ORGANIZATION DESIGN
Syllabus
EN
IT
Learning Objectives
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course aims at providing students with the main logical categories and the fundamental concepts of organizational design, integrating the theoretical and the practical dimensions. In line with objectives of the whole program of studies, the course provides a framework to analyze the critical variables of organizational design as a tool for determining (programming and influence) individual and group behavior.
At the end of this course the student should be able to:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
- Acquire and demonstrate a good understanding of the general concepts related to the organizational design of the structure and of the system, both in universalistic and contingent perspectives;
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE:
- Apply theories related to the organizational design in real-life companies;
MAKING JUDGEMENTS
- Evaluate personal and organizational contingencies, to assess critical success factor, so to formulate strategies apt to improve personal working conditions (actual and/or future);
- Make critical judgements about the fit of organizational structures and systems of real-life companies, and formulate pertinent strategies, even related to corporate social responsability;
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
1. Elaborate and evaluate case studies using verbal and written communication tools;
2. Present personal conclusions and create logical links in a rapid manner.
LEARNING SKILLS:
Students will work directly on human resource management practices and tools and, at the same time, will be required to study and discuss scientific publications and dissemination related to them. In this way, students will be led to train independent learning skills useful for their further studies.
The course aims at providing students with the main logical categories and the fundamental concepts of organizational design, integrating the theoretical and the practical dimensions. In line with objectives of the whole program of studies, the course provides a framework to analyze the critical variables of organizational design as a tool for determining (programming and influence) individual and group behavior.
At the end of this course the student should be able to:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
- Acquire and demonstrate a good understanding of the general concepts related to the organizational design of the structure and of the system, both in universalistic and contingent perspectives;
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE:
- Apply theories related to the organizational design in real-life companies;
MAKING JUDGEMENTS
- Evaluate personal and organizational contingencies, to assess critical success factor, so to formulate strategies apt to improve personal working conditions (actual and/or future);
- Make critical judgements about the fit of organizational structures and systems of real-life companies, and formulate pertinent strategies, even related to corporate social responsability;
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
1. Elaborate and evaluate case studies using verbal and written communication tools;
2. Present personal conclusions and create logical links in a rapid manner.
LEARNING SKILLS:
Students will work directly on human resource management practices and tools and, at the same time, will be required to study and discuss scientific publications and dissemination related to them. In this way, students will be led to train independent learning skills useful for their further studies.
Prerequisites
None
Program
he topic of organizational design is addressed at three distinct levels of intervention that, therefore, make up the structure of the course, starting, however, with the fundamentals of organizational behavior as the premise and object of design action. The course will be organized around 5 thematic sections. One weeks of class will be devoted to each thematic section. Each week consists of No. 6 teaching hours.
The aforementioned sections are:
Section No. 1: People and behaviors in the organization (week 1);
Section No. 2: The micro-organizational design (week 2);
Section No.3: The macro-organizational design (week 3);
Section no.4: Leadership systems (week 4).
Section No.5 : The design of organizational boundaries (week 5).
The last week of the course will be devoted to: Recap of the course and Presentation of project work by students (week 6).
The aforementioned sections are:
Section No. 1: People and behaviors in the organization (week 1);
Section No. 2: The micro-organizational design (week 2);
Section No.3: The macro-organizational design (week 3);
Section no.4: Leadership systems (week 4).
Section No.5 : The design of organizational boundaries (week 5).
The last week of the course will be devoted to: Recap of the course and Presentation of project work by students (week 6).
Books
Burton, Richard & DeSanctis, Gerardine & Obel, Borge. (2006). Organizational Design: A Step-by-Step Approach. Cambridge University Press (Fourth edition), 2020 (mandatory)
Bibliography
For each topic included in the programme, one or more reference sheets are made available to students, containing all the information and teaching resources necessary for the preparation of the exam (formative objectives, lesson contents, conceptual maps, bibliography and web sites).
After each lecture, the slides will be added on the institutional website.
After each lecture, the slides will be added on the institutional website.
Teaching methods
The course employs mixed teaching methods. The traditional frontal lecture is done with the support of slides and there is a strong stimulus to the active participation of students with questions and opinions. In addition to that, the course add in-class group discussions, analysis of video or multi-media material, case studies analysis and discussion (micro-tasks).
Exam Rules
The course will be assessed through a written exam. During the course, it will be possible to acquire extra bonus points through the elaboration of case studies (micro-tasks). Groupworks are mandatory to pass the exam.
The exam will be done through open questions on concepts.The questions have equal weight in the composition of the final assessment. They are intended to highlight the knowledge acquired as well as the student's ability to conceptualize and reason.
The groupworks focus on verifying the ability to elaborate case studies and to apply knowledge learnt and give suggestion. Furthermore, the writing skills to express coherently and properly will be assessed.
The examination will be graded according to the following criteria:
Ineligible: major deficiencies and/or inaccuracies in knowledge and understanding of topics; limited ability to analyze and synthesize; frequent generalizations and limited critical and judgmental skills; topics are stated inconsistently and with inappropriate language;
18-20: Barely sufficient knowledge and understanding of topics with possible generalizations and imperfections; sufficient skills of analysis synthesis and autonomy of judgment, topics are expounded frequently inconsistently and with inappropriate/technical language;
21-23: Routine knowledge and understanding of topics; Ability to analyze and synthesize correctly with sufficiently coherent logical argumentation and appropriate/technical language
24-26: Fair knowledge and understanding of topics; Good analytical and synthesis skills with arguments expressed rigorously but with language not always appropriate/technical.
27-29: Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of topics; considerable ability to analyze and synthesize. Good autonomy of judgment. Topics expounded rigorously and with appropriate/technical language
30-30L: Excellent level of thorough knowledge and understanding of topics. Excellent skills of analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgment. Arguments expressed in an original manner and with appropriate technical language.
The grade is communicated to students via platform provided by the University (Delphi). A student reception is scheduled for the explanation feedback of grades
The exam will be done through open questions on concepts.The questions have equal weight in the composition of the final assessment. They are intended to highlight the knowledge acquired as well as the student's ability to conceptualize and reason.
The groupworks focus on verifying the ability to elaborate case studies and to apply knowledge learnt and give suggestion. Furthermore, the writing skills to express coherently and properly will be assessed.
The examination will be graded according to the following criteria:
Ineligible: major deficiencies and/or inaccuracies in knowledge and understanding of topics; limited ability to analyze and synthesize; frequent generalizations and limited critical and judgmental skills; topics are stated inconsistently and with inappropriate language;
18-20: Barely sufficient knowledge and understanding of topics with possible generalizations and imperfections; sufficient skills of analysis synthesis and autonomy of judgment, topics are expounded frequently inconsistently and with inappropriate/technical language;
21-23: Routine knowledge and understanding of topics; Ability to analyze and synthesize correctly with sufficiently coherent logical argumentation and appropriate/technical language
24-26: Fair knowledge and understanding of topics; Good analytical and synthesis skills with arguments expressed rigorously but with language not always appropriate/technical.
27-29: Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of topics; considerable ability to analyze and synthesize. Good autonomy of judgment. Topics expounded rigorously and with appropriate/technical language
30-30L: Excellent level of thorough knowledge and understanding of topics. Excellent skills of analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgment. Arguments expressed in an original manner and with appropriate technical language.
The grade is communicated to students via platform provided by the University (Delphi). A student reception is scheduled for the explanation feedback of grades