Well, another organization course. Remember that I told you to learn as much as you can about Kotter and his 8-step model? It will be beneficial in this course, especially in the change scenario case studies. Additionally, in this course, you will explore project topics that interest you. By this time in the program, I was fully invested in my topic, Transgenerational Succession in the Family Business with an Emerging Female Leader.
You should be at that point too.
Remember, if you ever feel that you could benefit from a unique group coaching program, please visit here.
Course Description
Rationale
The rate of change in organizations, whether private, public, or nonprofit, is a challenge for leaders and managers at all levels. The purpose of this course is to examine methods of making changes to organizations. The course is designed to blend theory and research with practical application. Change management is a systemic function that can be seen in every aspect of leadership. Mastery of this skill supports all leadership styles and practices.
Assignments
Discussions (3)
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion in the current APA format. Each thread should be 600–800 words in length and demonstrate a clear understanding of course-related knowledge. At least four scholarly articles and a course text are required to support the post. The journal article must have been published within the past 3 years.
In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 300–400 words. At least two scholarly articles are required to support each reply. The journal article must have been published within the past 3 years. References must be cited using APA format.
Change Scenario Research Paper Assignment
The student will write a 5–6-page (in addition to the title page, abstract, and
reference page) analysis in the current APA format that addresses an organization’s need for change. The paper must include a title page, an abstract, and the content of the paper must include an introduction and a conclusion. The paper must also include a Reference section with at least five references (scholarly, peer-reviewed journals or respected trade publications) in addition to Kotter’s text and the Bible (at least seven total references).
Self-Selected Project Assignment
The student will select a project of interest to further their understanding of organizational change. For the PowerPoint presentation, the student will develop a presentation that simulates a change implementation meeting, in which the presenter’s organization is about to change. The presentation must be created in PowerPoint, must include at least 15 slides, and must include five citations from selected literature. The second option is a literature critique of a book of the student’s choice. For the Literature Critique, the student will read and analyze a substantive book that explores organizational change. The student will develop a 6–7-page critique of this text, evaluating the content in light of personal experience, current research, the course texts, and the Christian worldview. The paper will require a title page, abstract, and reference page. A minimum of 8 scholarly references must be included.
Case Study in Change Research Paper Assignment
The student will write a 10–12-page research-based paper in current APA format that examines current research and case studies focusing on organizational change. The paper will present current best practices for organizational change and provide at least three real-world cases that demonstrate organization-level change. The paper must include a title page, an abstract, and the content of the paper must include an introduction and a conclusion. The paper must also include a Reference section with at least 10 references (5 of which must be from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals within the last five years) in addition to the course texts (including Merida) and the Bible (at least 14 total references).
Quiz: Self-Selected Project: Topic Submission
The student will select either the PowerPoint or the Literature Critique. If the student selects the PowerPoint presentation, he or she must submit a brief description of the change idea/industry to be approved. If the student selects the Literature Critique, he or she must submit the book he or she wishes to critique for approval. This quiz will contain 1 short answer question, and will have a 1-hour time limit.
What You Should Know about BMAL 704
This guy, Kotter. He is an essential guy to us at this point in the program. He is so important that when I was going through my project phase, I had a coach I was working with who wrote his Ph.D. dissertation on change management. You could too.
You may think that these case study assignments are nothing but busy work. They are the closest example of what you will be doing in the project phase of your program. Our project requires us to use a single-case study design, focusing on a single organization with a leadership problem. There is a method to all of this madness. I promise.
Bottom Line
The post outlines a course focused on change management in organizations, emphasizing the importance of Kotter’s 8-step model. It discusses the course structure, which includes collaborative assignments such as discussion threads, a change scenario research paper, a self-selected project (either a PowerPoint presentation or a literature review), and a case study research paper. Each assignment requires adherence to APA formatting and the inclusion of scholarly references.
The course is designed to blend theory with practical application, acknowledging the challenges leaders face in managing organizational change. The author stresses the value of case studies, encouraging students to engage deeply with their chosen topics, particularly in the context of real-world organizational issues. There’s also a personal note reflecting on the author’s own experience in the program. The page concludes by advising students to utilize blog resources for guidance and support.
This blog has been found most useful by students reading it in order. I wrote a post a week to chronicle my time in the entire program, and for the most part, they are tagged by course. For example, here is BMAL 704. I have included a lot of my papers as PDFs. Feel free to use them as a guide.
If you ever feel that you could benefit from a unique group coaching program, please visit here.
