Course syllabus

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TEK431 TEK431 Change management and improvement processes lp2 HT24 (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

Teachers:

Guest lecturers:

  1. Sari Scheinberg – Action Research Center for a Resilient Society
  2. Mats Färnstrand – Change management consultant
  3. Steve Cook – Norrconsult
  4. Marsa Häyhänen, Volvo Cars, change manager.
  5. Hans Winberg - Leading Healthcare Foundation

Course purpose

After completion of the course the course participants should be able to discuss and critically engage with existing theories and research within the subject of change management and improvement processes. Design and carry out a small research project in a narrower area within the field of change management and improvement processes. Collect, analyze, assemble and contrast various literature and theories on organizational change and improvement processes in relation to empirical examples from industry. Develop a sustainable and ethical understanding and approach to change. Critically review and discuss peer students work. Read and write academic texts. Reflect on learning processes carried out in groups containing diverse education backgrounds, gender, and nationality.

Schedule

TimeEdit

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

  • The learning outcomes have been updated and reflect the course content better.
  • The grading has been adjusted to have a better balance between individual and group work.
  • The forming of groups and start of the group project work has been placed in week two to easier accommodate changes of student numbers early in the course.
  • Guest lectures have become compulsory.
  • The course material has been updated.

Learning objectives and syllabus

  • Discuss and critically engage with existing theories and research within the subject of change management and improvement processes
  • Design and carry out a small research project in a narrower area within the field of   change management and improvement processes
  • Collect, analyze, assemble and contrast various literature   and theories on organizational change and improvement processes in relation to empirical examples from industry
  • Develop a sustainable and ethical understanding and approach to change
  • Critically review and discuss peer students work
  • Read and write academic texts
  • Reflect on learning processes carried out in groups containing diverse education backgrounds, gender and nationality.

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Study plan

Examination form

The examination is based on a term paper written in groups, final opposition and presentation of the term paper and an individual reflection.

Active participation in seminars and reflections on guest lectures can affect the final grading. The final grades are fail, 3, 4, or 5.

  • Literature seminars

As a participant you are expected to read all 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 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.

During the literature seminar sessions (Wednesday), the class is divided in two groups.

  1. Literature Seminar group A from 13:15 to 15:00
  2. Literature Seminar group B from 15:00 to 17:00
  • Guest lectures

The guest lectures will highlight different aspects of change management in practice and are compulsory. 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: 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. If you are unable to attend the guest lecture an alternative assignment will be developed and you will not be able to hand in a guest lecture reflection.

  • Individual reflection

An individual reflection of max 850 words is written based on the project work. In the individual reflection you are assessed on your: Ability to summarize the project work process. Your ability to discuss experiences gained from the project work process and relate these to the project contract decided on in the beginning of the course. Ability to reflect on your own role for the project process and outcome (what could you improve). Your ability to reflect on future personal learnings (what do you take with you) from the project and course. Ability to reflect on diversity, equality and ethical aspects. Deadline Monday 2024-10-25 (17:00h).

  • Term paper (3-4 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 2024-10-16 (17:00 h). Each group is supposed to present its term paper and to provide constructive comments on 3 other group’s term paper. Attendance at the presentation seminar is mandatory. 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 on canvas). 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 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 2024-10-30 (17:00 h). This version will be graded.

AI use

You are required to assume full responsibility for your work and must be capable of justifying the choices you've made regarding its content. This includes engaging in discussions about and defending the role AI played in shaping your submitted work, demonstrating a clear understanding of how it contributed. AI and AI-assisted technologies should only be used to improve readability and language of the work and not to replace authoring tasks such as e.g. producing the intellectual content, insights, or conclusions. At a minimum, provide a description detailing how and to what extent AI tools have been utilized in your work.

Grading

Assignment in the course Points Max no. of points For a pass is needed
Active participation in literature seminars and hand-in questions (Optional) 3p per lit. sem 12p 10 points for a pass out of  the total of 27 bonus points
Written reflection on guest lecture (optional) 3p per reflection 15p
Individual reflection (compulsory) 8p 8p 4p out of 8 for a pass
Final term paper (compulsory) 35p 35p. 17p out of 35 for a pass
Presentation and opposition (compulsory) 10p 10p 5p out of 10 for a pass
Total 80p 36p

Final grade: (a pass)

  • Grade 3: 36 – 50
  • Grade 4: 51 – 65
  • Grade 5: 66 – 80

Course summary:

Date Details Due