BUS643: Leading Organizational Change

Many factors need to be understood about the change process, including the human element, straightforward leadership, change models, stages of change, and the organization's culture. Facilitating positive change and improving an organization through change is a specific skill that is necessary for leaders to develop.

This course will focus on developing these skills and what it takes to manage change in any organization effectively. This course will also cover how to determine what organizational changes are needed. Within this context, we will analyze change management practices and theories and review failed changes that organizations have attempted to implement. We will also review the impact of change on employees and how to mitigate resistance.

First, read the course syllabus. Then, enroll in the course by clicking "Enroll me". Click Unit 1 to read its introduction and learning outcomes. You will then see the learning materials and instructions on how to use them.

This unit focuses on organizational change and how good leadership can lead that change into the future. We will review various leadership styles and how each of those styles might help to implement and lead change in any organization. In this unit, you will be able to determine your own leadership style.

Completing this unit should take you approximately 10 hours.

Now that you understand leadership and change management and how employees can affect that change, we will look at the various change management models, methods, and theories used in business today. Change management is a necessary process that organizations must use to progress forward in our ever-changing world. Technology is constantly being updated and changing, which has pushed the business community to continually update methods of doing business. Using a change management model can be helpful to assist in facilitating change.

Completing this unit should take you approximately 7 hours.

Now that you understand leadership change management and have reviewed the various change management methods, reviewing some of the failures that have occurred over the years in change management can be helpful. It is important to study the failures in business because we can see some of the pitfalls that organizations have already attempted and not only avoid those failures but analyze why they failed in the first place.

Completing this unit should take you approximately 7 hours.

Now that we have addressed the organizational failures related to change management, it is important to review how employees impact change management. In many cases, employee resistance to change can be detrimental. If the employees do not believe in the change or that the change can occur, as a workforce, they can have a dramatic impact on the process. As a leader, it is important to recognize that most employees want to do a good job and that change can be scary. Employees need that reassurance that everything will work out for the best and that they can be a conduit for that change. This unit will cover talent management and facilitating that change through employees.

Completing this unit should take you approximately 5 hours.

In the last four units, we have covered the basics of change management and leadership, the various change management models, case study failures in change management, leadership of talent when it comes to change management, and facilitating change in the business environment. Now we will cover how to recognize when change needs to occur. If you are a mid-level manager, this will help you see the whole organization's big picture, why change needs to be made, and how to get everyone on board with the idea of change. Most of the time, change occurs because the CEO recognizes the need and makes plans to implement that change company-wide. But suppose you can affect change at your level and see the changes the company needs to make to have sustainable growth. In that case, you may be recognized for your vision and understanding of change management and leadership. This unit is about deeply understanding change management and what you can do as a leader to recognize and implement those changes.

Completing this unit should take you approximately 6 hours.

This study guide will help you get ready for the final exam. It discusses the key topics in each unit, walks through the learning outcomes, and lists important vocabulary. It is not meant to replace the course materials!

These case studies are an excellent way to review what you've learned so far and are presented by one of the professors who created the course. Review these materials before you take the final exam.

Please take a few minutes to give us feedback about this course. We appreciate your feedback, whether you completed the whole course or even just a few resources. Your feedback will help us make our courses better, and we use your feedback each time we make updates to our courses.

If you come across any urgent problems, email contact@saylor.org.

Take this exam if you want to earn a free Course Completion Certificate.

To receive a free Course Completion Certificate, you will need to earn a grade of 70% or higher on this final exam. Your grade for the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. If you do not pass the exam on your first try, you can take it again as many times as you want, with a 7-day waiting period between each attempt.

Once you pass this final exam, you will be awarded a free Course Completion Certificate.