OVERVIEW

The course focuses on the process of digital transformation and the adoption of innovative technologies as an opportunity to change the action processes within organizations

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at developing critical understanding of the main organizational change issues.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course delves into the issues of organizational change in digital transformation processes. The educational objectives include the following expected learning outcomes: understanding the fundamental concepts of organizational change and digital transformation; knowing the main digital technologies and their applications in the organizational context; deepening the dynamics of adoption and implementation of digital technologies in organizations; developing a critical and reflective approach to the issues of organizational change.

PREREQUISITES

To successfully engage with the content of the course, students need to possess basic knowledge in the following areas: the objectives and tools of organizational analysis; the behavior of individuals within organizations; structural choices and organizational architectures; organizational culture and cultural diversity; perception, action, and identity; the rationality of organizational action and decision-making processes; teamwork, including its potential and pitfalls; organizational knowledge and internal communication; power and leadership; individual motivation and organizational performance; conflict and negotiation processes.

TEACHING METHODS

The course adopts participatory teaching methods. All lessons require a willingness for dialogue and discussion in a positive atmosphere of interest and spontaneous collaboration. Students are invited to form work groups. Each group's work results in a project work, a summary sheet of the same text, and a seminar. The seminar discussion of all works takes place on the final day of the course. For those who choose the participatory path, attendance at lessons, group work, and seminars is mandatory.

The course is divided into three parts:

Introduction (4 weeks)
In this first part, the fundamental theoretical foundations of the digital transformation process and the analysis of organizational change are established. These form the shared analytical framework to be adopted in the group work. Students who choose the participatory path independently form work groups (ideally, six groups). At the end of the introduction, students take a written test on the basic knowledge of the contents of the introduction and the indicated texts (see below: Teaching materials).

Group work (7 weeks)
Each group is assigned a research topic consisting of a theme/problem related to the adoption of specific digital transformation technologies and the resulting implications for the transformation of organizational action and work processes. Each group deepens the assigned topic by independently conducting research activities under the supervision of the teacher. Each group produces a project work consisting of: a text, a summary sheet, and a classroom presentation aimed at discussing and sharing the results of the in-depth study. During this part of the course, there are no plenary lessons. The work groups develop the project work under the teacher's supervision. Each group has a weekly one-hour appointment with the teacher during the scheduled lesson time. The other five weekly 'lesson' hours are dedicated to the construction of the project work.

Final seminars
The project works are presented and discussed in seminars on the final day of the course. Each seminar follows a structured debate scheme in which the group: 1) presents an overall overview of the work done; 2) delves into the detailed content of the work; stimulates and collects observations from the audience; receives observations and questions from the teachers; discusses these observations and answers the teachers' questions. All students participate in the seminars, and everything that emerges constitutes study material for the final exam.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Serena Scotto (scotto@economia.unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course focuses on the process of digital transformation and the adoption of innovative technologies as an opportunity to change organisational action and work pro-cesses. An analytical and non-prescriptive perspective is assumed, which looks at technology in its instrumental dimension of the process of regulating organisational action, in the light of a basic theoretical background on the fundamental concepts and patterns of analysis of business organisation, which are assumed to be familiar.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Participatory Path
Work groups utilize a variety of sources, which are the specific subject of research and analysis by students in their group work. The reference texts for all students are as follows:
- Plesner, Husted (2022), *L’organizzazione digitale*, Il Mulino, Bologna (Introduction and Part One)
- Masino (2011), “La tecnologia come razionalità tecnica,” in B. Maggi (ed.), *Interpretare l’agire: una sfida teorica*, Carocci, Rome.
- Albano, Curzi, Fabbri (2020), *Organizzazione: parole chiave*, Giappichelli, Turin (specific glossary entries indicated in class).

These texts, along with the lessons from the first month (Introduction), constitute the material for preparing the basic knowledge test at the end of the introduction.

Additional references for specific topics include:
- Beane, M. (2019). "Shadow Learning: Building Robotic Surgical Skill When Approved Means Fail." *Administrative Science Quarterly*, 64(1), 87–123.
- Gasparre, A., & Tirabeni, L. (2023). "Choreographies of Care: A Dance of Human and Material Agency in Rehabilitation Work with Robots." *Work, Employment and Society*.
- Gherardi, S. (2010). "Telemedicine: A practice-based approach to technology." *Human Relations*, 63(4), 501–524.
- Gasparre, A., & Monti, A. (2023). "Posthuman intelligence in healthcare organizations. Exploring Human and Nonhuman Technological Encounters in Medical Work With A.I." (paper presented at EGOS colloquium, Organizing for the Good Life: Between Legacy and Imagination, Cagliari, 6-8 July 2023).
- Beltrametti, L. & Gasparre, A. (2018). "Industrial 3D printing in Italy." *International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management*, 32(1).
- Mohammed, L, Niesten, E. & Gagliardi, D. (2020). "Adoption of alternative fuel vehicle fleets – A theoretical framework of barriers and enablers." *Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment*, 88.
- Project works developed by the work groups.

These texts, along with the content of the final seminars, constitute the material for preparing the written final exam to be taken during the exam sessions (see below: Exam Methods).

Non-Participatory Path
- Plesner, Husted (2022), *L’organizzazione digitale*, Il Mulino, Bologna.
- Masino (2011), “La tecnologia come razionalità tecnica,” in B. Maggi (ed.), *Interpretare l’agire: una sfida teorica*, Carocci, Rome.
- Salento (ed.) (2018), *Industria 4.0 oltre il determinismo tecnologico*, TAO Digital Library, Bologna.
- Masino (ed.) (2022), *Autonomie nel lavoro negli anni Duemila*, TAO Digital Library, Bolog

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANGELO GASPARRE (President)

TERESINA TORRE

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons are held in the first semester according to the schedule defined by the Department of Economics. The class schedule and rooms are available at the EasyAcademy link.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Students who choose the participatory path receive a grade composed of the following components:
1. An individual evaluation based on the basic knowledge test (15%);
2. An individual evaluation based on participation in group work (individual contribution, group report) (15%);
3. A group evaluation on the content of the project work and the summary sheet (15%);
4. A group evaluation on the effectiveness of the presentation (15%);
5. An individual evaluation based on a final exam to be taken during the exam sessions (40%). The final exam is written: 3 open-ended questions (45 minutes) on the indicated materials (see above: Teaching Materials). The grading assigns a maximum of 10 points to each question. If a student scores very well (9 or 10 points) in two out of three questions and poorly in one question, they can, at their discretion, take an additional oral exam or record the obtained grade. The final exam can be retaken without restrictions.

Non-Participatory Path
The exam is written: 6 open-ended questions, 60 minutes on the indicated materials (see above: Teaching Materials). The grading assigns a maximum of 5 points to each question. If a student scores very well (4.5 or 5 points) in four out of six questions and poorly in one or two questions, they can, at their discretion, take an additional oral exam or record the obtained grade."

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The effective achievement of the expected learning outcomes will be verified through various assessment methods consistent with the educational objectives and the expected outcomes. Specifically:

Participatory Path

Basic Knowledge Test
Format: Written test with 3 open-ended questions (45 minutes). Objective: Evaluate the understanding of the fundamental concepts covered in the introduction. Evaluation Criteria: Accuracy of responses, ability to synthesize, and coherence of arguments.

Participation in Group Work
Continuous Assessment: During the project work, the instructors will monitor the active participation of students. Evaluation Criteria: Individual contribution to the group, collaboration skills, quality of interactions, and demonstrated commitment.

Content of the Project Work and Summary Sheet

Evaluation Criteria: Relevance and originality of the content, methodological rigor, clarity of exposition, and critical analysis skills.

Effectiveness of the Presentation
Evaluation Criteria: Clarity of exposition, ability to engage the audience, appropriate use of visual aids, and time management.

Final Exam
Format: Written exam with 3 open-ended questions (45 minutes). Objective: Evaluate the ability to integrate and apply the knowledge acquired during the course. Evaluation Criteria: Pertinence of responses, depth of analysis, argumentative skills, and correct use of specialist vocabulary. If a student scores very well (9 or 10 points) in two out of three questions and poorly in one question, they can choose to take an additional oral exam or record the obtained grade.

Non-Participatory Path

Final Exam
Format: Written exam with 6 open-ended questions (60 minutes). Objective: Evaluate the knowledge and understanding of the texts indicated by the instructor. Evaluation Criteria: Pertinence of responses, accuracy of information, ability to synthesize, and correct use of specialist vocabulary. If a student scores very well (4 or 5 points) in four out of six questions and poorly in one or two questions, they can choose to take an additional oral exam or record the obtained grade.

Exam schedule