Change, strategy and projects at work
We live in a changing world. Being able to anticipate, make sense of, and manage change is vital to our wellbeing in our personal and working lives. Whether or not you see yourself as a manager in the usual sense, the ability to manage change is crucial because we all need to manage our lives to ensure we benefit from change rather than be disadvantaged by it. This module improves your understanding of the origins, nature and consequences of change and helps you to plan a change project associated with your workplace. You’ll also develop your project working skills – highly valued by employers.
What you will study
In the first block of study you will be introduced to techniques to probe and understand the ‘big picture’ of how change is likely to impact on your own workplace and options for responding to the need for change.
In following blocks you will identify and develop an idea for a practical change project centred on your work or workplace that supports your organisation’s priorities, which you identified in Block 1. You will develop your project plan, learning about project working methods as you do so. You will also learn how to prepare and present the business case for your project idea. You are not expected to implement your project plan in this module, though your employer could decide to take your project forward independent of your study on this module.
By studying this module you will:
- develop key change and project working skills and competences such as planning and organising, problem solving, showing initiative, adaptability, and flexibility
- improve your insight, knowledge and understanding of your workplace
- build your personal confidence
- develop your ability to learn from your work and to apply learning in your workplace.
Entry requirements
This is an OU level 2 module and you need to have a good knowledge of the subject area, obtained either through OU level 1 study, or by doing equivalent work at another university. The work-based OU level 1 module Career development and employability (T122) would be ideal preparation.
In order to complete this module successfully you should:
- be in full- or part-time employment or be engaged in voluntary sector work activity throughout your study
- have permission to carry out work-based learning tasks relating to your work setting
- confirm that the work you submit is based on your own practice in that setting.
You are responsible for obtaining agreement that you can use your workplace as a context for your studies prior to registering for this module.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an .
Preparatory work
You will need to gain your employer’s permission to use your workplace as a context for your learning on this module. You will not be asked to include any information that is confidential to your employer or to reveal the names of workplace colleagues in any assessment material you submit on this module.
You may also find it useful to make initial enquiries in your workplace to identify potential project ideas, but you will be guided closely through this process during the early stages of your study of Block 2.
What's included
The study materials will include a set book and a website. The website will provide links to:
- study materials
- discussion forums
- other relevant sources.
Computing requirements
You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.
Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.
To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).
Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.
Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.
It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.