MG130: Management of Organisations

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

This course also seeks to understand atypical forms of organisational phenomena. Alternative forms of organisations and unique individual circumstances have become more commonplace in recent years; however, theories about organisational behaviour (OB)—designed to apply to “typical” workplace behaviour and contexts—have not kept pace.

The emphasis in this course will be on critically evaluating existing OB theories as they relate to extreme forms of workplace behaviour (e.g., workaholism, pro- and antisocial behaviour) and contexts (e.g., poverty, military, hospital, and artist culture). Weekly topics include isolated and high-pressure work environments, passion work, and compliance and proactivity. In general, this course examines the central issues of organizational behaviour by applying primarily sociological and social psychological theories and methods.

The course aims to balance theory and practical application by focusing on theories that can be applied to organisational problems. It also aims to balance knowledge and skills through exercises that help develop skills such as leadership, decision-making, enhancing influence and team working. We will examine human processes, the individual in the organisation, group dynamics and influencing others, and organisational processes and practices.

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. This course would benefit anyone looking to work in a leadership role or in 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 understand the “limitation” of current OB theories and 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.