Module BUSI49H30: Change in Organisations

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI49H30: Change in Organisations

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To develop students’ knowledge and understanding of key issues relating to organisational change
• To develop students as independent researchers
• An important feature of this module is that sessions will consider both the content of existing studies and the way these were designed and implemented.

Content

• Introduction; the nature of organisational change
• Theoretical frameworks
• Fields and perspectives (Content and Process aspects)
• The Institutional approach
• Designing research: Population, observation plan, access data
• Change and Inertia
• Change and Identity
• Change and Health
• Change and Organisational Performance
• Change and Leadership

Learning Outcomes

• Have an advanced knowledge and understanding of the nature of Organisational Change in contemporary societies
• Advanced knowledge of contemporary theoretical frameworks and the corresponding research methodologies, data needs, and data availability
• Knowledge and awareness of cultural differences and their impact on organisational change

• Be able to critically analyse a number of different issues relating to the study of structural and cultural change processes
• Be able to critically evaluate different research designs and methods
• Be aware of published material and survey data on reorganisations and organisational change process
• Be aware of and be able to critically evaluate different theories of organisational change and change management
• To understand Access, Interest and Power issues surrounding organisational change projects

• To understand the problems and issues in researching organisational change
• To begin initial formulation and articulation of a potential scheme of research in the subject area of organisational change
• Effective written communication

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module will be delivered in a three-day block composed of six lectures, three seminars and three workshops. The lectures offer introductions to current, contemporary theories while the seminars address questions such as: what does it take to apply these theories to well known, well documented change processes; what kind of insight do they yield; and what do they predict about the success of these processes?
• The workshops discuss the research design considerations triggered by some theoretical gaps, open, unanswered questions. They also look at the problems associated with some novel yet unexplained phenomena.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Individual 3000-word assignment.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University