SYLLABUS

BSNS 6430-7A

MANAGING CHANGE

THREE CREDIT HOURS

FALL SEMESTER, 2001

 

 

Location: WalkerInformation                             Professor: Frank Pianki             Office Hours: By Appointment                 Anderson University: Hardacre 122                  Home Phone: (765) 642-2661                          Office Phone: (765) 641-4372              E-mail: fopianki@anderson.edu             Fax: (765) 641-4356

 

Course Description:

In order to survive in rapidly changing and highly competitive operating environments organizations must learn how to continually adapt, evolve, contract, expand, innovate… in other words…change!  Regardless of whether you are “for profit”, “not for profit”, municipal, military, or any other type of organization, as changes in society continues to accelerate, the ability to anticipate and respond to change becomes critical.

 

Some change is large and some small; some change is planned, but much is unexpected and reactionary. People are generally threatened and fearful of change. Managers find themselves caught in the middle. They generally understand the need for the change and understand their responsibility for planning, implementing, and insuring that the change is successful. At the same time, managers feel responsible for those persons who will be deeply affected by both the process and the results of the organizational change. Managing change is not easy, but it can be done… and done effectively.

 

Text:

Managing Change: Cases and Concepts, Todd Jick, Irwin Publishing, 1993.

 

Course Format:

This course will be taught using a combination of a case analysis and seminar format. Outside speakers/change agents, and articles from current business periodicals will also supplement the course through the use of mini lectures, relevant videos, presentations.

 

Course Objectives:

The primary objective is to help the students/leaders to become more effective change agents both immediately and as their future unfolds, thereby enhancing their value to their employer and building their portfolio of professional skills. There are three supporting objectives:

1.                  To learn and appreciate that pulling off a successful change is more than using common sense, just a matter of luck, or the result of some inborn skill…although each of these factors can play a part. Rather, becoming a successful change agent involves skills that can be learned intellectually, honed experientially, driven confidently, and pursued persistently.

 

2.                  To help students gain a solid understanding of forces that typically drive change and how people typically respond to them.

3.                  To learn about, practice, and appreciate proven philosophies, policies, processes, and practices that can be used by both individuals and teams to increase the odds of successful change. Yet to understand that successful change is not totally done by “formula” or “checklist”. Successful change is both an art and a science!

 

Course Evaluation:  Cases

At the beginning of the semester students must form case analysis groups. These groups will be responsible for analyzing and presenting one case during the semester. Cases will be chosen from a master list and guiding questions will be submitted to each group at least three weeks prior to the scheduled presentation. The case presentations should also be typed and submitted for evaluation (one report per group). The case review should be a maximum of eight to ten, double-spaced, and typed pages. Groups should plan on thirty minutes for both the case presentation and follow-up discussion. Please feel free to be very, very creative in your presentation.

NOTE: The presenting group will also be responsible for providing the evening’s refreshments!!!

 

Course Evaluation:  Organization Readiness Analysis

Each student will be required to do a survey and analysis of their organization’s readiness for change. Due 10/8/00.

 

Course Evaluation:  Project

Each student will be responsible for analyzing/conceptualizing, planning/designing, implementing, and evaluating a change activity within an organization. Status reports must be typed (double-spaced) and submitted on the dates listed on the Assignment Schedule page. The final results for your project should be typed (8 to 10 pages) and submitted for evaluation by 11/19/98. On the last 3 classes we will have students give brief presentations (~15 minutes) highlighting his/her project experiences. Students may either volunteer to present or, if there are no volunteers, will be chosen each night by random selection. Be prepared!!!

 

Course Evaluation:  Participation

Class attendance and participation is considered vital to the learning experience of the student. While the instructor understands the unique needs, responsibilities, and schedules of adult learners, students will be expected to meet and participate in most class sessions and activities. Excessive absenteeism and/or early departure from class will impact the student’s final grade.

 

Course Evaluation: Journal

For five assigned readings (one per module), you will be asked to write (type) a summary of your reaction to the article. For example, you could comment on such things as: A: Surprises; B: Valuable ideas or disagreements with the author(s); C: Connection to your work life/organizational life; D: Questions about the article. Note: Each summary should be ˝ to 1 page in length (Do not exceed 1 page) and is not an outline of the article. Bring your journal entries to class each week. During a period at the beginning or end of class we will discuss the various articles and you will then have an opportunity to share your thoughts. Turn in the journal entry with comments to me at the end of each class.

 

Grade Composition             Points

Project                                     400

Group Case                              250

Readiness Survey                     150

Journals (20 pts. per journal)     100

Participation                             100

Total                                     1000

 

Final Grades

Final Grades will be assigned on the following scale:

 

A         94-100%

A-                90-93%

B+       87-89%

B          83-86%

B-                80-82%

C+       77-79%

 

 

Suggested Supplements:

Most business publications address the issue of change on a fairly frequent basis. These include articles related to successful and unsuccessful change experiences, “how to” primers, and general industry issues related to changes in a global world. Some of the more reliable sources of information include: Wall Street Journal, INC., Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, Sloane, and Harvard Business Review. Also, the Internet is a valuable source of information.

 

Office Hours/Appointments:

Since most of you are preoccupied with your careers during the day (and in many cases nights and weekends!), I believe the most effective method for questions and/or brainstorming is via the phone or email. However, if the issue does require a face-to-face meeting we can certainly set this up at a mutually agreeable time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

(Subject to change with notice)

 

 

Specific assignments for each night may be handed out separately.

 

 

Date                Time                Topic                           Jick                    Case

 

8/27     M 6:40-8:30            Introduction                     

 

9/10     M 6:40-8:30            Challenge of Change          Mod. 1

 

9/17    M 6:40-8:30            Challenge of Change          Mod. 1      Speaker: David Neidert      

·        Change project topic due

 

9/24     M 6:40-8:30            Envisioning Change           Mod. 2                                                

 

10/1     M 6:40-8:30            Envisioning Change           Mod. 2                              

·        Change project plan due

 

10/8     M 6:40-8:30            Implementing Change        Mod. 3                                          

·        Readiness survey due

 

10/18   Th 4:30-8:30           Implementing Change         Mod. 3                                          

·        1st change status report due

 

10/22   M 4:30-6:20             Recipients of Change        Mod. 4            

 

 

10/29  M 4:30-6:20              Recipients of Change        Mod. 4                              

 

 

11/5    M 4:30-6:20              Change Agents                 Mod. 5

                                                                 

 

11/12  M 4:30-6:20              Change Agents                 Mod. 5                              

·        2nd change status report due

 

11/19  M 4:30-6:20              In class exercise                                                                                                                            *  Final project report due

 

11/26  M 4:30-6:20               Presentations

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

(Subject to change with notice)

 

 

Specific assignments for each night may be handed out separately.

 

Date                Topic                                       Jick                             Other                 Case

 

 

12/3 M 4:30-6:20         Presentations

 

12/10 Th 4:30-8:30      Presentations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revised: 8/21/01