The new psychology of leadership

Full course description

The course is about leadership, strategy and change in a global business context. It confronts students with strategic business issues of today with the aim to develop business knowledge and to improve leadership skills to deal with these issues in a more effective and creative way.

In the global context companies are confronted with business issues such as increasing speed of innovation, cultural diversity, need for differentiation, increasing competition, rising energy costs and stricter regulations on CO2 emissions, etc. These issues are not isolated. They are connected to a world of rapidly changing technological, political, economic, and environmental developments. To deal with these issues more effectively it is important to understand the logic of the business industry or sector.

An industry such as pharmaceutical or health care is organized differently than for example the airline industry or the automotive industry.  Some industries are more local, and the role of government differs. We must have an eye for diversity and complexity behind industry and company logic.

So understanding the business logic at hand is important, but it is not enough. If we want to create a better world for ourselves and our children, we should think more in terms of leadership and change.

We will introduce examples of leadership that changed the rules of the game in an industry, such as Herb Kelleher’s low cost carrier business model in the US; or Ellen MacArthur’s ambition to change the world towards a circular economy, by building a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design. And Jamie Oliver, the British Chef who tried to change the food culture in the USA through his TV-show the Food Revolution.

In line with Jim Collins’ thinking about “Level V leadership” (or “servant leadership” of Robert Greenleaf) we think that this type of leadership is not about charisma or personal characteristics, but about personal dedication to a goal or vision far beyond personal interests. This type of leadership is embedded ‘in context’. This implies that leadership is not a personal characteristic but a part of a relationship among people in a community, where qualities like trust, playfulness, and creativity are involved.

The case studies form an input to reflect on personal leadership issues. Students are invited to share and discuss their personals sources of inspirations. 

This course includes a field trip.

Disclaimer: trips and visits related to the course are conditional. E.g. Dutch travel advice should be positive regarding the region that will be visited and institutions should be able to accept visitors. In case a proposed trip or visit cannot continue due to circumstances, alternatives may be organized.

This course consists of 32 class hours divided over 7-8 weeks. Students earn 6 ECTS credits when they obtain a passing grade. Students who need more credits can sign up for the extended course format, which includes an Independent Study Project (ISP) worth an additional 3 ECTS. The maximum number of credits that can be obtained is 9 ECTS.