THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR
Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: GIUSEPPE SANTISIExpected Learning Outcomes
The aim of the course is to explore models and practices of organizational behavior through a comparative analysis of business and economic models and organizational and psycho-organizational models.
The expected outcomes include assessing the ability to understand the evolution of organizational models and their practical application, with particular reference to models and practices of human resource organization and development. In the evaluation process of learning and its outcomes, particular attention will be paid to the ability to analyze and grasp the critical factors emerging from the impact of new technologies on the role of the "person" in the organizational landscape.
The course reflects and applies the Dublin Descriptors: Knowledge and understanding (DD1), Applying knowledge and understanding (DD2), Making judgements (DD3), Communication skills (DD4), and Learning skills (DD5).
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
The course consists of 42 hours of classroom instruction, equivalent to 7 ECTS credits.
The course will provide a historical and critical overview of the concepts of “organization” and “management,” with particular reference to models of organization and human resource development. Attention will focus on analyzing the organizational models that have emerged over the last fifty years and the corresponding management models applied. Special emphasis will be placed on the evolving role of the “individual” within organizations and the evolution of group management practices in achieving organizational goals, while considering objectives related to organizational sustainability and ethics.
Furthermore, the course will contribute to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The topics covered relate specifically to the following goals:
Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being. By fostering knowledge regarding individual well-being within work groups and the tools for planning and assessing organizational health and workplace safety, the course helps develop skills for conducting assessments that are scientifically grounded and respectful of individual well-being.
Goal 4 – Quality Education. The course contributes to developing scientific, methodological, and professional skills in the fields of work psychology and human resources, promoting the ability to understand methodologies, tools, and procedures for assessing individuals within organizations, organizational performance, and ethical assurance practices.
Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities. The course promotes an individualized and methodologically rigorous approach to assessment—one that is attentive to individual characteristics and context—thereby helping to reduce the risk of inappropriate or discriminatory evaluations that could compromise health within work groups.
Textbook Information
b) Ellemers, N. & de Gilder, D. L'organizzazione etica. Questioni, analisi e soluzioni. Maggioli, 2023 (capp.: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8)
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Personal management: from business models to a psycho-organizational perspective. From management to personal development | a) Ch. 1° |
| 2 | Human resources as a source of sustainable competitive advantage | a) Ch. 2° |
| 3 | Organizational assessment | a) Ch. 4° |
| 4 | Managing the "people mix": from diversity management to hybrid work | a) Ch. 8° |
| 5 | The challenges of new HRM models | a) Ch. 9° |
| 6 | Moral behavior in organizations | b) Ch.1° |
| 7 | Moral leadership and the motivation behind moral choices | b) Ch. 3°- 4° |
| 8 | Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion | b) Ch.5° |
| 9 | The human factor in organizational change | b) Ch.6° |
| 10 | The power of the ethical climate | b) Ch.8° |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The exam takes place in oral form. The final evaluation can benefit from the outcome of individual or group exercises planned by the teacher, whose participation is not obligatory but strongly recommended.
Below are the evaluation criteria that are followed to evaluate the student during the exam:
· Adequacy of expression regarding content and method
· Lexical correctness
· Breadth and thematic awareness
· Ability for critical analysis
· Interdisciplinary connection ability
· Ability to re-elaborate the knowledge acquired
· Ability to transfer knowledge to operational contexts
To ensure equal opportunities and compliance with current regulations, interested students may request a personal meeting to arrange for any necessary compensatory measures and/or dispensations, based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students may also contact the designated CInAP (Centre for Active and Participatory Integration — Services for Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders) representative for their Department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
a) The concept of complex organization?
b) What is the evolutionary path of the organization and its management models?
c) Building the organization. What are the analysis factors?
d) From performance evaluation to the evaluation of individuals and their potential
e) Diversity Management models
f) The content and development of hybrid work
g) Ethical organization and ethics in organizations