MG4D5      Half Unit
Leadership in Organisations: Theory and Practice

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Availability

This course focuses on leadership in organisations. It places the leader in the context of a stable group, and studies the leader’s ability to influence other group members. The course draws heavily from research in psychology, sociology, and organisational behaviour.  This research is extensive and often confusing, with contradictory findings and conflicting models, and new models of leadership emerging every year. This course will introduce students to the main models of leadership and encourage students to critically evaluate their contributions and limitations.   

This course attempts to strike a balance between leadership theory and practice.  On the one hand, the study of any topic must be grounded in theory and foundational concepts; on the other hand, leadership is ultimately a practical skill. Therefore, the assessment on this course requires students to consider practical leadership situations and apply the theories and concepts to those situations.  

By the end of the course, students should be able to: 

• Explain some of the main theories and models of leadership 
• Critically evaluate the contributions and limitations of these theories and models
• Use these theories and models to address contemporary issues in leadership and practical problems in organisations 

25 hours of seminars in the Winter Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.

Each 2.5 hour session will include a combination of lecture and seminar work. Students are expected to prepare for and contribute to each session. Seminar work will include case analyses and small group discussions. 

In its Ethics Code, LSE upholds a commitment to intellectual freedom. This means we will protect the freedom of expression of our students and staff and the right to engage in healthy debate in the classroom.

Students will have the opportunity to write a formative case analysis essay during WT and receive feedback. Students will also complete in-class case discussions to prepare them for the case analysis essay.

A full reading list will be provided at the beginning of the term. There is no required text. Indicative readings include:

• Antonakis, J., Cianciolo, A.T., & Sternberg, R.J. (2004) Leadership: Past, Present and Future (Chapter 1). In Antonakis, J., Cianciolo, A.T. & Sternberg, R.J. (Eds.) The Nature of Leadership, pp. 3-15. London: Sage Publications. George, J. M. (2000).
• Judge, T., Bono, J., Ilies, R., & Gerhardt, M. (2002). Personality and leadership: A qualitative and quantitative review. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(4), 765-780.

Case analysis / study (100%)

For detailed assessment information, including all deadlines and timings, please see the relevant course Moodle page. Assessment timings will be available at the start of each term.