MG4A3      Half Unit
Incentives and Governance in Organisations

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Catherine Thomas

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Management and Strategy. This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MBA Exchange, MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Columbia), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Sciences Po), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo), MSc in Marketing and Master of Public Administration. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

A knowledge of Mathematics and Economics.

Course content

The course uses economic theory to gain insight into issues related to internal organisation, structure, and management of firms. The course will draw on various fields including management science, industrial organisation and microeconomics.

The course deals with three main topics:

  • the provision of incentives in organisations;
  • the use of information in markets and firms, and;
  • the relationship between organisational structures and decisions.

A major theme concerns the question of how to provide incentives efficiently in organisations. Other important themes include efficiency, coordination, incompleteness of contracts and the use of the market versus internal exchange. The implications of asymmetric information are examined. Corporate governance is discussed in a principal-agent framework.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 9 hours of seminars in the AT.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with Departmental policy.

Indicative reading

Main text:

  • Roberts J (2004), The Modern Firm. Organizational Design for Performance and Growth, Oxford University Press, UK.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the spring exam period.

Key facts

Department: Management

Total students 2022/23: 80

Average class size 2022/23: 16

Controlled access 2022/23: Yes

Lecture capture used 2022/23: Yes (MT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills