Management

Bernd Wittenbrink

38815
Managerial Psychology

Course Overview

Management consists of getting things done through other people.
D.McGregor

This course is designed to further your understanding about the nature and dynamics of interpersonal behavior related to organizational performance by providing an introduction to theory and research in the behavioral sciences.  We will devote our efforts to developing a more complex understanding of issues such as motivation, social perception, interpersonal influence, communication, group decision making, commitment, and leadership. Using a combination of case discussions, group activities and lectures, our primary goal is to offer conceptual frameworks and principles that will help you to improve leadership effectiveness.

Access to the Autumn 2023 syllabus

Access to the Autumn 2023 course materials

Course Topics & Schedule
1 • Introduction
 

TOPICS

• Introduction to the Course
• Fundamental Challenges in Leadership

CASE

NUMMI

 

2 • Making Decisions
 

TOPICS

• Fundamentals of Psychology: How do we think? How do we comprehend information?
• Thinking Defaults
• Common Decision Traps

CASE

Carter Racing

 

3 • Judging People
 

TOPICS

• Stereotyping
• Self-fulfilling Prophecy
• Forming Impressions of Others

CASE

Ann Hopkins

 

4 • Managing Teams
 

TOPICS

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Decisions by Teams
• Groupthink
• Social Influence

CASE

Survival Exercise

 

5 • Influencing Others
 

TOPICS

• Persuasion
• Influencing Others
• Conclusions from the Course

CASE

12 Angry Men

 

© Bernd Wittenbrink • University of Chicago Booth School of Business

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