MG130: Management of Organisations

Organisational behaviour (OB) is the study of human behaviour in organisations. The topics we study in this course are critical to people management in contemporary organisations, for example, leadership and team processes that enhance individual, team, and organisational performance.

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the psychological, social, and behavioural aspects of individuals and teams within the context of organizational settings. In the classes, students will engage in research questions both relating to their personal lives and future work. Some examples of the questions include: "Is conflict always detrimental to team and organisational performance?", "Can subtle changes in resumes affect hiring decisions?", "Does the type of food people consume shape different cultures?" This course aims to help students gain a science-based understanding of some of the most intriguing phenomena in organisations and societies.

It will draw upon scientific research from various disciplines, including psychology, economics, sociology, history, and anthropology, to critically examine topics such as motivation, creativity and innovation, leadership, cross-cultural differences, management and artificial intelligence.

The course aims to provide students with an understanding of current popular OB theories and cutting-edge ones. The approach taken in the course will expose students to sociological and social psychological theories that will enable them to gain insight into behaviour in organisations.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course, however some knowledge of psychology or management is recommended.

Level: 100 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: Group presentations, class participation, and an essay. 

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

The course is ideally suited to those who wish to develop a critical understanding of human behaviour in organisations and understand how humans interact with technology to shape the future of work. This course would benefit anyone looking to work in a leadership role or Human Resources.

• To learn and understand key theories of Organisational Behaviour
• To be able to analyse how these theories and empirical evidence can help to understand contemporary organisational issues
• To apply theories to practical problems in organisations in a critical manner
• To build a novel perspective towards emerging cutting-edge issues 

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.