This course is designed to expose students to the issues, techniques and skills associated with leadership in organisations and understand how effective leadership at all levels can contribute to organizational success and effectiveness. We will explore several facets of leadership and evaluate the significant processes involved in leading. At the end of the course, students should understand theories and principles relating to effective leadership and the most effective way of applying them in an organizational environment. The course examines topics such as: leadership and management; trait, behavioural and contingency theories of leadership; individual differences in leadership; leadership development; contemporary forms of leadership; and issues of gender and culture.

Leadership consists of ‘influence’, ‘inspiration’, and ‘transformation’, and thus depends on effective communication. Leaders are constantly communicating through their words and actions. In fact, studies show that leaders spend most of their work day engaged in communication. Leadership communication can be defined as the controlled, purposeful transfer of meaning by which individuals influence others by using a full range of communication abilities and resources to connect positively with their audiences, overcome interferences, and create and deliver messages that guide, direct, motivate, or inspire others to action. This course is designed to help students learn how to communicate as leaders, thereby bringing about positive results for themselves and for their organizations or communities.

Managers are increasingly required to understand statistical data as a means for improving decision making. This course covers statistical techniques that are essential to analyzing and interpreting data including data preparation, factor analysis, multiple regression, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM). Data-sets and videos are used to deliver the material in a hands-on manner.

Motivation is a physiological or psychological desire that incites us to action. Motivation affects the effort, choice, and persistence of our behaviours. The key objective of this course is to make students familiar with key aspects of motivation theories particularly as they relate to perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours in the workplace. Contemporary and emerging issues are also discussed.

Organisational Behaviour (OB) can be defined as a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behaviour within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness. OB involves the understanding, prediction, and control of human behaviour. In summary, OB is concerned with the study of the behaviour of people within an organizational setting, and how such behaviour affects performance.