Student guide Faculty of Economics A.Y. 2007/08

The conduct of organisational and working life is generally interpreted in terms of three broad disciplinary areas: namely the economic, technological and regulatory dimensions.       

However at the intersection of these three dimensions, which are present in every type of organisation and its management, there is an added dimension which can be thought of as the sphere of human relationships and emotions. This human sphere, though it has always been very important, was previously treated as implicit or subsumed into other disciplines. However the modern schools of organisational thinking, and the economic dynamics of today, call for the human element to be more explicitly addressed, acknowledging its significance and the need to formulate theories, models, and paradigms that deal specifically with relationships and emotions.

This introductory course on emotional and relational intelligence presents the fundamental models and underlying methodological approaches, preparing students for the more advanced subjects dealing with the field of emotions and relationships offered in subsequent years.
The learning objectives are:

·         To develop a fundamental awareness of the relational and emotional dimension of working life.

·         To impart the theoretical foundations for discussing and developing emotional intelligence.

·         To help students begin to understand their own emotional and relational structure, in preparation for the more advanced material encountered in subsequent years.

- Relational models and theories, superseding of the classical approaches; a discipline in its own right.

- Impact of emotions and relationships on professional interactions.

- The human climate within organisations and its dependence on emotional-relational intensity.

- Application to one's own personal development: methods for understanding relational characteristics and for self-assessment.

- Relationships and emotional components in cultures different from our own, applications to globalisation.

- The two poles : far East and far West, philosophies and customs, for reinterpreting our system of interpersonal relations.

- Use of the cinema as an aid in understanding the emotional-relational dimension.

- Analysis  of cases, examples, audio-visual materials.

 

- Cases proposed by the students for plenary discussion.

The credit awarded for this subject is conditional upon the student's active and committed participation in the course work.

To gain optimum personal benefit from the course, participants are encouraged to conduct a self-assessment of their own emotional and relational skills.

 

The lecturer will from time to time distribute additional study materials to assist students' understanding and command of the subject matter.

 

Recommended reading:

1.      Joines, V.,  Stewart, I., L’Analisi transazionale,  Garzanti

2.      Goleman, D., Intelligenza emotiva,  Rizzoli

 (specific sections indicated by the lecturer at the various stages of the course)