Course syllabus
Course-PM
TEK431 TEK431 Change management and improvement processes lp1 HT22 (7.5 hp)
Course is offered by the department of Technology Management and Economics
Contact details
Examiner: Petra Bosch, petra.bosch@chalmers.se, 031-772 1945
Course assistant: Anna af Hällström, anna.af.hallstrom@chalmers.se, 031-772 6534
Teachers & supervisors
- Petra Bosch - petra.bosch@chalmers.se
- Anna af Hällström - anna.af.hallstrom@chalmers.se
- Andreas Hellström - andreas.hellstrom@chalmers.se
- Pernilla Gluch (teacher) - pernilla.gluch@chalmers.se
Confirmed Guest lecturers:
- Mats Färnstrand - Change management consultant
- Karin Ahlbäck - Kone and London School of Economics and Political Science (online)
- Marsa Häyhänen - Change manager, Volvo Cars
- Svante Lifvergren - Development Manager Skaraborg hospital (video)
- Sari Scheinberg - Action Research Center
Course purpose
After completion of the course the course participants should be able to define, describe and interrelate management and change theories; define, describe and evaluate change and improvement approaches; provide good examples on quality driven improvement and change processes and projects; develop a sustainable and ethical understanding and approach to change. Students will also be able to have an in-depth understanding and analysis of one more narrow area within the field of change management and improvement processes as well as have an ability to critically view consultants packaging of change and improvement project offerings.
Schedule
| Week | Date/time | Topic |
| 1 |
2022-08-31: 10-12 |
Lecture 1: Introduction to course and Introduction to change management– Petra Bosch |
| 2022-08-31: 13-16 |
Introduction to term papers + workshop - Petra Bosch |
|
| 2 |
2022-09-05: 9- 12 |
Lecture 2: Change management approaches and process. Petra Bosch |
|
2022-09-05 17:00 |
Hand-in: Discussion Questions (Lit. Seminar 1) |
|
|
2022-09-05 17:00 |
Hand-in: Preliminary Term Paper Proposal for discussion at supervision |
|
|
2022-09-07 /9 |
Consultation: Supervision Book time beforehand with supervisor |
|
| 2022-09-07: 10-12 |
Lecture 3: Recognizing and diagnosing change. Petra Bosch |
|
| 2022-09-07: 13-17 (FL41) |
Exercise: Literature Seminar 1: Why do companies fail in change processes? |
|
| 3 | 2022-09-12: 9-12 |
Lecture 4: Communication and change agents. Pernilla Gluch |
|
2022-09-12 17:00 |
Hand-in: Discussion Questions (Lit. Seminar 2) |
|
|
2022-09-12 17:00 |
Hand-in: Term Paper Proposal – final version |
|
|
2022-09-14: 10-12 |
Guest lecture 1: Change Management consulting - Mats Färnstrand |
|
|
2022-09-14: 13-17 |
Exercise: Literature Seminar 2: Management theories and change |
|
| 4 |
2022-09-19: 9-12 |
Lecture 5: Motivation and Resistance to change Ingrid Svensson Karolinska Institute Stockholm |
|
2022-09-19 17:00 |
Hand-in: Discussion Questions (Lit. Seminar 3) |
|
|
2022-09-21 : 10-12 |
Lecture 6: Sustaining Change, learning and ethics – Petra Bosch |
|
|
2022-09-21: 13-17 |
Exercise: Literature Seminar 3: Title: Leadership, Resistance to change and motivation |
|
| 4/5 |
|
Consultation: Supervision Book time beforehand with your supervisor! |
| 5 |
2022-09-26: 10-12 |
Guest lecture 2: The illusion of change ’management’ Karin Ahlbäc.THE LECTURE WILL BE ONLINE. Link: https://chalmers.zoom.us/j/69675826777 Password: TEK432 |
|
2022-09-28: 10-12 |
Guest lecture 3: Internal change agent – Marsa Häyhänen Volvo cars |
|
| 6 |
2022-10-03: 9-12 |
Lecture 7: Driving Change & Implementation – Andreas Hellström |
|
2022-10-03 17:00 |
Hand-in: Discussion Questions (Lit. Seminar 4) |
|
|
2022-10-05: 10-12 |
Guest Lecture 4: Svante Lifvergren, Quality improvements in health care (video) |
|
|
2022-10-05: 13-15 |
Exercise: Literature Seminar 4: Title: Driving change |
|
| 6/7 |
|
Consultation: Supervision Book time beforehand with your supervisor! |
| 7 |
2022-10-10: 8-12 |
Guest lecture 5: “So you want to change the world, why not? Large system changes at all levels” - Sari Scheinberg Action Research Center for a Resilient Society |
|
2022-10-13 17:00 |
Hand-in: Term paper – first version. Please send one copy to your opponents |
|
| 8 |
2022-10-19: 10-15:30 |
Presentation: Presentation and opposition of Term Papers |
|
2022-10-24 17:00 |
Hand-in: Individual reflection on Canvas |
|
| 8/9 |
|
Consultation: Supervision feedback possibility Book time beforehand with your supervisor! |
| 9 |
2022-10-26 17:00 |
Hand-in: Term Paper – Final Version This version will be graded! |
Course literature
The course literature consists of a selection of articles which are provided on Canvas.
Course design
This course provides insights into strategy, change and improvement theories and practices on the organizational level; it consists of lectures, literature seminars with homework assignments, seminars with experienced change managers from industry, as well as authoring and presentation of a term paper. The areas covered include theories on change processes, learning, leadership, resistances, and levels of analysis.
All course participants study a common body of literature and in addition each student specializes in a narrower area (term paper). The theoretical content of the course is discussed based on academic papers, research and practical experiences of change projects in industry. These experiences come from research projects, participants’ personal experiences and above all from seminars with experienced change managers.
A major part of the course is an in-depth group assignment where participants themselves choose a specific area to specialize in. The aim is to combine theories with practice by conducting a literature analysis accompanied by own data gathering from organizations and document the analysis in a term paper.
Examination
The examination is based on a term paper written in groups of four students and the group presentation and a personal reflection.
Furthermore, active participation in literature seminars and guest lectures, submission of discussion questions/comments on other groups’ term papers, affect the final grading. The final grades are: fail, 3, 4, or 5.
- Literature seminars
As a participant you are expected to read all of the material supplied before each literature seminar and submit three discussion questions based on your reading (compulsory). The questions need to be suitable for discussion, but you do not necessarily need to have a definitive answer for them. Good questions often connect different pieces of literature. You should also provide a motivation to why each question is relevant. It is mandatory to hand in three questions/motivations before each seminar (through Canvas).
Attendance at literature seminars is highly recommended both because of the opportunity of learning in small group discussions/seminars and because active participation provides bonus points that affect the grading.
- Guest lectures
The guest lectures will highlight different aspects of change management in practice. Submission of a written reflection (1,5-2 pages max.) based on the guest lecture, provides bonus points that affect grading as it is a way of showing active participation. You are assessed on: the ability to discuss and reflect the guest lecture content; the ability to discuss your main personal learnings from the guest lecture.
- Term paper (4 persons)
The term paper assignment includes the choice of topic to study, the development of a theoretical understanding and research questions, empirical data collection, analysis, hand-in of a written report and oral presentation at a seminar. The written report should not be more than 5,000 words. This strict limit excludes the front page, table of content, reference list, and appendices.
Active participation at the presentations of term papers is a mandatory requirement. This includes providing prepared written and oral comments on 3 other groups’ papers. A specific presentation schedule will be distributed.
- Individual reflection
An individual reflection of max 750 words is presented based on the project work. In the individual reflection you are assessed on your: ability to discuss experiences gained from the project work process and your ability to reflect on future personal learnings from the project and course.
Changes made since the last occasion
Some guest lectures have been changed. A workshop is added in the first week.
Learning objectives and syllabus
Learning objectives:
- Define, describe and interrelate management and change theories
- Define, describe and evaluate change and improvement approaches
- Provide good examples on quality driven improvement and change processes and projects
- Develop a sustainable and ethical understanding and approach to change
- In-depth understand and analyze one more narrow areas within the field change management and improvement processes
- Develop an ability to critically view consultants packaging of change and improvement project offerings.
Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.
Examination form
Term paper
The first hand-in of the term papers is on Thursday 2021-10-13 (17:00 h). Each group is supposed to present its term paper and to provide constructive comments on another group’s term paper. Before the presentation of group’s report, the group has to submit the slides that will be used. Attendance at the presentation seminar is mandatory.
Each group will be assigned another group’s term paper to scrutinize in detail as opponents (more information will be provided). As an opponent, you are supposed to make both a written (1-2 pages) and an oral opposition including a few questions suited for discussion and suggestions for improvement. More detailed comments (e.g. on language etc.) are only provided in the written comment. In addition, you are also required to review two other term papers in order to be able to participate in a discussion (more information will be provided).
After the final presentation, you have the opportunity to consider the comments and improve your report. The final deadline to hand-in the term paper is on Wednesday 2021-10-26 (17:00 h). This version will be graded.
| Course elements | Max. points | Assessment criteria | Compulsory/optional |
| Term paper | 42p |
|
Compulsory min. 20p for pass |
| Individual reflection | 5p |
|
Compulsory: 3p needed to pass |
| Literature seminars | 4p | Active participation in the literature seminars | Optional 1p per lit. sem. |
| Send in questions for literature seminars | 4p | Send in three questions for the literature seminars | Compulsory 1p per lit. sem. |
| Guest lecture reflection | 10p |
|
Optional: 2p per reflection |
| Total | 65p |
Final grade: (50% needed for a pass)
- 33 - 43 points = 3
- 44 - 54 points = 4
- 55 - 65 points = 5
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|