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.
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Courses
Specializations
Bachelor (see link for a tabular summary)
For Bachelor students interested in the specialization “Leadership, Human Resources, and International Management”, our team here at ILO offers two modules in this specialization:. In total, you can take up to two course offerings from ILO to complete two modules in your specialization “Leadership, HR, and International Management”.
Organizational Insights (WP 47):
For the module “Organizational Insights (WP 47)”, we offer the following two courses (each as lecture + tutorial), from which you can choose one to complete this module:
- Organization and Innovation – summer term
- Key Topics in Leadership – winter term
Note that the exam pertaining to the module “Organizational Insights” will be testing the contents of the respective course in each semester. This implies that ‘retaking’ an exam for the contents of each of these two courses is only possible after the next run of this course, i.e., regularly a year later. We therefore recommend that students plan their course and exam participation accordingly.
Leadership (WP 27):
For the module „Leadership (WP 27)“, we offer the following seminar, which you can choose to complete this module:
- Executive Leadership Seminar – offered in both summer and winter terms (subject to scheduling)
As a seminar, this course is limited to 18 students each semester. Information on how to apply for this seminar is made available through LSF.
Master
For Master students interested in the specialization “Management & Strategy”, our team here at ILO offers two modules in this specialization:
For the module “Leadership (WP 28)”, we offer the seminar course “Leadership & Innovation” each winter term.
For the module “Organizational Behavior (WP 14)”, we offer the seminar course “Selected Topics in Organizational Behavior” each summer term.
Students are welcome to choose both modules (and the respective seminars) as part of their specialization “Management & Strategy”. As for seminar contents, we choose new focal topics for each new run of our seminars.
Courses in the Summer Term 2026
All events, including exams, will take place exclusively in person. All information on the individual courses can be found on 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
Please contact Prof. Weller's staff for questions related to People and Organization. Thanks!
Please also note that Key Topics in Leadership will not be offered this semester.
- People and Organization / Organizational Behavior and HR
- Organization and Innovation
- Seminar: Leadership and Organization
- Seminar: Executive Leadership - Styles and Personalities
Master
MBR
Courses in the Winter Term 2026/27
All information on the individual courses can be found on 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
- Organization Theory
- Key Topics in Leadership
- Seminar Leadership & Organization
- Seminar Executive Leadership
- Seminar: Management von Non-Profit-Organisationen
Master
- Management & Strategy (for questions, please refer to Prof. Claussen's team)
- Seminar: Leadership and Innovation
MBR
Theses Information
Bachelor Thesis
Requirements
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: see Bachelor Thesis Schedule (important!)
- Topics: from those listed below, freely choosable
- Application: Please send the following via email to Ann-Katrin Eicke (a.eicke@lmu.de): (1) grade sheet ("Kontoauszug"), (2) preferred start date bsed on schedule (see "Start"), (3) whether you are studying under PO2015 or PO2024, (4) whether you have taken part in our proseminar "Leadership & Organization", and (5) topic preferences: a list with all topics from "Topics for Theses" ranked according your preference with 1 being highest
- Guildelines: These guidelines (PDF, 530 KB)may help you write your Bachelor thesis.
- Duration: 8 weeks (PO2015); 10 weeks (PO2024)
- Colloquium: after submission in consultation with your advisor
Due to the multitude of applications we receive, we are unable to send a confirmation of receipt. If we received your complete application, you will hear from us on the dates specified in the schedule.
Topics
Our current research focus centers around the following main topics:
- Leading PEOPLE: Leadership & Teamwork, Human-AI Interaction, Leveraging Diversity, Trust & Intercultural Collaboration, Multi-Teaming & New Forms of Collaboration
- Leading INNOVATION: Innovation & Team Agility, Digital Innovation & AI-Enhanced Innovative Behavior, Open Innovation & Crowdsourcing, Leadership & Resilience, Sustainable Innovation
- Leading ORGANIZATIONS: Organization Design & Strategy Execution, Dispersed/Virtual Organizations, Organizational Change & Temporality, AI-Enhanced Strategizing & Decision Making, Exploration & Exploitation
You can find specific topics that we currently offer 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.
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 (5 topics from the list "Topics for Theses") via email to Ann-Katrin Eicke (a.eicke@lmu.de)
- Guildelines: These guidelines (PDF, 107 KB) may help you write your Master thesis.
- Duration: 22 weeks
- Colloquium: mandatory only for PO2024 students; individual date scheduled with supervisor
Topics
Our current research focus centers around the following main topics:
- Leading PEOPLE: Leadership & Teamwork, Human-AI Interaction, Leveraging Diversity, Trust & Intercultural Collaboration, Multi-Teaming & New Forms of Collaboration
- Leading INNOVATION: Innovation & Team Agility, Digital Innovation & AI-Enhanced Innovative Behavior, Open Innovation & Crowdsourcing, Leadership & Resilience, Sustainable Innovation
- Leading ORGANIZATIONS: Organization Design & Strategy Execution, Dispersed/Virtual Organizations, Organizational Change & Temporality, AI-Enhanced Strategizing & Decision Making, Exploration & Exploitation
You can find specific topics that we currently offer below.
Formalia
For information on formatting, please check the ILO Style Guide.
ILO Style Guide
Please note that we have updated the style guide (16.05.2025).
Our style guide (PDF, 368 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
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.
Thesis Topics
BSc-Topics
In principle, we offer all topics as literature reviews or conceptual papers; if helpful, they can be combined with interviews/surveys.
Theses are distributed among supervisors according to capacity. It is not possible to change supervisors and thus topics. We kindly ask you to refrain from making such requests.
- Humor, Purpose, and Generations in the Workplace
- Self-Managing Organizations and Workplace Relationships
- Social Purpose and Politics in Organizations
- Artificial Intelligence, Teamwork, and Knowledge Creation
- Virtual Work and Leadership
- Strategic Technology Management and Change
- Workplace Well-Being, Leadership, and Transformative Technologies
- Ethics, Motivation, and Well-being in the Workplace
- AI, Creativity, and Executive Leadership Dynamics
- Networks, Creativity, and Self-Organization
- Platform Innovation, Collaboration Networks, and Ecosystem Dynamics
MSc-Topics
In principle, we offer all topics as empirical papers. When applying, please send the relevant headings only. The questions are exemplary; you will discuss the specific topic with your supervisor.
Maintaining communities
- What effect does a brief listening and disclosure ritual have on workplace well-being and relationship quality?
- How do employees create or imagine collaborative spaces where people feel seen and valued?
- How do collectives maintain a sense of community online?
Problemistic search
- How do individuals’ search trajectories evolve in search processes?
- How does AI assistance affect individuals’ or organizations’ problemistic search processes?
- What influences search distance of individuals’ or organizations’ problemistic search?
Communication, collaboration, and leadership
- How do modern work arrangements, such as remote/hybrid work or flexible working hours, shape teamwork and team performance?
- How does leadership need to adapt to today’s changing world of work? How can leaders contribute to team and organizational success?
- What role does communication (e.g., what, how, when, and with whom employees communicate) play in shaping individual career outcomes and team functioning?
Organizations, identity, and values
- How does corporate sociopolitical activism shape stakeholder perceptions, behavior, and relationships?
- How do political identities shape employees’ experiences and interactions in the workplace?
- How do personal values influence creativity and innovation in organizations, such as in vegan gourmet kitchens?
Morality, emotions, and stressors in the workplace
- How is morality in the workplace shaped and regulated?
- What role do (moral) emotions play in the workplace?
- What are the costs and benefits of stress in the workplace?
Innovation and technology
- How do advanced technologies accelerate and optimize innovation?
- How do organizations manage change during technology adoption?
- How does technology drive incremental versus radical innovation strategies?
The human side of transformations
- How does firms’ demand for skills change when they engage in business or digital transformations?
- How does the use of generative AI transform human problem-solving?
- How do firms cope with performance shortfalls, and how do they recover?
How networks and creativity evolve over time
- How do individuals’ network positions and relationships change over time?
- How do these network dynamics affect individual or team creativity?
- When do changes in networks foster creativity, and when do they constrain it?
Relationships with work and at work across the lifespan
- Why does a person work? How do work orientations change over the course of a working life?
- How do social relationships at work change over the course of a working life?
- What role does one’s working life play after leaving work?
Platform ecosystems and generous exchange
- How do digital platforms enable cooperation between firms without prior ties?
- Why do firms invest in platforms they do not own?
- How do generosity and reciprocity shape trust in fragmented industries?
Work-life boundaries, leadership, and organizational dynamic
- The digital euro: Expectations and attitudes in organizations
- Inter-organizational collaboration
- Leadership in times of AI
- Managing and crossing boundaries between work and private life