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 organizational structures play in helping individuals reach their potential, successfully collaborate for a common purpose, and leverage the skills, insights, and experiences of all employees.

This course not only explores the theoretical foundations of shaping behavior and promoting performance in organizations but also equips participants with practical skills to implement these concepts. Join us in addressing the core question: How can we 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. Designing effective organizations : In our first theme, we explore the structures and processes within organizations that enable successful human resource management and drive overall performance. How can we design an environment where individuals thrive and contribute to the organization's success?
2. Building successful teams: In the second 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?
3. Leading others: In the third theme, we focus on how leaders can influence employees to realize their potential. Understanding leadership styles, effective communication, and strategies to inspire and motivate are essential. But how can leaders maximize individual potential while avoiding demotivation and conflict?

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 explain the major theories and factors that contribute to effective people management, team dynamics, and leadership.
Goal 2 - Practical application & problem solving: After following this course, students should be able to apply relevant theories and research findings to analyse and develop solutions for practical problems related to people management, team dynamics, and leadership.
Goal 3 - Communication & facilitation skills: After following this course, students should be able to design an engaging learning activity that connects course topics to practical contexts.

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 two written tests, with each one addressing different parts of the course.
• 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.
• Communication & facilitation skills: Your ability to design an engaging learning activity will be tested through the “carry the class” presentation. This will largely be done in groups.

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

1. Written test 1 20% (individual)
2. Written test 2 40% (individual)
3. Group assignment 35% (team)
4. 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.