Management through literature & movies (2017)

International students: 3 ECTS

Lecturers

Rebora Gianfranco, Minelli Eliana, Puglisi Michele

Aims of the course

Reading novels and watching movies is not only relevant to one's personal education, it can also play a role in management theory and practice. In fiction, managers will find helpful hints, suggestions and even answers to basic questions that scientific management may find hard to cope with. Whenever traditional economic theories lack the time and patience to focus on what is actually happening in the world, novels and movies may help us develop new ideas and increase our awareness. The course will try to define and improve skills and attitudes other than those usual in the domain of academic studies and offer students new perspectives for the development of their ideas. Group-work, lectures and workshops will be centred on movies and literary works to trigger critical thinking and promote personal growth.

Syllabus

Learning materials from movies and fiction, classic and modern, will be used to deal with company issues and managerial skills such as: Change, Power, Training, Leadership, Responsibility, Problem-solving and Decision-making, Crises and Emergencies, Humour, Irony and Management, The Limits of Organizations, Quality, Negotiations, Motivation, Diversity Management, Gender Issues.

Students' assessment will take into consideration original papers, presentations and personal contributions relevant to the aims of the course and the problems dealt with. Timetable Docente

L1 Presentation. How Novels & Movies can play a Rebora, Minelli, Sept. 22, Friday: role in management theory and practice. Puglisi 14.00 - 15.00 L2 Introducing the Relevance of Literature to Puglisi Sept. 29, Friday Management Studies 14.00-16.00 L4 The Case with Hamlet and the Complexity of Puglisi Oct. 13, Friday Organizations 14.00-17.00 L5 Group Presentation Puglisi Oct 20, Friday 14.00-17.00 L6 Analysing management issues through movies. Minelli Oct 27, Friday Guidelines for student’s works. Exercise 14.00-18.00 L 11 Presentations of international students’ works Minelli Dec. 1, Friday 14.00-18.00 L 12 Presentations of international students’ works Minelli Dec 15, Friday 14.00-18.00