Teaching

We provide our students with current scientific knowledge on the human side of leadership, organization, and innovation. Together with a focus on practical relevance, this provides the basis for our discussions with students.

Courses

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Courses in the Summer Term 2024

All events, including exams, will take place exclusively in person. All information on the individual courses can be found in LSF.

Please note that a registration via LSF for all examinations is mandatory, both for written exams and seminars!

Further information on master plan exams can be found on the websites of the ISC.

Bachelor

Master

MBR

Courses in the Winter Term 2023/24

All events, including exams, will take place exclusively in person. All information on the individual courses can be found in LSF.

Please note that a registration via LSF for all examinations is mandatory, both for written exams and seminars!

Further information on master plan exams can be found on the websites of the ISC.

Bachelor

Master

Theses Information

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Bachelor Thesis

We expect all candidates for bachelor theses at our institute to participate in the seminar course Leadership & Organization (Hauptseminar). The content of the seminar is important to write a thesis at our institute. Students who completed this seminar course are sure to being able to write their bachelor thesis at ILO. We expect a high scientific standard.

Procedure

  • Start: at any time during the semester
  • Topics: from those listed below, freely choosable
  • Proposals for own topics should fit to our research focus and summarize the following on max. one page: (1) description of the topic incl. research idea, (2) research motivation, (3) methods/data collection possibilities (e.g., qualitative or quantitative).
  • We are open to supervising theses in collaboration with companies, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to supervise the suggested topics.
  • Application: 2-3 weeks before the desired start date with the following documents and information: (1) grade sheet ("Kontoauszug"), (2) preferred start date, (3) examination regulations, and (4) topic preferences (2-3 topics from the list "Topics for Theses") to Max Reinwald (reinwald@lmu.de)
  • Duration: 8 weeks
  • Colloquium (Official Presentation): 4-5 weeks after the start date

Topics

Our current research focus centers around the following main topics:

  • Leading PEOPLE: Leadership & Teamwork, Leveraging Diversity, Trust & Intercultural Collaboration, Multi-Teaming & New Forms of Collaboration
  • Leading INNOVATION: Innovation & Team Agility, Digital Innovation, Open Innovation & Crowdsourcing, Leading Innovation Projects, Sustainable Innovation
  • Leading ORGANIZATIONS: Organizational Agility & Strategy Execution, Change Management & Organizational Transformation, Inter-Organizational Collaboration, Dispersed/Virtual Organizations, Organizational Change & Temporality

You can find specific topics that we currently offer below.

Formalia

For information on formatting, please check the ILO Style Guide.

Master Thesis

There are no additional prerequisites to apply for a master thesis. However, we expect a high scientific standard.

Procedure

  • Start: at any time during the semester
  • Topics: freely choosable from those listed below
  • Proposals for own topics should fit to our research focus and summarize the following on max. one page: (1) description of the topic incl. research idea, (2) research motivation, (3) methods/data collection possibilities (e.g., qualitative or quantitative).
  • We are open to supervising theses in collaboration with companies, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to supervise the suggested topics.
  • Application: 3-4 weeks before the desired start date with the following documents and information: (1) grade sheet ("Kontoauszug"), (2) preferred start date, (3) examination regulations, and (4) topic preferences (2-3 topics from the list "Topics for Theses") to Max Reinwald (reinwald@lmu.de)
  • Duration: 22 weeks
  • No official colloquium

Topics

Our current research focus centers around the following main topics:

  • Leading PEOPLE: Leadership & Teamwork, Leveraging Diversity, Trust & Intercultural Collaboration, Multi-Teaming & New Forms of Collaboration
  • Leading INNOVATION: Innovation & Team Agility, Digital Innovation, Open Innovation & Crowdsourcing, Leading Innovation Projects, Sustainable Innovation
  • Leading ORGANIZATIONS: Organizational Agility & Strategy Execution, Change Management & Organizational Transformation, Inter-Organizational Collaboration, Dispersed/Virtual Organizations, Organizational Change & Temporality

You can find specific topics that we currently offer below.

Formalia

For information on formatting, please check the ILO Style Guide.

ILO Style Guide

Our style guide (PDF, 661 KB) offers you insights into:

  • how to structure your text and which formatting requirements we have;
  • which citation style you should use; and
  • how the declaration of honour should look like.

You will also find a template for the title page of your paper.

Recommendation Letters

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We only provide letters of recommendation for applications to specific addressees and no generalized assessments.

Prerequisite for this is the successful participation (excellent grades overall) in one of our interactive courses (Seminars or Project Course) or that you have written your Bachelor or Master Thesis at our Institute with outstanding results overall. The participation in one of our lectures is not sufficient!

We will need following information from you in advance:

  • Statement of purpose: Where do you want to apply (incl. address of the organization) and why? For this purpose, why would you be a suitable candidate? Why do you want a letter of recommendation from our Institute in particular? In how far can we contribute to your application?
  • List of courses taken at our Institute incl. grades and names of the respective lecturers/thesis-advisor.
  • Current transcript incl. failed courses, if applicable your graduation certificate.
  • Current curriculum vitae, if applicable job references.
  • Recommendation standards: Different organizations request a variety of distinct formalities and formatting requirements for letters of recommendation. It is your responsibility to inform us about these and provide us with all relevant information. Please also note the relevant deadlines and inform us in a timely manner.

Please read the above listed prerequisites for obtaining a letter of recommendation from our Institute. If you meet all of them, please send all required documents and relevant information to the respective assistant or supervisor of your thesis. We will check your eligibility and subsequently contact you in order to discuss the next steps.

Please ensure sufficient time for this process, as the completion of the letter of recommendation may take a few weeks.

Themen für Abschlussarbeiten

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BSc-Topics

Change your mind - Digital mindset development and impact in organizations

  • In the digital era, the development of a digital mindset gets more important. However, there what is meant by "digital mindset" and how can it be developed?
  • Identification and analysis of existing research on digital mindset development and its impact in organizations
  • Identification of barriers and accelerators for digital mindset development
  • Discussion of findings and implications for practice and theory
  • Type: Literature review / conceptual paper

My Story of Change - Using Narratives for Organizational Change Research

  • A structured literature review on the use of narrative research methodology in organizational change research
  • What is narrative research methodology and how can it be applied in organizational change research?
  • Identification of research studies using narrative research for investigating organizational change.
  • Discussion of strengths and weaknesses of narrative research as well as implications for theory and practice.
  • Type: Literature review

Setting Boundaries at Work - When to Say "No" and Its Consequences

  • Develop a conceptual model based on relevant scientific literature on how setting and protecting one's personal boundaries at work (e.g., saying "no" to inappropriate or non-achievable requests from colleagues; in terms of when and for how long to work) may affect employee well-being and engagement
  • Include boundary conditions that may affect the above relationship
  • Develop implications for theory and practice
  • Type: Conceptual paper (may be complemented by interview data)

Is Efficiency Overrated in Virtual Work?

  • Develop a conceptual model based on relevant scientific literature on how socializing or similar practices while working virtually may affect employee well-being, engagement, and affect (one starting point may be Sandstrom & Dunn, 2013)
  • Include boundary conditions that may affect the above relationship
  • Develop implications for theory and practice
  • Type: Conceptual paper (may be complemented by interview data)

Networks and networking behavior in virtual teams

  • Review literature on social networks and networking behavior in virtual teams
  • Discuss implications of virtuality (i.e., distance, technology mediation) on the construction and effects of social networks and individuals' networking behaviors
  • Develop implications for theory and practice
  • Type: Literature review

Political behavior in teams and organizations

  • Review literature on the antecedents and consequences of political behaviors in teams and organizations
  • You can narrow your focus by studying a specific behavior (e.g., building coalitions) or by studying multiple behaviors in a specific context (e.g., virtual teams)
  • Discuss implications for theory and practice
  • Type: Literature review

Secrecy in organizations and its effects on individual creativity

  • Review literature on the effects of secrecy/transparency on org. behavior (particularly creativity)
  • Develop a conceptual model including boundary conditions that may affect the above relationship
  • Develop implications for theory and practice
  • Type: Literature review

Status and power in online innovation communities

  • Review literature on hierarchy and power in online communities
  • Develop a conceptual model (preferably using network characteristics)
  • Develop implications for theory and practice
  • Type: Literature review

I am not my organization: Understanding organizational disidentification

  • Conduct a structured literature review of the antecedents of organizational disidentification of employees, and review some potential consequences of organizational disidentification
  • Develop a conceptual model structuring the antecedents of organizatonal disidentification
  • Develop implications for theory and practice, specifically focusing on how organizations can intervene to prevent organizational disidentifiation.
  • Type: Literature review

Consequences of balancing exploration and exploitation

  • Conduct a structured literature review on the consequences of employees' exploratory and exploitative behaviors.
  • Develop a framework of the reviewed literature.
  • Develop implications for theory and practice.
  • Type: Literature review

Contagion in organizations - When and how do individuals "infect" each other with emotions, cognition, and behavior?

  • A structured literature review on contagion in organizations, e.g., contagions of engagement
  • Describe the state of the art and identify and structure the various types of contagions
  • Develop a future research agenda on contagions in organizations
  • Type: Literature review

Fostering diversity - Organizational change efforts in diversity & inclusion

  • Write a structured literature review on work that views diversity from an organizational change perspective.
  • Discuss the current state of the art of literature.
  • Develop recommendation for theory and practice.
  • Type: Literature review

Innovation in organisations: How do individuals and teams generate new ideas and solutions to complex problems?

  • Identification of relevant research in leading management journals related to following questions: What do we know so far about the generation of ideas and solutions? What relevant theories exist and how can we categorise them? What factors have been identified that influence the idea generation process at the team and individual level? What are the limitations of our understanding and topics for future research that we need to advance?.
  • Discuss the current state of the art of literature.
  • Develop recommendations for theory and practice.
  • Type: Literature review

Replication study

  • Replicate a quantitative study of your choice in the field of organizational behaviour published in a recognized management journal.
  • Critically analyse the study and discuss it in the context of the existing literature.- Make sure that the methodological complexity of the study matches your methodological skills.
  • Think about improvements to the existing model and implement them where possible. Consider methodological and theoretical aspects.
  • Type: Quantitative study

Outcomes of CEO Activism

  • Conduct a structured literature review of the outcomes of CEO Activism
  • Develop a conceptual model structuring the outcomes of CEO Activism
  • Develop implications for theory and practice
  • Type: Literature review

Antecedents of CEO Activism

  • Conduct a structured literature review of the antecendents of CEO Activism
  • Develop a conceptual model structuring the antecedents of CEO Activism
  • Develop implications for theory and practice
  • Type: Literature review

Making Space Explicit: The Impact of Distance (geographic, but also temporal) on Teamwork

  • Identification of relevant research in leading management journals related to the following questions: What do we know about the role of distance and its impact on collaboration processes so far? How can theory help us understand distance in organizations? How do spatial and temporal distances interact with other types of distance (e.g., cultural, institutional, hierarchical), and which has the stronger effect on teamwork?
  • Development of a more detailed research focus based on personal interest and analysis of the identified literature.
  • Description of findings and discussion of implications for practice and research.
  • Type: Literature review

Collaboration in Online Innovation Communities

  • Conduct a structured literature review on collaboration in online innovation communities
  • Develop a framework that structures the findings of your review
  • Develop implications for theory and practice
  • Type: Literature review

MSc-Topics

How Strategic Change Unfolds - A Qualitative Study

  • Student will be integrated into a current ILO research project on organizational change at an organization in Munich. ILO provides data and background knowledge for student. Student transcribes semi-structured interviews and analyzes the qualitative data.
  • Student can set own research focus depending on interest and data.
  • Potential themes: How is the change towards more diversity in the organization unfolding? What is the current reaction to the prospect of becoming more diverse within the organization? What are current topics that are of importance to organizational members?
  • Type: Qualitative study

Please Mark! - Developing Appropriate Items for Organizational Change Research

  • There is a plethora of research on organizational change as well as process factors such as communication, participation and support
  • However, existing measurement scales and items seem to vary in their focus as well as perspective regarding "description" and "evaluation"
  • Which measurement scales and items exist? How can they be categorized and assessed?
  • The student has the opportunity to adapt or further develop the research focus based on own interest.
  • Type: Literature review

Network Dynamics and Knowledge Exchange in Online Communities

  • Investigate how knowledge exchange unfolds along network ties in online communities
  • Collect and analyze quantitative data in close collaboration with the supervisor
  • Student has opportunity to develop own research within the broader topic
  • Type: Quantitative study

Human interactions: An online experiment with real-time video collaboration

  • Investigate dynamics of human interaction in laboratory online experiment
  • Student has the opportunity to develop their own research within broader topic of human interaction (e.g., information elaboration, idea generation, etc.)
  • The thesis involves setting up and conducting an online experiment with real-time video collaboration using qualtrics and open-source solution SurvConf (see Brodsky, Lee & Leonard, 2022 for technical instructions)
  • Type: Quantitative study

Setting Boundaries at Work - When to Say "No" and Its Consequences

  • Conduct a survey among employees and analyze the data to develop an understanding of the consequences of setting personal boundaries at work (e.g., saying "no" to inappropriate or non-achievable requests from colleagues; in terms of when and for how long to work)
  • Student has the opportunity to adapt or further develop the research focus based on own interests
  • Student will be actively involved in the data collection process (i.e., recruiting particicpants and setting up Qualtrics survey among others)
  • Type: Quantitative study

Leading Organizational Change - A Literature Review

  • Conduct a structured literature review on leadership of organizational change-
  • Describe the state of the art and reveal insights across different literature streams
  • Develop a future research agenda on leadership of organizational change
  • Optional: Experiment with bibliometric methods (e.g., co-citation analysis) to depict the different literature streams and visualize results with VosViewer
  • Type: Literature review

AI orientation of firms and its impact on employer attractiveness

  • Familiarisation with relevant literature and the current state of research in the field
  • Develop your own theory on how a firm's AI orientation can affect its employer attractiveness.- Develop and implement a suitable research design for a quantitative analysis
  • Use secondary data or conduct your own survey with Prolific or MTurk
  • Type: Quantitative study

How people allocate attention - Understanding the role of technology use and dispersion attention allocation

  • How do individuals (managers, employees) allocate their attention among others who are more or less proximate (physically, socially)?
  • How do communication technologies facilitate the allocation of attention in virtual work?
  • What strategies do individuals use to strategically secure the attention of their dispersed managers and co-workers?
  • Students are required to collect their own empirical data (e.g., interviews, questionnaire) to answer one of the above, or a closely related, research question.
  • Type: Empirical study (method of choice)

Reducing uncertainty and making sense when working virtually

  • How do individuals converge on a shared interpretation of organizational situations when interacting, at least to some extent, virtually?
  • What is the role of sensemaking in producing (or reducing) power asymmetries, conflict, or identity threats in virtual teams?
  • Students are required to collect their own empirical data (e.g., interviews, observations) to answer one of the above, or a closely related, research question. Students may also consider working entirely conceptually and develop propositions on the role of sensemaking in virtual teams.
  • Type: Qualitative study

Game changer - Individual creativity and artificial intelligence

  • Taking the example of chess, the thesis investigates the effects of powerful artificial intelligence on individual creativity and problem solving.
  • Students are provided with a quantitative dataset and investigate how improvements in chess computational tools affects the playingstyle of Grandmaster over the years.
  • Type: Quantitative study