Introduction to Change Management: practical strategies

Aims of the course

• To introduce students to the key principles, theories, and frameworks of change management, and explain why effective change is critical for organisational success.
• To develop a student’s ability to analyse change situations, identify challenges, and apply practical tools and strategies to manage change effectively.
• To encourage reflection on personal approaches to change and strengthen a student’s capacity to lead and support change initiatives in different organisational contexts.

Course content overview

The course provides a practical introduction to the key concepts, frameworks, and tools of change management. Participants will explore:

• The nature of change and why organisations must adapt
• Common challenges to change, including individual and organisational resistance
• Core change management models and frameworks (planned vs emergent approaches)
• The role of leadership and communication in driving successful change
• Practical tools and strategies for planning and implementing change
• Reflection on personal approaches to change and their impact on others

The content is delivered through a blend of short lectures, interactive activities, and case-based discussions, with a strong focus on applying theory to real-world practice.

Target audience

This course is designed for professionals, managers, and emerging leaders who are new to the field of change management or who have limited prior experience with leading change.  It is also suitable for anyone seeking to build a foundational understanding of change management principles and to gain practical strategies that can be applied in professional, organisational, or personal contexts.  No prior specialist knowledge is required.

Welcome week (Week 0)

Purpose:

• personal introductions
• introducing the course
• useful reading
• personal objectives

Learning outcomes:

By studying this week, the students should have: 

• become familiar with navigating around the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and from VLE to links and back
• test your ability to access files and the web conferencing software and sort out any problems with the help of the Technology Enhanced Learning team
• learn how to look for, assess and reference internet resources
• contribute to a discussion forum to introduce yourself to other students and discuss why you are interested in the course and what you hope to get out of your studies

Teaching Week 1: Understanding change in organisations

Purpose:

This week will familiarise participants with the concept of change management, its significance, and the elements that compel organisations to undergo change. Participants will develop a foundational understanding of the external and internal influences that inform change initiatives.

Learning outcomes:

By studying this week the participants should have:

• gained insight into the definition of organisational change and change management
• recognised prevalent reasons for organisational change
• distinguished between planned and unplanned change
• reflected on real-life instances of change in known environments

Teaching Week 2: People and resistance to change

Purpose:

This week will investigate the ways in which individuals react to change, particularly focusing on the reasons behind their potential resistance.  Participants will understand that resistance is a typical reaction, and they will start to explore methods for managing it.

Learning outcomes

By studying this week, the participants should have:

• outlined how individuals may respond to organisational change.
• clarified prevalent reasons for resistance (such as fear, uncertainty, and lack of trust).
• recognised the significance of resistance for managers to take into account.
• engaged in discussions about fundamental strategies for mitigating or overcoming resistance.

Teaching Week 3: Planned approaches to change

Purpose:

This week will familiarise participants with systematic and organised methods for managing change.  Participants will acquire practical tools, including Force Field Analysis, to assist in evaluating change scenarios.

Learning outcomes:

By studying this week, the participants should have:

• comprehended Lewin’s 3-Step Model as a structure for implementing planned change
• engaged in the application of Force Field Analysis to investigate change facilitators and obstacles
• identified the significance of Organisation Development (OD) in facilitating change
• recognised the advantages and drawbacks of planned change methodologies

Teaching Week 4: Emergent approaches to change

Purpose:

This week, we will investigate the perspective that change is a continuous, chaotic process that cannot always be anticipated.  Participants will analyse how organisations consistently adjust to rapidly evolving environments and contrast this with structured methodologies.

Learning outcomes:

By studying this week, the participants should have:

• articulated the concept of "emergent change."
• comprehended the reasons why certain organisations embrace a flexible, adaptive strategy.
• contrasted planned and emergent methodologies in straightforward terms.
• identified instances of emergent change within contemporary organisations.

Teaching Week 5: Leadership and change

Purpose:

This week will examine the essential function of leadership in facilitating successful change. Participants will concentrate on how leaders convey messages, inspire, and direct individuals through the unpredictability of change.

Learning outcomes:

By studying this week the participants should have:

• comprehended the significance of leaders in promoting and endorsing change
• outlined Kotter’s 8-Step Model at a fundamental level
• evaluated how leaders utilise vision and communication to involve others
• contemplated the distinction between management and leadership in the context of change

Week 6: what next?

• assessment of student learning
• assessment of student satisfaction
• encouragement of further study

This course is open to everyone, and you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject to attend.  

Our short courses are designed especially for adult learners who want to advance their personal or professional development. They are taught by tutors who are expert in both their subjects and in teaching students of all ages and experiences. 

Please note that all teaching is in English. You should have near-native command of the English language to get the maximum benefit from the course.

Each week of an online course is roughly equivalent to 2-3 hours of classroom time. On top of this, participants should expect to spend roughly 2-3 hours of self-study time, for example, reading materials, although this will vary from person to person. 

While they have a specific start and end date and will follow a weekly schedule (for example, week 1 will cover topic A, week 2 will cover topic B), our tutor-led online courses are designed to be flexible and as such would normally not require participants to be online for a specific day of the week or time of the day (although some tutors may try to schedule times where participants can be online together for web seminars, which will be recorded so that those who are unable to be online at certain times are able to access material). 

Unless otherwise stated, all course material will be posted on the VLE so that they can be accessed at any time throughout the duration of the course and interaction with your tutor and fellow participants will take place through a variety of different ways which will allow for both synchronous and asynchronous learning (using discussion boards etc). 

Fees

The course fee includes access to the course on our VLE, personal feedback on your work from an expert tutor, a certificate of participation (if you complete work and take part in discussions), and access to the class resources for two years after your course finishes. 

Concessions

For more information, please see our concessions information page. 

Alison Fordham Bursary

University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education is proud to offer the Alison Fordham bursary, which is awarded to students who wish to study on one of our short online courses via our VLE, reducing the fee paid by 50%. The bursary is limited to a single award for each set of online courses. 

Application criteria:

• applicants should set out their personal learning motivations since priority will be given to those who are returning to learning after an extended break, or have not previously engaged with fully online learning, or are seeking to use the online short course as a bridge towards undergraduate award-bearing study
• applicants who can demonstrate financial need 

For more information, please see our bursaries information page. 

A certificate of participation and a digital credential will be awarded to those who contribute constructively to weekly discussions, exercises and assignments for the duration of the course.