ORGANIZING IN A DIGITAL WORLD
- Academic year
- 2023/2024 Syllabus of previous years
- Official course title
- ORGANIZING IN A DIGITAL WORLD
- Course code
- ET7011 (AF:386281 AR:216822)
- Modality
- On campus classes
- ECTS credits
- 6
- Degree level
- Bachelor's Degree Programme
- Educational sector code
- SECS-P/10
- Period
- 1st Term
- Course year
- 2
- Where
- RONCADE
- Moodle
- Go to Moodle page
Contribution of the course to the overall degree programme goals
The course will develop students’ understanding of organizational design and its challenges in companies involved in digital transformation. It will provide theoretical and practical knowledge on what organizational environment, structure and culture are, which are the main decisions, organizational solutions at different levels of analysis and intervention: organizational , group and individual. A specific focus will be provided on the organizational challenges and opportunities related to artificial intelligence and on its impact on the future of work and its organization.
Expected learning outcomes
The course will help students to develop an integrated set of frameworks and tools for understanding and making decisions regarding organization that can influence innovation and ultimately the effectiveness of organizations. A special attention will be given also to a sustainability perspective, especially from a social and cultural aspect.
Specifically students :
- will learn what organizational design means , what are the main dimensions of organizational design based on the main organization theories
- will understand key decisions of organizational design at different levels of analysis: inter-organizational, organizational, teams and individuals ones
- will able to comprehend what are the key challenges posed by the digital transformation to organizational design in a variety of sectors
- will learn analytical frameworks to managing the main challenges in designing organizations.
Specifically students :
- will learn what organizational design means , what are the main dimensions of organizational design based on the main organization theories
- will understand key decisions of organizational design at different levels of analysis: inter-organizational, organizational, teams and individuals ones
- will able to comprehend what are the key challenges posed by the digital transformation to organizational design in a variety of sectors
- will learn analytical frameworks to managing the main challenges in designing organizations.
Pre-requirements
It is a prerequisite to have taken the exam of the course of Digital management and have the grade registered
Contents
The course will develop a robust in-depth analysis of organizational design and will stimulate critical discussion about it.
The course is structured in 4 sections
1. Organizations, environment and technologies
- Organizations: why and how do they exist? – Jones Ch. 1 pag. 23-41
- Organizing in a Changing Global Environment – Jones Ch 3 pag.81-90 & David et al. (2019)
- Understanding digital technologies – Joerges & Czarniawska (1998) & Flyverbom et al. (2016)
2. Designing organizational structures
- Designing Organizational Structures - Jones Ch 4-5
- Digitizing organizational structures: case studies – Raviola & Norbäck (2013) & Plesner & Raviola (2016)
- Challenges of structure and control - Jones Ch 6 pag .114-140
3. Organizational culture and change
- Organizational culture – Jones Ch 7 & Czarniawska (2000)
- Organizational change – Jones Ch 10 & Robbins and Judge, Chapters 9-10
4. Automation, AI and the future of work
- An introduction to AI
- Automation, AI and work – Fleming (2019)
- Expertise and invisible work in the digital world – Plesner et al. (2018)
The course is structured in 4 sections
1. Organizations, environment and technologies
- Organizations: why and how do they exist? – Jones Ch. 1 pag. 23-41
- Organizing in a Changing Global Environment – Jones Ch 3 pag.81-90 & David et al. (2019)
- Understanding digital technologies – Joerges & Czarniawska (1998) & Flyverbom et al. (2016)
2. Designing organizational structures
- Designing Organizational Structures - Jones Ch 4-5
- Digitizing organizational structures: case studies – Raviola & Norbäck (2013) & Plesner & Raviola (2016)
- Challenges of structure and control - Jones Ch 6 pag .114-140
3. Organizational culture and change
- Organizational culture – Jones Ch 7 & Czarniawska (2000)
- Organizational change – Jones Ch 10 & Robbins and Judge, Chapters 9-10
4. Automation, AI and the future of work
- An introduction to AI
- Automation, AI and work – Fleming (2019)
- Expertise and invisible work in the digital world – Plesner et al. (2018)
Referral texts
The course material will consist of case studies, academic articles and book chapters. Most of the material will be available online.
For each section there will be selected further readings useful for deepening the analysis.
Mandatory readings
Gareth R. Jones, 2013, Organizational theory, design and Change, Pearson (7th ed.) CH. 1-3-4-6-7-10
Robbins Stephen P., Judge Timothy A., 2017, Organizational Behavior -Prentice Hall . CH. 9-10
Comacchio A., 2021, The Transformation of Work in the COVID-19 Era, PIJ/Volume 6 - Issue 2/2021
Other mandatory readings, mostly the academic articles, will be communicated the first lesson and will be available in moodle.
For each section there will be selected further readings useful for deepening the analysis.
Mandatory readings
Gareth R. Jones, 2013, Organizational theory, design and Change, Pearson (7th ed.) CH. 1-3-4-6-7-10
Robbins Stephen P., Judge Timothy A., 2017, Organizational Behavior -Prentice Hall . CH. 9-10
Comacchio A., 2021, The Transformation of Work in the COVID-19 Era, PIJ/Volume 6 - Issue 2/2021
Other mandatory readings, mostly the academic articles, will be communicated the first lesson and will be available in moodle.
Assessment methods
Attending students
Group Assignment and written exam
- Group assignments is an opportunity given just to the attending students
- The assignment will be identified and fully described at the beginning of the course and it will be delivered by attending students during the course
- Attending students can also choose to take the written exam without assignment
Non attending students
Written exam
Written exam is structured in 30 questions (20 multiple choice and 10 structured questions) - 1 hour
A simulation of the exam will be delivered during the course
Group Assignment and written exam
- Group assignments is an opportunity given just to the attending students
- The assignment will be identified and fully described at the beginning of the course and it will be delivered by attending students during the course
- Attending students can also choose to take the written exam without assignment
Non attending students
Written exam
Written exam is structured in 30 questions (20 multiple choice and 10 structured questions) - 1 hour
A simulation of the exam will be delivered during the course
Teaching methods
Interactive approach based on:
Small group discussions
Ice-breaking exercises
Case Studies
Visual supported training
Guest lecturers
Live cases
Assignments
Small group discussions
Ice-breaking exercises
Case Studies
Visual supported training
Guest lecturers
Live cases
Assignments
Teaching language
English
Further information
Teaching language: English
Type of exam
written
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals
This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Circular economy, innovation, work" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development
Definitive programme.
Last update of the programme: 28/09/2023