Change and Project Management Methods (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

In this course, the participants will gain basic understanding of change and project management by working on cases in small groups.

After completing the course, the participants will be able to:
- define an appropriate change management approach
- create a change management plan for organizational change
- use basic project management tools to implement change initiatives

Content (course unit)

• Change management case definition in small groups
• Strategy creation for the change case
• Organizational change models
• Different change management approaches
• Change management plan
• Project management basics

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student names and explains the core concepts of strategic planning, change management and project management. He/she uses basic strategic planning, change management and project management tools and is able to select the suitable ones. The student gives and receives feedback related to change- and project management methods, collaborates with others in change and project management situations and takes responsibility for their own work.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student explains how to apply common strategic tools to position the need for change, compares different concepts of change management by using different change management literature and explain why and how to use methods related to project scope, schedule and resources. The student can apply strategic planning tools to define a strategic position, plan and implement credible organisational change initiatives in working life cases, and plan and manage the scope, schedule and resources in the change project. The student gives and and receives constructive feedback related to change and project management methods, develops collaborative actions in change- and project management situations. He/she can take responsibility for their own work and for collaborative work.  

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student analyses systematically the need for change by using appropriate change management tools and methods, uses additional and recent research to extend knowledge of change management. He/she uses additional and recent research to extend the knowledge of project management. The student applies strategic planning tools in a systematic manner to define a strategic position and choices. He/she justifies the credibility of plans for organisational change initiatives in working life cases and justifies the use of the project management methods used to manage the change project. The student uses feedback to grow professionally in the field of change- and project management. He/she develops creative and constructive working methods to solve change- and project management situations individually and collaboratively. The student commits himself/herself both for his/her own work and for developing the understanding of others related to change and  project management in practice and in theory.  

Location and time

Kick-off lecture: 13 Sep 2019
Online (6 modules): 13 Sept - 28 Oct 2019

Exam schedules

None

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Contact teaching as a kick-off to the online course including
- interactive lecturing
- group excercises
Collaborative online teaching including
- Learning triggers by the teacher: Logical structure with weekly assignments, academic and practical litterature, teaching presence and feedback to the students
- Individual assignments: Information searching, reading, writing, reflecting and working on the students' own cases
- Small group assignments: Collaborative knowledge construction, social peer support and elaboration of the students' cases by using video calls, discussion forums, asychronous video

Learning materials

- Topical academic papers on strategy and change management, mostly from Harvard Business Review
- Cameron E. & Green M. 2010. Making Sense of Change Management: A Complete Guide to the Models, Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change (Newer or older editions of the book are OK, as well)
- Artto K., Martinsuo M., Kujala J., 2011. Project business. Helsinki, Finland (also downloadable from http://pbgroup.aalto.fi/en/the_book_and_the_glossary/project_business_2011.pd f)
- Agile project management book - to be selected

Student workload

135 hours: 3 h contact teaching, 132 h online

Content scheduling

Kick-off lecture: 13 Sep 2019
Online (6 modules): 13 Sept - 28 Oct 2019
- Module 1: Strategy 16 Sep - 23 Sep 2019
- Module 2: Organisational change 23 Sep - 30 Sep 2019
- Module 3: Change plan 30 Sep - 7 Oct 2019
- Module 4: project management 7 Oct - 14 Oct 2019
- Module 5: 14 Oct - 21 Oct 2019
- Module 6: 21 Oct - 28 Oct 2019

Completion alternatives

None

Practical training and working life cooperation

None

International connections

None