courses of action, and proposing solutions within project-based activities. To this end, students will be organized into work groups.

Assessment methods

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

a) Group Project based on a Harvard Business School case study
b) Individual Test

Group Project

• Each group must consist of a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 5 members.
• Groups are to be formed independently by students, with the aim of ensuring high heterogeneity in terms of members’ characteristics.
• Each group is required to prepare a PowerPoint presentation, which may include multimedia content, to be discussed in class on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
• The final presentation must be uploaded to Virtuale by the group representative no later than Friday, April 10, 2026.

Non-attending students may complete the case study project individually.

The project will be evaluated based on the following criteria (each worth up to 10/30 points):

• Quality of the final output
• Analytical skills in applying concepts and tools covered in the course
• Ability to identify problems and propose viable solutions

Individual Test

The individual test will be administered in a computer lab and will consist of:

• 15 multiple-choice questions, with a penalty for incorrect answers
• 1 open-ended question

Final Grade Calculation

The final grade for the integrated course will be calculated as follows:

• 50% Group Project (same grade for all group members)
• 50% Individual Test

If the weighted average results in a decimal, arithmetic rounding will be applied:

• Averages up to 0.49 will be rounded down
• Averages from 0.50 and above will be rounded up

Excellence incentive
Students who achieve at least 27/30 in both the group project and the individual test will receive a 3% bonus on the final grade (before rounding).

Grade Registration

Grade registration sessions will be conducted online through dedicated registration lists (distinct from those used for the individual test), which will be opened periodically on the AlmaEsami platform and simultaneously announced on Virtuale.

A maximum of three registration sessions per academic year will be made available.

All communication between the instructor and students will take place exclusively via Virtuale:
🔗 https://virtuale.unibo.it

Teaching tools

The course will include interactive lectures, case study discussions, the analysis of multimedia materials, and group-based activities aimed at fostering active student participation and collaborative learning.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Rita Tagliaventi