Here are the guidelines for the assignment in my Managing
Organizational Change course. Feel free to adapt to suit your
objectives. The practical side usually works well with people with work
experience; students with little work experience are more anxious,
especially before doing it. In the end, most enjoy it, as they learn
from it. You need to be prepared to give them guidance when needed.
The focus of Assignment # 2 is a field project, which provides an
opportunity for the practical application of some models and techniques.
Assignment # 2 must be done by small teams (3-5 team members).
The effectiveness of your team is your joint responsibility; all team
members will receive the same grade for the assignment. Your team report
must include the assessment of your team's effectiveness.
The subject of the assignment must be discussed and agreed with the
instructor 2 weeks prior to the deadline for submission. A one (1) page
outline specifying the topic, sources, research strategy, the team
members, and the "name of your consulting firm" must be presented to the
instructor at the time. Email is usually effective for communication.
You can also review your outline with the instructor in class prior to
the deadline.
Following are 3 examples of typical topics for Assignment # 2:
1) Chose an organization and document its history with regard to
change management.
What internal and external conditions influenced the change? How was it
accomplished? What was successful/unsuccessful? What is the future
outlook? The methodology can include interviews with managers, people
working in change management (e.g. internal or external consultants),
and other stakeholders involved in the change initiative, as well as
documentary information. Use model's) to structure your data collection
and compare the information gathered with your learning from the
textbook. In light of your learning from the textbook and other sources,
what could have been done differently, and what should the next steps
be?
2) Develop an organizational change initiative for an organization.
Upon contacting an organization that is experiencing problems or which
is planning a major organizational change, your task is to diagnose the
current situation or analyze the change that the organization is
planning. Document your entry in the organization and initial
diagnostic, and present a plan of intervention, including the rationale
for your recommendations.
3) Use the Job Diagnostic Survey (or another survey instrument) in
a work unit.
a. Using the Job Diagnostic Survey instrument, collect data about a
"job" for which you can collect information from incumbents (3-5) and
from their supervisor(s).
b. Using the Job Characteristics model and related theories,
analyze the data and develop recommendations to redesign this "job".
Present your rationale for the recommendations.
Assignment # 2 will be evaluated as follows:
A) Once the initial contact with the organization has been made, and the
tentative focus of the field project drafted, submit your project
outline to the instructor for clarification and approval. 1 point
B)Report (Part I): presentation of the organization, and the job or
situation under analysis 1 point
C)Report (Part II): description of methodology to collect the data (e.g.
interview, questionnaire), including sample instrument used 2 points
D)Report (Part III): analysis of the data using diagnosis/change
model(s). Show your understanding of the theory. 4 points
E)Report (Part IV): Proposal/recommendation for change (e.g. specific
job redesign; strategy and action plan for intervention). Show your
understanding of alternative intervention strategies. 4 points
F)Report (Part V): explanation of your rationale for the
recommendations. Demonstrate your ability to relate theory and practice.
2 points
G)Presentation in class 3 points
H)Report (Part VI): Bibliography 1 point
I)Report (Part VII): structured assessment of your team effectiveness.
2 points
-----Original Message-----
From: Management Education and Development Discussion
[mailto:
MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU] On Behalf Of Charles Wankel
Sent: May 6, 2004 5:17 PM
To:
MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject: Org Change & Dev course suggestions?
From: Stephen Betts
steve103y@yahoo.com
Hello,
This summer I will be teaching an MBA elective course
in Organizational Change and Development.
20 students (mostly working)
11 meetings of 4 hours each, twice a week
Req. readings - Good to Great (by Jim Collins), HBR on
Change
Currently I am designing the course and am looking for
a term project idea and/or case study(s) that I can
use in this course. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Steve Betts
Marketing and Management Department
Christos M. Cotsakos College of Business
William Paterson University
Wayne, NJ 07474-0920
bettss@wpunj.edu
__________________________________
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