Organisational Leadership

This masters-level postgraduate diploma develops you as a leader who can navigate the complexities of 21st century business. The Diploma in Organisational Leadership is designed for high achievers in significant management roles to question assumptions about management practice and build a deeper understanding of how to manage people and organisations for competitive advantage. 

Taught in four modules of four days each and completed in 13 months the Diploma in Organisational Leadership combines the academic rigour expected of a University of Oxford postgraduate-level qualification with a practical approach to the study of strategic management, organisational development and design, and leadership. 

The Diploma in Organisational Leadership offers:

• A postgraduate-level qualification from the University of Oxford which builds on your existing professional development and experience
• A deeper understanding of how to manage people and organisations, and of your own approach to the complexities of strategic management
• Focus on the reality of leadership in hard times such as delivering the hard messages while maintaining motivation, and focusing on essentials
• while watching out for other factors that could affect performance
• Access to top-level teaching from world-leading experts, drawing on Oxford University’s  strengths in leadership and organisational behaviour
• Lifelong association with the university through the business school, university networks and college membership - and a pathway to the Oxford Executive MBA

Led by Professor Sue Dopson and other world-leading faculty in the areas of leadership, organisational behaviour and strategy the Oxford Diploma in Organisational Leadership is a programme with a distinct intellectual edge, designed to embed knowledge but also to question assumptions about management practice.

The programme is based on four modules of teaching in the areas of organisational development, organisational design, strategy and leadership:-

1. Leadership Fundamentals

Leading individuals and groups effectively is the key to organisational excellence.  This module is designed to help you meet these challenges by providing a framework for managing individual and group performance. 
Topics covered:

• Managing change
• Motivation and incentives
• Groups and teams
• Culture
• Managing with power
• Managing complex systems
• Personality and leadership

2. The Strategic Mindset

Strategy is concerned with the long-term success of the organisation as a whole and this module considers both the strategy of individual business units (competitive strategy) and the nature of strategy for the multi-business firm (corporate strategy).
Topics covered:

• Goals and strategies
• Competitive advantage
• Industry analysis
• Strategy and change
• Diversification
• Global strategy
• Managing the multi-business enterprise

3. The Strategic Leader

Module three reflects on the nature of leadership. The approach is analytical; you will study traditional and contemporary theories about leadership and be encouraged to examine your own leadership style, as well as that of others. 
Topics covered:

• Classic approaches to leadership
• Leading through networks and relationships
• Leadership as a psychological construct
• Charisma and influence
• Leadership, legitimacy and reputation
• Individual and organisational decision making

4. Leading Organisational Change

This module builds on the previous three courses by focusing primarily on the challenges of organising and leading effectively to execute strategic goals in different contexts. It is designed to develop your analytical, management and presentation skills. 
Topics covered:

• Organising for entrepreneurship and growth
• Managing knowledge-intensive organisations
• Challenges in managing the multi-business corporation
• Leading the merger process
• Transforming the organisation

5. Business Project Report

The Business Project Report of up to 10,000 words will be based on current or emerging specific strategic, organisational issues taking place within your own organisation or sector. It must be completed within the Diploma study period.

1. Academic ability

We recommend that applicants have a first-class or an upper second class undergraduate degree or equivalent international qualifications (GPA of 3.5). Applicants who do not hold such a qualification may be considered if they have a very strong employment record demonstrating a high degree of responsibility. Professional qualifications may also be taken into consideration.

All applicants are required to supply transcripts of their previous higher education qualifications as part of the online application. A transcript is an official document showing the modules taken and the marks/grades awarded. A certificate of completion is not sufficient. If receiving an offer on the programme, we will ask you to forward us hard copies of your transcripts.

We do not seek a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT score.

2. English language proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.

• TOEFL iBT 110
• IELTS 7.5

3. Relevant work experience

Applicants normally have a minimum of five years' work experience, this is essential to making the candidate a valuable contributor to the student group and the learning experience of the Diploma.