Leading people, teams, and organisations for excellence

Organizations are complex social entities that can achieve success only when the individuals within them thrive and perform to their full potential. In this comprehensive course, we delve into the intricate dynamics of organizations, emphasizing the crucial roles that teams, leaders, and human resource management play in helping individuals reach their potential, successfully collaborate for a common purpose, and leverage and respect the skills, insights, and experiences of a diverse range of employees. The course not only delves into theoretical foundations of how to shape behavior and promote performance in organizations but also equips participants with practical skills to implement them. Join us in addressing the core question of how to inspire individuals to thrive and deliver excellence within organizations.

The minor consists of three interrelated themes that address the core question of this course of how to inspire individuals to thrive and deliver excellence within organizations from three different angles.

1. Building successful teams: In the first theme, we focus on how individuals can productively collaborate in teams, which are a key building block of modern workplaces. Successful teams are critical for business success, but how can we help teams to function at their best?

• Leading others: In the second theme, we focus on how leaders can motivate, direct, and influence the behavior of their followers. Leaders play a key role in helping employees realize their potential. At the same time leaders can be the source of demotivation and conflict. An understanding of how leadership can help people thrive and where it can go wrong is essential for effective organizational functioning.
• Managing diverse people in the workplace: The third theme spotlights the critical role of human resource (HR) management, directing attention to the strategies and practices that underpin its pivotal role in making a diverse workforce thrive and perform. Exploring the dynamic landscape of HR, from recruitment and performance management to diversity management, participants will gain an understanding of how to foster a positive work culture, nurture talent, and align organizational goals with the full potential of each employee.Each module combines a foundation of relevant scientific theories and research findings with a strong practical focus. This practical focus entails linking the theory to relevant cases as well as practicing and experiencing some of the concepts we discuss yourself so that you can develop your own skills.******

Goal 1 - Knowledge acquisition & comprehension: After following this course, students should be able to understand and explain the major theories about and factors that contribute to effective team dynamics, leadership, and human resource management.

Goal 2 - Practical application & problem solving: After following this course, students should be able to use relevant theories and research findings to critically analyze and solve practical problems concerning team dynamics, leadership, and human resource management.

Goal 3 - Self-insight & self-development: After following this course, students should be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses in their own functioning as team members and leaders.

There are no special aspects to this course in view of prerequisite knowledge, scheduling, or selection/application procedure.

All RSM minors have mandatory attendance.

The minor is in English. All literature, class sessions, and course activities will be conducted in English.

Teaching methods
This course consists of a combination of self-study (including both reading of relevant literature and short, pre-recorded lectures) and interactive sessions (combining lectures with practical exercises, case discussions, and simulations). Moreover, assignments and presentations encourage students to apply the content to their own practice as leaders and team members as well as to practical examples and problems in organizations.

Teaching materials
The reading for this course consists of a combination of textbook and handbook chapters, review articles, and illustrative research articles from top-tier management and psychology journals.

Method of examination
In line with the three learning goals, there are three core ways in which you will be evaluated in this course.

• Knowledge acquisition & comprehension: To test your understanding and knowledge of the important concepts we will discuss in class, there will be an individual written test for each theme.
• Practical application & problem solving: Your ability to use this knowledge to analyse and solve practical problems will be tested through a case assignment and presentation. This will be largely done in groups.
• Self-insight & self-development: Throughout this course, you will be asked to develop, implement, and reflect upon a personal development plan to work on one of the core skills we explore in this course. Since this is about your personal development, this is an individual work product.

Composition final grade
The final grade is a weighted average of the evaluation components below.

1. Written test 1 25% (individual)
2. Written test 2 25% (individual)
3. Group assignment 30% (team)
4. Individual reflection report 15% (individual)
5. Carry the class 5% (team)

To obtain a final grade, the weighted average of both written test grades needs to be ≥ 4.5. To pass the minor the final grade must be ≥ 5.5. There is a resit for the written tests, this is an integrated test of both written tests. The minor re-sit period for all written tests at EUR is in July. The carry the class assignment requires you to design an interactive learning activity on the topic of one class session together with your team. It is graded pass/fail.