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BUSI4X715: Leading and Managing Change

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 15
Availability Available in 2025/2026
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Management and Marketing

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide students with: -
  • An in-depth understanding, at an advanced level, of the complexities of the theory and practice of change
  • How shaping implementation strategies and managing change can be improved by engaging stakeholders with change.

Content

  • Content
  • Core concepts: the nature of change; theoretical perspectives of change; types of change; critical perspectives of organisational change.
  • Recognising and diagnosing the need for change: recognising the need for change; diagnostic and dialogic models.
  • Managing the people issues: power, politics and stakeholder management and engagement; the role of leadership in change management; communicating change.
  • Designing interventions: types of interventions
  • Shaping implementation strategies and managing the change: effective change strategies; maintaining control.
  • Evaluation of change interventions: measurement and monitoring; identifying benefits; managing risks.
  • Sustaining change: organisational, team and individual influences for ensuring benefits are realised; embedding the change in the organisation.
  • Impact of change on wellbeing.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • By the end of this module, students should be able to:-
  • Critically evaluate the concepts of change and how they apply in different contexts.
  • Apply tools and techniques for effectively implementing change
  • Identify how to manage change so that it has a positive impact on organizational effectiveness and wellbeing.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • By the end of this module, students should: -
  • Be able to recognise and diagnose the need for change using appropriate models;
  • Be able to shape implementation strategies using appropriate specialist techniques;
  • Have a critical awareness of techniques for sustaining change interventions and for managing people during change interventions.

Key Skills:

  • Effective written communication.
  • Planning, organising and time management.
  • Problem solving and analysis.
  • Using initiative.
  • Computer literacy.

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

  • Learning outcomes will be met through workshop-based delivery, providing a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion, supported by guided reading.
  • The written assignment will test students' understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply and interpret what they have learned in the context of a specific change intervention.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Workshops10weekly3 hours30Yes
Preparation and Reading120 
Total150 

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Based on a Specific Change InterventionComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Assignment2500 words (maximum)100

Formative Assessment

Feedback on participation in discussions and group work.

More information

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