Organization Studies (2008/2009)

Learning outcomes

The course tends to give students an interpretation of the main organizational models which have been applied in the past and are still applied by organizations in different contexts. Moreover, the course will deepen some emerging topics dealing with Human Resources Management.

STEP 1
- The organizational question: definition and issues;
- Archetypes of modern organization;
- Technologic cyrcle: Rohmert and Luczack's model;
- The industrial revolution and the first attempts to rationalize work;
STEP 2
- Theories and models of work organization;
- The dawn of organizational thinking - traditional approach(Weber, Fayol, etc.)
- Fatigue, industrial monotony, efficiency and productivity;
- Job analysis (Taylor, Ford, i coniugi Gilbreth, ecc.);
- Human Relations approach (Mayo, etc.);
- Socio-technic systems:
- Human-machine-environment model;
- Bounded rationality theory (Simon);
- The organizational behavior:
The conflict:
- groups in organizations (Bass, Lewin, Likert, ecc.)
- cooperation and competition (interactive and operative efficiency)
- organizational changing and resistancies
_ decision making:
- heuristics and human error
- decisions and social pressure
Emerging organizational topics:
- Privacy in organizations
- Social engineering
- Internet abuse in workplace

The exam will consist of a compulsory written part on the handbook by prof. Favretto (A) (multiple-choice items).
Students who attend the course can take also the oral part (B), if they want. Non-attending students, instead, can take oral part only if the score, in written part, is at least 28.