Course syllabus
Course-PM
TEK431 TEK431 Change management and improvement processes lp1 HT23 (7.5 hp)
Course is offered by the department of Technology Management and Economics
Contact details
Examiner: Petra Bosch, petra.bosch@chalmers.se
Course assistant: Dominika Klopotek, dominika.klopotek@chalmers.se
- Petra Bosch petra.bosch@chalmers.se
- Andreas Hellström andreas.hellstrom@chalmers.se
- Pernilla Gluch pernilla.gluch@chalmers.se
- Dominika Klopotek dominika.klopotek@chalmers.se
Guest lecturers:
- Sari Scheinberg – Action Research Center for a Resilient Society
- Mats Färnstrand – Change management consultant
- Ingrid Svensson – researcher Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm
- Marsa Häyhänen, Volvo Cars, change manager.
- Fredrik Hansson - Quality Manager, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
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
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.
Changes made since the last occasion
A summary of changes made since the last occasion.
- The presentation and opposition are graded and grading scheme has been adjusted
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
The examination is based on a term paper written in groups of four students, the group presentation and opposition, and a personal reflection.
Furthermore, active participation in literature seminars and guest lecture reflections give bonus points that 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 prepare three discussion questions based on your reading. 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.
Attendance and active participation 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. In order to receive bonus points for a reflection, you need to attend the guest lecture. You are assessed on: Ability to discuss and reflect on the guest lecture content and the ability to discuss your main personal learnings from the guest lecture. Guest lecture reflections are handed in one week after 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. The first hand-in of the term papers is on Thursday 2023-10-12 (17:00 h).
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 2023-10-25 (17:00 h). This version will be graded.
- Presentation and opposition term paper
Active participation at the presentations of term papers is a mandatory requirement and the presentation and opposition is graded. This includes providing prepared written and oral comments on 3 other groups’ papers. A specific presentation schedule will be distributed.
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).
The presentation and opposition are graded based on: clarity in presentation; demonstrated communication skills and critically reviewing and discussing peer student's work.
- Individual reflection
An individual reflection of max 750 words is written based on the project work. In the individual reflection you are assessed on your: Ability to discuss experiences gained from the project work process (how did you approach the project, what could you have done to improve the process, how have you used the team contract and what did you learn etc.) and your ability to reflect on what you take with you from the project and the course (what have you learned that you can apply in your future). Deadline Monday 2023-10-23 (17:00h).
| Assignment in the course | Points | Max number of points | For a pass is needed: |
| Active participation in literature seminar + bring questions (optional) | 2p bonus | 8p bonus | Of 18 bonus points (lit. sem and guest lecture reflections) = 9 points are needed for a pass |
| Written reflections on guest lecture presentation (only when present for guest lecture) (optional) | 2p bonus | 10p bonus | Of 18 bonus points (lit. sem and guest lecture reflections) = 9 points are needed for a pass |
| Individual reflection (compulsory) | 5p | 5p | 3p needed (out of 5p) |
| Term paper (Compulsory) | 42p | 42p | 20p needed (out of 42p) |
| Presentation and opposition (Compulsory) | 10p | 10p | 5p needed (out of 10p) |
| Total | 75p | 33 needed for a pass |
Final grade: (50% needed for a pass)
- 37 - 49 points = 3
- 50 - 62 points = 4
- 63 - 75 points = 5
| 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 | 8p |
Active participation in the literature seminars + take with you 3 questions to discuss |
Optional 2p per lit. sem. |
|
Guest lecture reflection (only when you attended the lecture) |
10p |
|
Optional: 2p per reflection
|
| Presentation and opposition | 10p |
|
Compulsory: 5p needed to pass |
| Total | 75p |
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|