22910158 - Organizational sociology

The teaching of Sociology of organizations will make students acquire the basic concepts of the theoretical framework of organizational sociology and examine the interconnections with other disciplines, which have, as their object of study, work and organizations, through the analysis of organizational theories and empirical study of new organizational models operating in innovative companies and public administrations.

The Workshop on Organisational Learning proposes:
 to illustrate and to comment principal concepts related to the theoretical framework, which describes and explains the organisational learning, with particular reference to factors which promote it;
 to understand the relevance for the organizational practice of the concepts and models discussed through the presentation of one case study.

The workshop on Empowerment Tools for organisations aims to achieve, in particular, the following learning objectives.
1. Provide useful theoretical and methodological assumptions to understand various tools of empowerment of the subject and the specificity that characterizes them for organizational purposes, with a focus on counseling and coaching.
2. Develop emotional skills, self-evaluation and reflective skills, through the experiential dimension, that will allow them to experience some of the tools of personal growth that will be presented.
3. Promote critical reflection on the organizational use of such instruments.
Knowledge and understanding:
- to provide knowledge of historical, theoretical and methodological models for the transition from Taylor-Fordist type of organizational and bureaucratic approach “cognitive”, and the analysis of the interconnections of a cultural and management relating to the affirmation of the company network and the Total Quality Management.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
- to develop skills and expertise in the analysis of the processes of evolution of organizational models, on the development of organizational learning, in view of intertwining of individual and collective dynamics in the functioning of organizations and the necessary integration between the strategic variables: people, processes, technologies and facilities.
Making judgements:
- to promote critical analysis of the evolution of organizational models in public administration, on the transformation of the bureaucratic model and the success of the telocratic model of new public management, based on analysis of business case studies and testimonials.
Communication skills:
- can communicate about their understanding, skills and activities, concerning the course contents, with peers, supervisors and clients.
Learning skills:
- have the learning skills to undertake further studies related to the analysis of the various organizational models, with particular attention to the structural and cultural dimensions, to the coordination mechanisms, to the redesign of innovative organizational models, with a high degree of autonomy.

Organisational Learning
In terms of knowledge and understanding:
- acquire the fundamental concepts of the theoretical framework of organizational learning: the pushes and resistance to change within an organization; organizational learning and skills development; organizational learning as a key to preside over change and innovation; explicit knowledge, tacit knowledge and knowledge management; reflexive skills as a key to a balanced development of competences in organizations.
In terms of ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- develop skills in the analysis of explicit and tacit learning processes in organizations.
In terms of independent judgment:
- develop the capacity for critical analysis of the evolution of the reference theoretical models of organizational learning.
In terms of communication skills:
- being able to communicate the acquired knowledge, in terms of ideas, problems and solutions, relating to the topics of the course, to specialist and non-specialist interlocutors.
In terms of learning ability:
- develop the skills to undertake subsequent studies, related to the analysis of organizational learning models, to the design of analysis models, even innovative ones, with a high degree of autonomy.

Empowerment Tools for organisations
In terms of knowledge and understanding:
- acquire the fundamental concepts related to organizational empowerment tools by comparing methodologies and experimenting with some approaches to improve organizational processes and enhance human resources.
In terms of ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- develop skills to recognize and implement different tools in use
In terms of independent judgment:
- to develop the capacity for critical analysis with respect to the evolution of theoretical models related to organizational planning and the valorisation of HR.
In terms of communication skills:
- being able to communicate the acquired knowledge, in terms of ideas, problems and solutions, relating to the topics of the course, to specialist and non-specialist interlocutors.
In terms of learning ability:
- develop the skills to undertake subsequent studies, related to the evolution of empowerment tools for organizations, to the planning and sharing of experiences and good practices with a high degree of autonomy.


teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

The course contemplates three main parts.
The first one provides knowledge of historical, theoretical and methodological models for the transition from Taylor-Fordist type of organizational and bureaucratic approach “cognitive”, and the analysis of the interconnections of a cultural and management relating to the affirmation of the company network and the Total Quality Management.
The second part aims to develop skills and expertise in the analysis of the processes of evolution of organizational models, on the development of organizational learning, in view of intertwining of individual and collective dynamics in the functioning of organizations and the necessary integration between the strategic variables: people, processes, technologies and facilities.
The last one has to objective to promote a critical analysis of the evolution of organizational models in public administration, on the transformation of the bureaucratic model and the success of the telocratic model of new public management, based on analysis of business case studies and testimonials.

Core Documentation

COCOZZA A., Organizzazioni. Culture, modelli, governance, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2014.
COCOZZA A., Il sistema scuola. Autonomia, sviluppo e responsabilità nel lifewide learning, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2012.

Type of delivery of the course

Together with the lectures, the following activities are proposed: workshop, teamwork, cases analysis.

Type of evaluation

The learning evaluation takes place through a final oral exam, during which these issues are examined in depth: - the fundamental concepts of the theoretical reference framework proposed during the course, illustrated also in the adopted texts; - the acquired skills of critical analysis of the evolution of organizational models in public administrations and in the school system, in particular, leadership.

teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

The theoretical and operational model of organizational learning in Argyris and Schön
The complexity and environmental instability factors and the need of change in organizations (introduction to the change management)
The incentives and resistances to change within an organization
Organizational learning and competences development: the Boyatzis model
Organizational learning as a key to oversee change and innovation: the March model
Explicit knowledge, tacit knowledge and knowledge management (introduction to knowledge management ): from Polanyi to Nonaka
Reflexive skills as a key to a balanced development of competences in organizations
Presentation of a case study of organizational learning tools and methods:
b) Planning and implementation of the project of organizational learning in a highly innovative enterprise

Core Documentation

Argyris, C. & Schön, D.A. (1998). Teoria e metodo dell’apprendimento organizzativo. Milano: Guerini e Associati.

Type of delivery of the course

The topics will be introduced by the teacher and discussed by participants through team works and individual study, on the online platform formonline, too.

Type of evaluation

Students' learning will be assessed on the basis of knowledge acquired thanks to individual study and the in-depth analysis of the text proposed, and of competences acquired thanks to the team work on the case study.

teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

LABORATORY OF EMPOWERMENT TOOLS FOR ORGANIZZATIONS - 3 CFU (18 ORE)

Given the complexity of contemporary organizational contexts, increasingly characterized by network structures with high relational, emotional and communicative complexity, the laboratory "Tools of empowerment in organizations" intends to illustrate to the students the most functional methodologies and tools for governing this complexity, in a perspective of empowerment of the subject and the organization. In continuity with the course of Sociology of the organization that presents the theoretical frame of reference of the sociological organizational disciplines and the new organizational models that tend to recognize more and more the person as a strategic lever of the development, a particular attention will be devoted to the tools of personal growth such as the philosophical practices, counseling and coaching currently widely used also in managerial training and considered essential tools for enhancing and coordinating groups. The laboratory provides a theoretical-practical approach with which it intends to provide students, in addition to the necessary theoretical framework of reference, also an experiential dimension through which to develop a personal growth process that leads them to develop emotional skills, self-assessment and reflexive, today essential for living and working in a complex society. The laboratory alternates theoretical sessions with practical sessions aimed at activating/exercising emotional competence. An integral part of the workshop is the creation of in-depth thematic courses within small workgroups. Given its experiential nature, frequency is strongly recommended.

Non-attending students will be able to select a text from those indicated and prepare a critical summary (written analysis) to be sent to the teacher two days before the exam and discuss during the interview.


Targets

The laboratory aims to pursue, in particular, the following educational objectives.
1. Provide the theoretical and methodological assumptions useful for understanding different empowerment tools of the subject and the specificity that characterizes them for organizational purposes, with particular attention to counselling and coaching.
2. Develop emotional, self-evaluation and reflective skills and competences, through the experiential dimension that will allow them to experiment with some of the personal growth tools that will be presented.
3. Promote a critical reflection on the organizational uses of these tools.

Core Documentation


1 TEXT OF YOUR CHOICE:
Gallino L., I denaro, il debito e la doppia crisi, Einaudi, 2015
Gallino L, Tecnologia e democrazia, Eibaudi, 2007
Gallino L., Limpresa irresponsabile, Einaudi, 2005
Latouche S., L’invenzione dell’economia, Bollati
Becchetti L., La felicità sostenibile, Saggine, 2005
Stark D., The sense of dissonance, Pricenton, 2011
Floridi L. La Quarta rivoluzione. Come l’infosfera sta trasformando il mondo, Cortina, 2017
Greenfield, Tecnologie radicali. Il progetto della vita quotidiana, Einaudi, 2017
Carol Lee Graham, The Economics of Happiness



Reference Bibliography

Spreitzer, G.M.,(1995), Psychology Empowerment in Workplace: dimensions, measurement and Validation, in Academy of Management Journalî,38,1442-1465. http://webuser.bus.umich.edu/spreitze/Pdfs/PsychEmpowerment.pdf Measuring Staff Empowerment: Development of a Worker Empowerment Scale http://rsw.sagepub.com/content/8/2/212.abstract Measuring Empowerment https://www.nhqualitycampaign.org/files/PEI.pdf Vogt, J.F., Murrel, K.L.,(1990), Empowerment in organization. How to Spark an Exceptional Performance. University Associates: San Diego. Laverack, (2001), An identification and interpretation of organizational aspects of community empowerment, in Community Development Journalî,15,pp.1-24. Using positive communication to empower and develop people http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/lao/issue_14/LAO_Iss14_Phillipy.pdf COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT: http://www.unicef.org/cbsc/files/Inter-agency_C4D_Book_2011.pdf Communication for empowerment: http://mediea.ruc.dk/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/rweyemamu-communication-for-empowerment-200912.pdf Community empowerment: http://cec.vcn.bc.ca/cmp/modules/mea-ele.htm http://cec.vcn.bc.ca/cmp/key/key-e.htm#Empower

Type of delivery of the course

The methodology adopted: Research-Based Learning The laboratory is based on a reflective and experiential path that sees the students as active protagonists through individual works alternated with moments of presentation, reflection and collaboration in groups.

Type of evaluation

Written test for attending and non-attending students through a summary critic of one of the texts chosen from those proposed and an oral examination. For attending students, the presentation of the work carried out will take place in the classroom and will be worth an exemption from the final interview. Those not attending will illustrate their in-depth examination during the examination interview.