BR5001 - Organisational Improvement and Change

At The Bridge you learn through a blended approach where short, focused and interactive face-to-face sessions are underpinned by guided and independent online learning. Your attendance for scheduled activities is monitored regardless of whether you are on campus or joining the session remotely. This ensures you access all of the learning opportunities which have been purposefully designed for your success.

A range of teaching and learning approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.

During the first week of this module, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• Directed reading references (text and journals) and core texts for the module
• References to data sources and details of lab activities

You will also receive the assessment brief which sets out the formative and summative assessments throughout the module.

There are three key sources of academic support available to you during your time at the Bridge in addition to Ask4Help who are available 24/7 for general queries related to your studies.

Your Module Tutor
Your module tutor is responsible for your learning outcomes on the module. They deliver the workshops and provide guidance in relation to learning and assignments. They develop all of the key resources and make them available through the eLP (electronic learning portal module) Blackboard, which is used to provide support materials, interactive learning tasks and give you regular opportunities to test and get feedback on your learning. You will be given both written and verbal feedback and guidance on your work and progress during the semester by your module tutor.

Your Learning Mentor
On programme, you will have your in-person and online engagement activity tracked against the learning plan with key check-in points built into the academic calendar to ensure you maximise your learning potential. Engagement with formative assessments will also be used by the learning mentor to discuss any action planning required to ensure success.

Academic Skills Team
The Bridge aspires to build a range of student skillsets, including digital skills, academic writing and discourse, working alone and in teams. Your learning mentor may refer you a dedicated academic skills team which is based in the centre. Here you can attend drop-ins or schedule 1-1 sessions on issues which have been identified at the diagnostic stages of the programme however you may also have self-identified areas for your own growth and self-refer yourself for support.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1: Critically explore and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different types of and approaches to organisational change
MLO2: Demonstrate critical awareness of change and its drivers in organisational success (and failure)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
MLO3: Systematically identify and be able to analyse and evaluate change management scenarios and the skills required for successful implementation
MLO4: Be able to apply a range of change management principles that also ensures the sustainability of the business in a given problem scenario.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MLO5: Demonstrate critical awareness of the impact of sustainable and ethical management practice in managing change in work organisations

You will receive formative feedback throughout the module including at the following checkpoints:-

•Week 2: Navigating the course materials
•Week 4: Completing the in-module reflective tasks
•Week 6: Completing the in-module knowledge checks and tasks

This module is assessment in two parts:

Firstly you must submit a 1500 Word Essay or complete an Open Notes Exam (40%) on a change management principle of your choice- demonstrating research you have conducted and the application in current organisations (MLO1-3).

Secondly you should provide an Individual written assessment on change management practice in your own/or a case organisation - 2,000 words (60%) reflecting on what works well and what could be improved and how through change management- evidenced by research. (MLO4-5)

Universal Design for Learning
This module allows the option for you to chose how you are assessed formally depending on your learning preference and approach to the specific module. You should indicate your chosen assessment choice by the in-module reflective check-point at week 4 with your Learning Mentor.

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Continuing the philosophy of creating innovative and entrepreneurial organisations, this module recognise the need for a culture of continuous improvement and change. Indeed, businesses and enterprises compete in turbulent environments and this impact them positively or negatively.
Due to the continuous changes in the business environment (e.g., led by digital technologies and other factors) for businesses to stay competitive requires the ability to recognise change and take the necessary change leadership and management actions to protect the organisation and allow it to continue to grow and thrive. This requires effective change management and leadership approaches to be adopted. Failures to recognise change management triggers could require a drastic change in strategy (transformational) with severe consequences for stakeholders including the enterprise, employees and even customers.

It is therefore, necessary that employees and firms can recognise the external or internal triggers of change and develop the necessary strategies to implement the strategic change to ensure the sustainability of the organisation.