Organizational Development and Change Management

The course in Organizational Development and Change Management aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the organizational structure of public healthcare organizations and the processes of change management. It is particularly suited for students pursuing a specialization in:
1. Healthcare organizations management in both public and private sectors, as well as corporate consultancy, given the course's focus on core issues related to organizational restructuring and change processes;
2. Pharmaceutical and medtech firms, offering:
i. insight into the organizational logic and hierarchical-functional systems of one of the company's key stakeholders (i.e., healthcare organizations); and
ii. the ability to analyze the impact of healthcare system reform laws or corporate initiatives that involve organizational and change management dimensions, potentially reshaping stakeholder relationships.
Upon completion of the course, students will acquire:
· Knowledge, methodologies, and tools related to organizational development and design in public healthcare organizations;
· Understanding of organizational models within the main functional areas of healthcare companies: executive management, hospital care, territorial services, administrative services, and public health/prevention;
· Skills in designing corporate organizational charts;
· Competence in planning and managing corporate change management projects with organizational implications.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Read and interpret the various organizational charts of National Health Service (SSN) healthcare organizations in terms of organizational structures, hierarchical and technical-scientific coordination relationships, and hierarchical subordination or superordination.
2. Identify the organizational models underlying corporate organizational charts and understand the main objectives guiding the organizational design choices.
3. Apply approaches, frameworks, and tools of organizational design within healthcare organizations (e.g., revision of the corporate statute, internal regulations, organizational charts, redefinition of the organization's strategic direction, etc.).
4. Plan and manage corporate change management projects involving organizational implications.
The purpose of the group work is to foster participants' ability—through continuous guidance from the instructor—to analyze organizational contexts, select and construct the most appropriate organizational models to meet corporate needs, and justify their choices.
Through case study analysis, classroom discussions, and group presentations, students will develop independent judgment, self-directed learning skills, and effective communication abilities.