What will I learn on this module?
Change is a constant factor in today’s globalised business world. All organisations, whether private, public NFP or social enterprises need to adapt to a rapidly changing external environment and world developments in technology and economics, the call for more social responsibility, wicked problems such as climate change, increased international competition and global pandemics. In order to address these issues, organisations need to create strategy that can respond as required in an agile manner and develop leaders who can get the best out of their teams in times of uncertainty and change.
Strategic Leadership and Organisational Change will equip you with the key graduate tools necessary for you to critically engage with the nature of strategy and change. It will critically examine the processes involved in setting an organisation's direction, objectives and priorities in changing landscapes, in focusing internal energy and resources to achieve the objectives and in aligning internal and external stakeholders. The module deals with analysis, decision making and planning alongside the implementation of strategic plans and organisational change programmes to meet key internal and external objectives. The module will introduce you to effective strategic leadership and tools and instruments that can help you in developing and implementing effective strategies which are central to your future employability, enterprise or entrepreneurial activity. You will learn how critically engage with change models, to questioning their relevance in an unstable world and recognise the value of unpredictable crisis driven change. You will examine the inequalities and unintended consequences borne out though change programmes and critically appraise the nature of leadership by engaging with leadership theorising.
How will I learn on this module?
Your learning is supported through tutor-led and learner-led session activities, also through tutor-directed and self-directed independent study.
Tutor-led research-informed sessions will help you to develop your conceptual and theoretical understanding of the topic areas. Tutor-supported activities will allow you to actively and critically engage with that content and cultivate the necessary analytical skills and professional values. Learners will work in asynchronous groups utilising online technologies to work together replicating modern business practice, critically examining how a range of organisations respond to these challenges using real world data. Your learning is also supported by appropriate learning technologies that include extensive and carefully curated learning resources from the worlds’ leading HR researchers and practitioners, to enable your self-directed learning.
Your independent self-directed learning will involve you self-identifying learning activities, such as further academic reading, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
‘The learner-led, tutor-guided activities are organised in groups of around 20-30 learners working in smaller teams. This approach provides a closer, more personal academic support.
Academics will support you through the led sessions and in planning the types of activities you should be engaging in during your independent study time. They are also available upon request to support you outside of formal session time by responding to questions or concerns that you might have either via email or via individually pre-arranged appointments and/or drop-in sessions.
Academic support is also provided through the provision of a range of University learning support services. A wide range of online support materials is also available thought the virtual learning environment. These materials include recordings, webcasts, pre-recorded sessions, key academic skills, also an electronic reading list including RSS feeds that showcase the application of various practices presented in the module.
To support you in your academic progress, you will receive both formative and summative feedback on your work through the course of each academic year. Regular formative feedback on class activities provides you with the necessary guidance to scaffold your knowledge and understanding of the key concept and principles of the subject to enable your success in the final summative assessment. Summative feedback/feed-forward will be provided on your work after it has been assessed and graded. You should use all feedback that you receive to identify areas of strength and areas for future study and improvement’
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
• Develop Knowledge and understanding of effective strategic leadership and tools and instruments including recognition of how technology impacts strategic leadership and change [MLO1]
• Understand the processes involved in setting an organisation's direction, objectives and priorities in changing landscapes [ML02]
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Gain the ability to critically engage with change models and questioning their relevance in an unstable world [MLO3]
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Develop an awareness of your own values and leadership style and how that impacts on others [MLO4]
How will I be assessed?
The assessment for this module consists of two elements:
Critical analysis of how responsible change has been designed and led in an organisation within a chosen industry (2000 words).
Individual Reflection on personal leadership style, skills and values; and personal resistance to change (1000 words).
Critical Analysis = 75% Marks [MLO1] [MLO2] [ML03]
Individual Reflection = 25% Marks [ML04]
Feedback strategy
Feedback on your summative performance on this module will be provided in the form of written or oral feedback on both the group work artefact the submitted assignment. A peer assessment strategy will determine your performance working as part of a group.
Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module, particularly in relating to webinar and seminar tasks. Students should, however, be aware that formative feedback can, and will, occur in any communication with an academic tutor.
Pre-requisite(s)
None
Co-requisite(s)
None
Module abstract
Strategic Leadership and Organisational Change skills are highly sought after in today’s business environment. This module will equip you
with the knowledge and skills you need to develop sustainable strategy, practice ethical leadership, and initiate and lead change within an
organisation. To develop your leadership capabilities, the module uses lectures and practice-focused seminars to develop a deep theoretical
understanding of the topics, alongside exploring how to develop strategy and change programmes in an applied setting. You’ll be assessed
on your ability to reflect on, and critique contemporary cases from recent practice, as well as develop your own change programme strategies
for a chosen organisation.
Course info
UCAS Code N205
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department Newcastle Business School
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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