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.
LA ROSA M. (a cura di), Il "modello" Olivetti: passato, presente, e futuro?, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2022.

Type of delivery of the course

The course is in attendance. In the event of an extension of the health emergency from COVID-19, all the provisions governing the methods of carrying out teaching activities and student evaluation will be implemented. In particular, the following methods will apply. The course will be divided into online lessons, carried out synchronously on the TEAMS platform, according to the indicated calendar. Alongside the lectures, the following are proposed: exercises, group work, case analyzes, to be carried out on the FORMONLINE platform.

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 to analyze and compare policies related to the topics of organization, training and skills development, negotiation and regulation of employment relationships in the PAs.

teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

In response to the complexity of current organizational contexts, characterized by network structures where the logic of connections with a high relational, emotional and communicative scope prevails, the "Tools for empowerment in organizations" workshop aims to present to students the methodologies, strategies, the most suitable tools to govern this emerging complexity.
Following the Sociology of Organization course that illustrates the theoretical reference framework of the sociological organizational disciplines and the new organizational person-centred models as a strategic lever of development, the laboratory will deepen the resources and tools for personal growth: philosophical practices for organization, counselling and coaching, also widely used in managerial training and in the enhancement and coordination of groups.


Core Documentation

A book to be chosen among:

Blanchard, K., Carlos, J.P., Randolph, A., 2007, Le tre chiavi dell'empowerment. Come liberare il potenziale dei collaboratori offrendo dei risultati entusiasmanti, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2007.

Johnson, R., Redmond, D. 1999, L'arte dell'empowerment. Come realizzare un'organizzazione snella più competitiva coinvolgendo e responsabilizzando il personale, Franco Angeli, Milano.

Study materials

Ashkanasy N., Humphrey R., Current Emotion Research in Organizational Behavior, in Emotion Review, Vol. 3, n. 2, Aproò 2011.

Reference Bibliography

-- Blanchard, K., Carlos, J.P., Randolph, A., 2007, Le tre chiavi dell'empowerment. Come liberare il potenziale dei collaboratori offrendo dei risultati entusiasmanti, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2007. Johnson, R., Redmond, D. 1999, L'arte dell'empowerment. Come realizzare un'organizzazione snella più competitiva coinvolgendo e responsabilizzando il personale, Franco Angeli, Milano.

Type of delivery of the course

The laboratory is characterized by a theoretical-practical approach which intends to provide students with the necessary theoretical framework and also an experiential training course through which to activate a process of personal growth for the development of emotional, self-evaluative and reflective skills, to live and work in contemporary society. The laboratory alternates theoretical sessions with practical sessions to activate/ exercise emotional and social competence through the creation of thematic in-depth sessions within small working groups. Non-attending students will be able to select a text from those indicated and prepare a critical analysis (summary) to be sent to the teacher two days before the exam to be discussed during the interview.

Attendance

-

Type of evaluation

- Individual or group Project work - Presentation to the class group of the chosen topic - Final interview on the course program

teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

The main topics are:
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 / Planning and implementation of the project of organizational learning in a highly innovative enterprise


Core Documentation

Argyris, C. & Schon, D.A. (1998). Apprendimento organizzativo. Teoria, metodo e pratiche. Milano: Guerini e Associati.

Type of delivery of the course

Topics will be introduced by the teacher and discussed by participants through team works and individual study, during face-to-face lessons. Workshops will be proposed in online way on the platform FORMONLINE. In the event of an extension of the health emergency from COVID-19, all the provisions governing the methods of carrying out teaching activities and student evaluation will be implemented. In particular, the following methods will be applied: the lessons will take place on the TEAMS platform and will be accompanied by workshops proposed on FORMONLINE.

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. In the event of an extension of the health emergency from COVID-19, all the provisions governing the methods of carrying out teaching activities and student evaluation will be implemented.