PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

Francesca Zaccaro, Gabriele Gabrielli

Instructional goals

- Provide conceptual categories and tools to understand some of the most significant issues of people management with reference to the sustainability paradigm, central to the current economic and social context. - Develop knowledge and nurture skills to critically evaluate strategies, policies and tools of people management in the perspective of "decent and sustainable work" - Apply a conceptual framework to identify and critically discuss the Sustainable HRM approach, its objectives and practices.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of work organization and organizational behaviour, in order to achieve a better understanding of human resource management practices and related issues.

Course Contents

- Business strategy and HRM. - The sustainability paradigm and its path. Which are the implications for organizations and work? - Sustainable work and the strategy to achieve it - Designing, organizing and implementing sustainable work - HRM practices sees through sustainability lenses -- Purpose -- Organizational well-being, identity and fulfillment -- Diversity, equity and inclusion -- Reward management and work sustainability -- Artificial intelligence and sustainable work

Reference Books

Mandatory Textbook: Gabrielli G., DISEGNARE E IMPLEMENTARE IL LAVORO SOSTENIBILE. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) The following chapters are not to be considered 1, 4, 5, 13, 15 Further Readings (not mandatory): - Gabrielli G., Profili S. (2025), Organizzazione e Gestione delle Risorse Umane, IV Edizione, ISEDI - Capitolo 1 Capitolo 1, 9, 12 - Guerci M. (2011), La gestione delle risorse umane per la sostenibilità dell'impresa, FrancoAngeli, Milano - Lazazzara A., Za S. (2025), Intelligenza artificiale nei processi HR, FrancoAngeli, Milano - Ehnert I. (2009), Sustainable Human Resource Management, Phisica-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg - Macke J., Genari D. (2019) «Systematic literature review on sustainable human resource management», Journal of Cleaner Production 208 (2019) 806-815 - Kramar R. (2014), «Beyond strategic human resource management: is sustainable human resource management  the next approach?», The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25:8, 1069-1089

Teaching Methods

- Lessons - Teamwork and Laboratories - Case Study Analyses - Case Histories - Videos - Learning Pills

Assessment Method

- Development ad discussion of a PROJECT WORK. The aim of the teamwork activity is to test students’ ability to analyze emerging issues in the domain of People Management and identify main managerial implications. The project work contributes for 2/3 to final grade. Project Work output is a final presentation during the last week of classes; during one dedicated meeting students will receive inputs to address their final presentation. - WRITTEN TEST (for students who have participated to the project work) consists of true/false questions to justify (up to 4 point each), multiple choice questions (up to 2 points) and a business case to be analysed and discussed in response to two open-ended questions (up to 16 points). The written exam contributes for 1/3 to final grade. - WRITTEN TEST (for students who have not participated to project work) fill be focused not only on the texts assigned for the course but also on further readings to be specified at the beginning of the course. This test consists of true/false questions to justify (up to 4 point each), multiple choice questions (up to 2 points) and a business case to be analysed and discussed in response to two open-ended questions (up to 16 points). Aim of the written test is to allow students to demonstrate that they have acquired the fundamental theoretical knowledge related to the course and can apply them, demonstrating autonomy and critical thinking.

Thesis assignment criteria

The assignment of the final thesis is subject to the presentation of a proposal with: - thesis index/structure - abstract - main references

Week 1

Session 1 Introduction to the course. Topics, main issues, organization and evaluation Session 2 Business strategy and human resources management. The «organizational and HRM practices». The role of managers and HR teams Gabrielli G., Profili S. (2025), Organizzazione e Gestione delle Risorse Umane, IV Edizione, ISEDI - Chapter 1 Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 8

Week 2

Session 1 Economic-financial performance and (organizational) well-being. How Sustainability challenges HRM practices. Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 3 Session 2 The paradigm of sustainability and its path: main stages. The concept of “sustainable development” and the implications for work organization and human resources management Project Work Presentation Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 2 & Chapter 3

Week 3

Session 1 Decent work, fair work, sustainable work. The need for “sustainable people management” Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 3 & Chapter 6 Session 2 How the economy may harm the dignity of the person and work? Discussion of some cases: implications for HRM Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 3 Gabrielli G., Persona e lavoro: un percorso per rigenerare la dignità, in Gabrielli G. (a cura di), Rigenerare la dignità del lavoro, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2023

Week 4

Session 1 Sustainability and human resources in organizational studies. Research results: discussion Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 6 Session 2 How people management changes: the Sustainable Organisation & HRM. Definition and description of its components. Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 7

Week 5

Session 1 Sustainability principles and implications for people management. Case discussion Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 7 Session 2 The strategy to achieve sustainable work. Linking practices to the objectives of the Sustainable Organisation and Work. The search for sustainability factors. Overview. Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 8 & Chapter 9

Week 6

Session 1 Project Work (Update) Session 2 Purpose: attract people. The WindTre business case Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 9

Week 7

Session 1 Work & job design. Content matters. Well-being as a factor of work sustainability: dimensions and people management implications Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 9 Session 2 Competitive culture, performance and leadership styles: stress and people management. The Job Demands-Control Model. Discussion: how to recognize stressors. Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 10

Week 8

Session 1 Identity, self-realization and satisfaction as dimensions of sustainable work. Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 10 Session 2 DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Practices. Conceptualization and Critical Discussion. Workers with Chronical Illness: The Case of Enel’s MaCro@Work Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 11

Week 9

Session 1 Reward Management and Sustainability. Rewards and Incentives. The Total Reward Model Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 12 Gabrielli, Profili (2025), Organizzazione e Gestione delle Risorse Umane, ISEDI - Chapter 12 Session 2 Safety Needs Matter: Wages, Equity, and Sustainability Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 12

Week 10

Session 1 Incentives and sustainable work. People management dilemmas: motivational displacement Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 12 Session 2 Corporate welfare. Framework, typologies, issues Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 12

Week 11

Session 1 Corporate welfare from a sustainability perspective. People management dilemmas: discussion Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 12 Session 2 Artificial Intelligence and HRM Processes Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 14

Week 12

Session 1 Artificial Intelligence and HRM Processes Gabrielli G., Disegnare e implementare il lavoro sostenibile. Una nuova mentalità per la gestione delle risorse umane, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2025 (forthcoming) – Chapter 14 Session 2 Project Work (Final presentation)