Business transactions commonly take place among people. Understanding the factors that determine people's actions and interactions is therefore a critical prerequisite for being successful in the work environment. This course is about managing people - oneself and others.
Using a combination of lectures, discussions and group activities, the course offers an introduction to theory and research in the behavioral sciences. Its primary goal is to develop conceptual frameworks meant to help you analyze and better understand work settings so that you can more effectively manage yourself and others.
The course is organized into two main themes: (1) the individual, and (2) the organization. The first part of the course outlines the psychological underpinnings of human behavior: How do people comprehend information, how do they make choices and form impressions of others? The second part of the course uses these insights to understand people's behavior within the context of an organization. It addresses how firms can facilitate working in groups, how they may motivate and nurture their employees, and build an effective company culture.