Teaching code

4S01392

Teacher

Andrea Ceschi

Coordinator

Andrea Ceschi

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-PSI/06 - WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Period

First half of Semester 2 , Second half of Semester 2

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning outcomes

This course aims to introduce the framework of work and organizational psychology as a field of study and of intervention. In particular, it focuses on relationships between interpersonal interaction (individual differences and not), job characteristics and organizational variables. At the end, the student should be able to recognize constructs such as Work Engagement and Burnout, apply organizational models such as Job Demands-Resources or Demand-Control, evaluate behaviors such as Job crafting or Counterproductive Work Behavior. Regarding the application of this matter, students should understand and solve interactive cases based on empirical evidence in the field of occupational psychology.

Program

The programme of the course will include the following:

1) Theoretical introduction to Organisational Psychology
. Psychology and Organisational Psychology
. Taylorism and Fordism
. Hawthorne Studies
. Kurt Lewin: leadership and group dynamics
. Herzberg: job design and job enrichment

2) Human Resources and Organisational functions
. Organisational Development
. Climate and Safety climate: stress and burnout
. Selection and assessment
. Training and Orientation
. Organizational policies and Diversity Management
. Position assessment
. Performance assessment
. Potential assessment

3) Decisions in organisations
. the role of cognitivism in organisational functions
. Heuristics and bias applied to organisational environment
. Managerial decisions and risky decisions

4) The role of individual differences
. socio-anagraphic variables: age, gender and work experience
. questionnaires and tests
. Constructs' measurement
. Personality traits
. Inclination to risk

5) Main constructs of organisational psychology:
. Effort and Rewards
. Job Resources and Job Demands
. Exhaustion, Cinism, work disengagement
. Work Engagement
. Job Performance

6) Reference organisational models
. Warr's Vitamin model
. Demand Control model
. Effort-Reward Imbalance model
. Job Demands-Resources model

7) Organisational behaviour
. Definition of behaviour
. The Theory of planned behaviour
. Counterproductive behaviour
. Prosocial behaviour
. Advanced techniques to predict behaviour

8) Job Crafting and training technique
. Job Crafting training methods
. Resources-based training methods
. Coaching and mentoring

The didactic methods adopted are different for attendant and non-attendant students, due to the high level of innovation of the literature taken as a reference, which requires a continuous verification of the contents of the course.

For attendant students, the didactic method used will be frontal lessons to deliver basic notions; key-categories and fundamental practical instruments. In addition to this, students will be asked to perform reading of scientific papers, and writing of digital works related to this discipline.
Besides, also thanks to the e-learning platform of the University, we will propose refreshment readings and media related to the topics of the course.

During the first lesson, attendant students will receive the complete calendar of the didactic activity provided with the dates and topics of the lessons. Timetable, room and any possible suspension for the Professor's academic reasons will be provided as well.

For non-attendant students, the didactic method will be the support provided for by the Professor during his receiving hours.

Moreover, throughout the academic year the Professor will be available to receive individual students, according to the times published on the website, which are constantly updated.

Further updates will be made available to the students in a timely manner, also through dedicated notices.

The content of textbooks, lessons and exercises fits the programme. Further didactic material is available on the e-learning platform.

Examination Methods

Learning will be assessed as follows:
- for attendant students, through a preliminary written test and through the preparation of a digital educational product on the HR sector. Further information will be provided during the first lesson
- for non-attendant students (who have not undergone self-evaluation tests) a written examination.

The written examination is meant to verify the knowledge of the topics of the programme and the ability to apply logical schemes to various problems.
The examination may potentially concern all the topics of the programme. The examination consists of open-ended and closed-ended questions related to the topics of the course, and inspired by the discussions that have taken place during the classes, with the use of dedicated educational material. Each group of questions is associated with a score and a final evaluation with marks out of 30.
ERASMUS students must contact the professor at the beginning of the course as to agree on the educational methods and examinations.