WORKSHOP IN DISTINCTIVE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Instructional goals
The current work environment requires not only technical skills but also so-called soft skills, which are essential not only to facilitate entry into the job market but also to support continuous professional growth. Soft skills include abilities such as teamwork, effective communication, and adaptability to complex challenges in increasingly globalized and multicultural workplaces.
The course aims to provide theoretical understanding and practical tools to highlight the importance of developing soft skills and applying them effectively. The teaching methodology will be interactive and workshop-based, requiring active participation from students. Attendance is mandatory to ensure direct engagement in the learning process and the practical application of the skills acquired.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
The course will provide conceptual and practical tools to operate effectively in complex, global, and highly uncertain environments. Additionally, it will offer in-depth knowledge and practical instruments to understand and navigate organizational contexts, enhancing students' operational capabilities.
Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Apply theories related to soft skills and their development;
- Analyze the reasons and importance of developing both technical and transversal skills to adapt and compete in an increasingly complex and challenging work environment.
Independent Judgment
Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to critically reflect on when, how, and why to use key skills, such as teamwork and the ability to communicate effectively, both in oral presentations and in written form.
Communication Skills
Students will acquire essential skills for effectively communicating ideas, proposals, and analyses in various organizational contexts, improving the clarity and impact of their expression.
Learning Skills
The course will provide tools to develop and implement soft skills, enabling students to face challenges and changes in their professional growth within organizations.
Course Contents
The course examines soft skills as a complement to technical skills, essential for excelling in an increasingly dynamic and complex work environment. Following an introduction to the concept of soft skills and key theoretical frameworks, such as emotional intelligence, the course focuses on two core competencies: communication and teamwork.
Each competency is first explored from a theoretical perspective, followed by practical sessions where students are tasked with applying the concepts learned, through both individual assignments and group activities. This integrated approach aims to foster a deep understanding and practical application of soft skills in professional contexts.
Reference Books
Goleman, D. & Gallo, A. 2024. HBR's 10 Must Reads on Strengthening Your Soft Skills. Harvard Business Review Press.
Important Note: All texts and readings, including slides, will be uploaded to the platform Learn.
Teaching Methods
The course will adopt the following teaching methodologies:
- Lectures
- Group work and simulations
- Videos and case study analysis
The teaching approach will be highly interactive, workshop-based, and integrated, combining lectures with simulations and interactive activities to encourage active and engaged participation from students.
These sessions will not only assess students' ability to apply the theories learned in class but will also provide opportunities to develop and practice transversal skills such as collaboration, effective communication, and problem-solving.
Assessment Method
Although the course does not include a quantitative evaluation on a thirty-point scale, students will receive a final assessment of *Pass* or *Fail*.
Attendance at all course sessions is mandatory to achieve a positive evaluation. The assessment will be based on the following criteria:
- Continuous evaluation of active participation in class (20%)
- Presentation at the end of the first week (20%)
- Quiz on the content covered in the first week (30%)
- Quiz on the content covered in the second week (30%)
This assessment structure is designed to promote active learning, the practical application of knowledge, and the development of transversal skills throughout the course.
Week 1
Session 1
• Introduction to the course, objectives, and evaluation methods
• Overview of key theories on soft skills and emotional intelligence
Session 2
• Introduction to communication and related theories (e.g., what constitutes good communication, communication processes, different types of communication)
Session 3
• The importance of listening in the communication process
• Simulation of effective listening and feedback processes
Session 4
• The communication process in various organizational contexts (e.g., job interviews, PowerPoint presentations for group projects)
Session 5
• Individual presentation of a proposal using the techniques learned during the week
TEXTS AND REQUIRED READINGS:
• Wendi L. Adair, Nancy R. Buchan, Xiao-Ping Chen, and Dong Liu, 2016. A Model of Communication Context and Measure of Context Dependence. AMD, 2, 198–217.
• Gallo, C. 2019. The art of persuasion hasn’t changed in 2,000 years. Harvard Business Review
• Knight, R. 2014. How to give a stellar presentation. Harvard Business Review.
• Sytch, M. & Kim, Y.H. 2020. Want to win someone over? Talk like they do. Harvard Business Review
Week 2
Session 1
• Introduction to teamwork (key theories and applications)
• Quiz on required readings and topics covered in class during the first week
Session 2
• The challenges of teamwork and the key theories and techniques for overcoming obstacles to effective teamwork
Session 3
• Simulation of a case where students must overcome a problem and work in teamwork to reach a common decision
• Debriefing in class to analyze the issues that emerged during the simulation
Session 4
• Teamwork and effective communication (including active listening) in multicultural and inclusive contexts
• Wrap up of the course
• Quiz on required readings and topics covered in class during the second week
TEXTS AND REQUIRED READINGS:
• Kerrissey, M., Mayo, A., and Edmondson, A.C. 2021. Joint Problem-Solving Orientation in Fluid Cross-Boundary Teams. AMD, 7, 381–405.
• Pittampalli, A. 2019. Why Groups Struggle to Solve Problems Together. Harvard Business Review.
• Haas, M. & Mortesen, M. 2016. The Secrets of Great Teamwork. Harvard Business Review.