Transactional or Transformational?: Exploring Leadership & Organizational Behavior with Prof. Jawad Syed

Leadership & Organizational Behavior guides participants through a comprehensive look at the traits of leaders and examines how leaders contribute to the success or failure of organizations facing challenging circumstances. Since 2020, this intensive course spanning four consecutive weekdays for students of the English-taught MSc in Management program has been taught by visiting professor and former dean of Suleman Dawood School of Business at the Lahore University of Management Sciences Dr. Jawad Syed. Unlike previous years' iterations, 2022 marked the first time it was able to be held on campus.

After consecutive days of coursework punctuated by late-night small group sessions, the course culminated in presentations by participants highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the various leadership styles that had been detailed within the case materials and dissected in extensive class discussions.

From generation to generation, the shifting values of the individuals who actively make up the workforce--their priorities, boundaries, preferences--shift the direction of organizational values, demanding adaptable leaders who are able to harness synergies and contribute to the development of their human resources. Courses analyzing the attributes of successful managers and the various trade-offs that come with preferring one style of leadership over another develop the emotional intelligence and self-awareness necessary to capably organize an effective team.