Bachelor’s degree in social science, economics/business administration or the equivalent

The course will give students an understanding of how changes in society and at the organizational level influence leadership. At the level of society changes will be looked at from an economic, sociological or political science perspective. Management and management theory can also be understood based on these same perspectives. The course will focus on these perspectives through a discussion of concepts of change, management and the relationship between management and the organization characterized by different types of leadership roles, organizations, cultures, etc. The purpose of the course is to train students in critical thinking about change and leadership as it is viewed at different levels in different organizations and situations in society. Emphasis will be on managing employees that are highly educated, with backgrounds and special skills which would qualify them for independent work.

- Theories of change. Societal and organizational changes from an economic, sociological and political science perspective
- Leadership concepts: How do we perceive management and leadership? How important is leadership in the way organizations and society work?
- Knowledge management: What is involved in the management of an knowledge based organization? Are differences in technology and knowledge intensity sufficient for distinguishing between various modes of production? Does our understanding of management fit better with organizations that are more dependent on a knowledge based labour force than on production workers?
- Leadership in professional organizations: Some forms of specialist knowledge are related to professions. Knowledgeable employees often have as much loyalty to their profession as to their employer. How does this affect the understanding of management and the feasibility of practicing various forms of leadership?
- Project management: What is project management? A great deal of the activities in businesses and organizations is project oriented. What does it mean to lead a project?
- Cultural Management: How is leadership developed and understood in various parts of the world? In a globalizing world, there is a greater need to become acquainted with cultural differences shaping management internationally, both because Norwegian organizations often work with organizations in other countries and because many employees in Norwegian companies and organizations come from other cultures.
- Top management, strategy and structure: Do executives play a special role in the formation and strategy adapted by a company? Is it possible to understand the performance of an organization by looking at the top management?