Change Management/Agent Specialisation

This unit explores theories of change management and the role of the change agent. Theories of change management will be considered in historical and contemporary contexts. The role of the change agent is explored within organisational, community and personal contexts. The unit explores notions of power and resistance; planning, measuring and evaluating change; and human and economic sustainability in a changing world.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand change in ontological, social, cultural and economic contexts
  • Locate change and change management in historical and contemporary contexts and in a range of settings
  • Define attributes of the change agent
  • Demonstrate understanding of change drivers
  • Demonstrate understandings of organisation values and symbols, power and resistance to change
  • Demonstrate understanding of cultural diversity within change management
  • Demonstrate ability to research change management and change agency
  • Critique examples of change management in organizations including public and private sectors
  • Explore complex social, legal and ethical issues associated with change management and change agency
  • Demonstrate understanding of personal capacity to prepare for, participate in, reflect on and evaluate change
  • Understand loss/grief and opportunity throughout the change process

Content Areas

  • Historical and Contemporary Understandings of Change, Change Management and Change Agency
  • Understanding Change in Organisations with Reference to Theoretical Models (Part One)
  • Understanding Change in Organisations with Reference to Theoretical Models (Part Two)
  • Strategy and Change with Emphasis on Culture and Diversity
  • Leadership in the Change Process
  • Power and Resistance to Change; Leadership in Change and Ambiguity
  • Measuring and Evaluating Change Management (Part One)
  • Measuring and Evaluating Change Management (Part Two)
  • Dilemmas of the Change Agent: The Accidental Change Agent and Whistleblowers
  • Globalisation and Change: Change Management and Agency in the Media
  • Surviving Change: The Individual as Change Agent
  • The Future of Change Management and Change Agents

Unit Duration and Workload

This unit involves a total of 36 hours of face to face delivery or self-directed study including educator contact in flexible delivery modes, generating a further 120 hours of self-study per unit including research and related study activities, including assessment. This translates as 13 hours per week for the unit.