Organisational Behaviour is the academic discipline that seeks to answer such questions. It draws on insights from psychology, sociology, and management to understand how individuals and groups act within organisations. Leadership, meanwhile, is the practice of influencing others to achieve shared goals.
While not all leaders are managers, effective managers must develop leadership skills to navigate the informal dynamics that shape real organisational outcomes.
Course description
Every organisation (whether a startup, a multinational corporation, or a public institution) depends on people. Yet people are not always predictable. Why do some employees stay engaged while others quietly disengage? Why do teams either collaborate seamlessly or fall into dysfunction? And how do leaders influence these outcomes?
Organisational Behavior is the academic discipline that seeks to answer such questions. It draws on insights from psychology, sociology, and management to understand how individuals and groups act within organizations.
Leadership, meanwhile, is the practice of influencing others to achieve shared goals. While not all leaders are managers, effective managers must develop leadership skills to navigate the informal dynamics that shape real organisational outcomes.
Understanding OB and leadership is especially important in today’s globalised world. Leaders increasingly work across cultures, manage hybrid teams, and deal with shifting expectations around ethics, inclusion, and change. This course helps students build both a theoretical foundation and a practical toolkit to understand and shape behavior in such environments.
What Will You Learn?
The course follows the structure and key themes of 'Organizational Behavior' by Robbins & Judge – one of the most widely used OB textbooks in universities around the world. Students will explore topics across three levels of analysis: the individual, the team, and the organisation.
By the end of the course, students will be able to explain key OB theories, apply leadership concepts in multicultural settings, and diagnose behavioural challenges in organisational life.
Topics include:
- Individual-level behavior
- Personality, values, and cultural differences
- Emotions and emotional intelligence
- Motivation theories
- Group and team dynamics
- Effective teams and communication
- Leadership theories: from trait and behavioural models to transformational and authentic leadership
- Power, politics, and conflict resolution
- Organisational-level Issues
- Organisational culture and subcultures
- Cross-cultural management and the impact of national culture
- Organisational change and resistance
- Ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility.
Alongside theoretical frameworks, students will examine questions such as:
- How are leader behaviors influenced by personality, values, the characteristics of followers, and context?
- How do cultural differences affect what we perceive as “good leadership”?
- What motivates people in different organisational and national contexts?
- How do leaders influence organisational culture, and when should they try to change it?
The course emphasises critical thinking, personal reflection, and application of theory to practice.
