LD7165 - Leading Change, Risk and Opportunities

The module will be delivered using a mix of taught workshops, tutorial, directed and independent learning.

An initial workshop will introduce you to the module, assessment and core topics. Subsequent to this you will be guided through a range of subject specific topics delivered over the period of the module. Key messages from these sessions will be available by video/podcast to support your learning outside of the classroom.

Subsequent tutor-guided activities reflected in a learning plan, including prompted reading, activities to undertake and questions to address will form the next stage of your learning. Topics will normally be introduced in lectures and further explored through practical exercises. Therefore, you will be able to develop a range of relevant practical skills.

Independent study requirements also entail reading beyond the learning materials/reading list provided, reflecting on its potential relevance for your own development will also be essential.

Throughout the module you will asked to engage in a range of formative assessment tasks. These may be in the classroom or to be completed in between taught sessions. These formative assessment activities are designed to build your knowledge, understanding and ability to apply concepts learned in class. Feedback will typically be provided by your tutor or peers on these formative assessment activities which in turn should aid your overall understanding of the subject and final assessment submission.


The virtual learning environment will be used to encourage individual and group contributions to critical debate on key topics and issues. Materials and discussion group work will be available on the e-learning portal to support and engage you. To support and embed the learning, provide the opportunity for reflection and encourage effective communication, you will engage in discussion forums via the University’s e-Learning platform.

This will include posing and answering topic specific questions posed by the tutor and peer group and providing peer group formative feedback. You will also be encouraged to use email and discussion board tool to clarify issues.

For those of you studying on the part time, your work experience may form a significant element of your learning. An interactive approach to taught sessions will draw upon your own experiences. You can therefore expect the reflective-practitioner approach to learning to be embedded in all workshop/seminar sessions through undertaking activities which facilitate application of theory to ‘real-life’ situations, critically analysing and making recommendations for appropriate ways forward for the organization/individual. Significant emphasis will also be made on making your cohort network a key element of knowledge/experience exchange a subsequent learning.

For those of you studying in full time mode it is recognised you are likely not to have relevant work experience to draw upon. As such opportunities to apply learning to practice will be achieved through use of case study, simulation, visiting speakers from practitioners and additional lab and workshop experiences.

A range of 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

During this module your module tutor will provide academic support including:
• Delivering workshops
• Providing guidance in relation to assignments
• Development of key resources, made available through the VLE
• Assessing assignments and assess or review any other agreed summative or formative outputs as appropriate

E-Reading Lists
The module will also have an e-reading list which directs learners to specific reading for each session. This includes direct access to repositories, journal articles and other academic sources. You will also be provided with access to a significant set academic research sources via the Northumbria University library portal.
You will also have opportunities to receive formative feedback from your tutor in response to opinions you express and issues you raise during workshop sessions and face-to-face or online tutorials. These formative feedback sessions are formally scheduled at key points throughout the 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.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Evaluate the impact of client requirements, scope and external stakeholders upon value and risk management decisions in the project process

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Critically analyse the overall facets of project value and evaluate approaches to value management that are applicable to project management.
3. Critically analyse and apply appropriate techniques to understand the key drivers for change.
4. Develop and evaluate governance frameworks and their ability to deliver strategic objectives within project orientated organisations

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Appreciate the complexity and diversity of behavioural dynamics

Formative Assessment
Throughout the module you will asked to engage in a range of formative assessment tasks. These may be in the classroom or to be completed in between taught sessions. These formative assessment activities are designed to build your knowledge, understanding and ability to apply concepts learned in class. Feedback will typically be provided by your tutor or peers on these formative assessment activities which in turn should aid your overall understanding of the subject and final assessment submission.

Summative Assessment
The assessment allows you the opportunity to confront the challenges of managing an organisational change initiative project.

Assessment will consist of two tasks.

Task 1 Group Assessment (MLO 1, 3, 5) 50%

Task 2 an Individual Assignment (2000 words)
(MLO 2 and 4) 50%

A selection of suitable case study projects will be provided for the group task. This will provide a broad range of project types from publically sourced information e.g. National Audit Office, World Bank, OECD, Cabinet Office Major Projects Authority etc.

Not applicable

Not applicable

It is essential that a programme or project manager is fully equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to be able to face any events that may impact on a project’s products, resources, stages or objectives. This module will enable you to effectively manage the inevitable risks and uncertainty that projects deliver and the multi-faceted challenges that come about as a result of change. In addition to a framework of tools, techniques and processes, a key part of this competence is in understanding the dynamics of change as a socially navigated process.

As part of this module you will experience the practicalities of managing these issues through a simulation that has been developed with input from industry, client experts and academia. You will be able to test the strategies that you have learnt and see the complexities that develop from their implementation.