PSYCHOLOGY OF ORGANIZATIONS

Course objectives

The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills to analyse and understand different organizational contexts, both as the work contexts in which they will perform their professional practice in the future, and – for those students who choose to work as work and organization psychologists – as contexts for intervention and consulting. Knowledge and understanding At the end of the course, students have to master the major relational and organizational variables that characterize the organizations (e.g. structure, work processes, organizational culture, relationships with the environment, power dynamics, decision-making processes, etc.), theories and psychological models of organizational behaviour. Applying knowledge and understanding The course includes interactive lessons, with examples, work on case study and exercises. At the end of the course the students will be able to do an organizational analysis identifying the main elements of a work context and the critical points and strengths, and to formulate hypotheses based on theoretical models. Making judgements In order to enhance the students' critical and judgmental abilities, different theoretical models and their evolutions are compared during the lessons, current examples of organizations are presented, and students are asked to do a practical activity where analyze and critically interpret information related to a chosen organi-zation (a case study). Communication skills During the lessons, the active participation of the students to theoretical discussions is asked, to improve their ability to communicate, using the proper terminology, their reflections about the different models. Further, the workshop includes both discussions in the work groups and a public presentation of the final work. Learning skills At the end of the course students will have acquired sufficient competencies to allow for further university career.

Channel 1
MARIA LUISA FARNESE Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
At the end of the course, students have to master the major relational and organizational variables that characterize the organizations (e.g., structure, work processes, organizational culture, relationships with the environment, power dynamics, decision-making processes, etc.), theories, and psychological models of organizational behaviour. The main topics are: - The main approaches to the study of organizations - The structure and organizational processes - The organizational culture and climate - The relationship with the environment - Power, decision-making and leadership - Change and innovation - Learning processes in organizations - Emotions, conflicts, diversity.
Prerequisites
The course assumes knowledge of the main issues of work psychology and of the fundamental processes in social psychology.
Books
–Catino M. “Capire le organizzazioni”. Bologna: il Mulino. –Argentero P. & Cortese C. “Psicologia delle organizzazioni”. Milano: Raffaello Cortina. Alternatively (in agreement with the teacher): –Hatch, M. J. (2018). “Organization theory: Modern, symbolic, and postmodern perspectives”. Further specifications will be provided at the beginning of the lessons and on the Classroom course website.
Frequency
Frequency is strongly recommended, although not mandatory.
Exam mode
The exam consists of a written test (three open-ended questions), aimed at verifying the knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical models described in the handbooks, related to the main aspects of organizational life.
Lesson mode
The course topics are presented through interactive lectures, asking students to play an active role. They include examples, case studies, and exercises.
  • Lesson code1036161
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • Coursecorso|33569
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDM-PSI/06
  • CFU9
  • Subject areaPsicologia sociale e del lavoro