B3484 - LABORATORIO DI ANALISI ORGANIZZATIVA

Learning outcomes

This Lab aims to provide students with methodological and analytical skills for the empirical analysis of complex organizations. The lab is designed as a pathway throughout theoretical perspectives in the field of organizational studies and their application to case studies. For this reason, it is particularly targeted for students who have already taken basic course in the field of organizational studies. The goal is to enhance students' skills and competencies through practical exercises. The goals of the workshop are: 1) to make students aware, through practical exercises, of what it means in practice doing organizational analysis; 2) to develop students' ability to design an organizational analysis project, identifying the research question, the key variables for analysis, and the most appropriate methodology; 3) to make students aware of how to collect, analyze and interpret data, and finally, writing a report and presenting results.

Course contents

The workshop will be organized in 10 sessions of 2 hours each.
In the first sessions, one of the most relevant case studies for organizational studies will be presented: the Industrial Monopoly case - French Tobacco firm(Crozier 1963). In addition, a practical exercise based on the analysis of the Industrial Monopoly case (analysis of the original text) will be offered, with the aim of understanding of how to map the network of the most relevant organizational actors and strategies of action.
Subsequent sessions will focus on how to identify an organizational case study, how to formulate a relevant "research question," and how to organize field research and data collection.
In-class exercises, external guest lectures, analysis and individual presentations of a case study will be scheduled.

Readings/Bibliography

All the readings and case studies will be uploaded on Virtuale web page of the Lab.

Teaching methods

The Lab is designed as an in-depth study and application of theoretical concepts of organizational science to empirical cases. Lab participants will be offered hands-on exercises to identify and choose potential organizational cases for further elaboration with a dissertation.

Assessment methods

Attendance at the class is mandatory. Assessment of the students' outcomes will focus on active participation in the meetings (attendance at least 80 percent of the meetings is mandatory), and on the student's ability to perform the assigned exercises.

Teaching tools

Original case studies, power point slides, videos, databases.

Office hours

See the website of Cristina Dallara