Master of Leadership & Management

Foster your analytic and academic skills by deepening your understanding of the unique demands of particular work systems. Enhance your appreciation of the professional, political, cultural, emotional and ethical nuances of organisational life.

The Master of Leadership and Management (Organisation Dynamics) is designed for work-experienced professionals who wish to develop their managerial capacities through the application of systems psychodynamic concepts to their actual experience of managing.

The course supports the development of individual capacities to shape and take up work roles that are meaningful, values-based, and which serve the ultimate purpose of the organisation.

It provides industry relevant, post-graduate education grounded in rigorous conceptual development and work experience and provides opportunities for engagement with real world learning in a social and global context.

Psychodynamic theories are studied as a basis for understanding, withstanding and creatively managing unconscious defences which impede work group functioning and task accomplishment.

Students in this course will:

• learn how to use ‘role’ as a unit of analysis in exploring organisational dynamics and behaviour

• analyse the conjunction of technology and human behaviour (socio-technics) as a principal feature of organisation design and the social architecture of work relations

• take a ‘systems’ perspective on the management of connections sometimes hidden or unconscious, between people, tasks, structure, technologies and context

• develop the capacity to think with, and to lead, others purposefully in the face of change and uncertainty

• use action research methods for collaborative discovery and problem-solving in work settings, and

• sharpen writing skills for clarification of thinking and communication, dissemination and publication of thoughts, working hypotheses, reasoned analyses and research findings to relevant stakeholders.

Psychodynamic theories are studied as a basis for understanding, withstanding and creatively managing unconscious defences which impede work group functioning and task accomplishment.

On successful completion of the Masters of Leadership and Management (Organisation Dynamics) graduates have the following.

Knowledge
Mastery of the core conceptual frameworks spanning systems and psychodynamic dimensions.

Skills
Advanced cognitive, technical and communication skills to be able to apply a ‘mind’ for systems psychodynamic thinking, which includes:

• diagnosing from a ‘systems’ perspective the management of connections, sometimes hidden or unconscious, between people, tasks, structure, technologies and context; to understand and manage the unconscious defences which impede work group functioning and task accomplishment

• extrapolating and critically applying the conjunction of technology and human behaviour (socio-technics) as a principal feature of organisation design and the social architecture of work relations; to improve organisational culture

• the advanced capacity to think and reflect with, and to lead others purposefully, in the face of change and uncertainty

• critically applying skills in the clarification of researching, thinking and writing for communication of systems psychodynamic concepts, through creation of working hypotheses, reasoned analyses and articulating research findings

• applying a sophisticated understanding of the ethics associated with the application of the discipline, including attention to principles of integrity and honesty. .

Application of knowledge and skills
Effectively utilising ‘Participatory Action Research’ methods for collaborative discovery and problem-solving in work settings.

This course is offered in part-time mode only. Subjects are taught in mixed blocks of day/evening classes (see timetable for details).

Students must complete 10 core subjects of study (144 Credit points). Students are able to choose to study one or two subjects per semester.

Year 1

MLM1 Organisations and Management through the Art of Metaphor (12 credit points).
MLM2 Unconscious Processes in Groups and Systems (12 credit points).
MLM3 ‘Through a Cultural Lens’: Collaboration with the ‘Other ‘ at Work (12 credit points).
MLM8 Leadership and Authority for Role and Task (12 credit points).

Year 2

MLM5 Strategy in Complex Systems (12 credit points).
MLM6 Organisational Role Analysis (12 credit points).
MLM7 Managing Beyond Organisational Boundaries: Networks and other Relations (12 credit points).
MLM4 Systems Psychodynamic Consulting (12 credit points).

Year 3

MLM9 Action Research (36 credit points).
MLM10 Disseminating and Applying Learning (12 credit points).

Download the course guide 2025

Download the timetable 2025

Completion of a three year Bachelor degree or equivalent and at least five years of relevant work experience.

Special entry may be granted to no more than 10% of the intake, in any given year, to those who have not completed a three year Bachelor degree or equivalent, but who have other tertiary qualifications and extensive relevant work experience.

Students entering this degree are required to have a minimum level of English language proficiency (details of these requirements can be found at www.nioda.org.au/policies).

In 2025 the fee is AUD $3,600 per subject (AUD $14,400 per year, if undertaking two subjects per semester). Fees are payable by the due date before each semester begins.

Payment can be made upfront by direct deposit, credit card or by utilising FEE-HELP. Information for FEE-HELP can be found on the study assist website https://www.studyassist.gov.au/help-loans/fee-help.

There are no incidental fees charged for this course.

Fees are reviewed each year with the new schedule published each October for the following year.

Many employers have study support policies that include financial and other support. Speak to your employer to find out if you are eligible to receive such assistance during your postgraduate studies. Employers gain significantly from the studies undertaken.

Application for ‘Leave of Absence’ must occur prior to the first class in that semester. Fees will not be refunded after the census date in either semester.