Course syllabus

Course-PM

TEK431 TEK431 Change management and improvement processes lp1 HT26 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Technology Management And Economics

Contact details

Petra Bosch, petra.bosch@chalmers.se

Course assistant: Dominika Klopotek,  dominika.klopotek@chalmers.se

Teachers:

• Petra Bosch (PB)                            petra.bosch@chalmers.se
• Pernilla Gluch (PG)                         pernilla.gluch@chalmers.se
• Dominika Klopotek (DK)                dominika.klopotek@chalmers.se

 Guest lecturers:

1. 1. Mats Färnstrand (MF) – Change management consultant
   2. Stina Hellsvik (SH) - Environmental professional
   3. Sofie Peters (SP) - PhD student Chalmers, change management consultant
   4. Mladen Pilipovic (MP) – experienced change agent and manager

Course purpose

After completion of the course the course participants should be able to discuss and critically engage with existing theories and research within the subject of change management and improvement processes. Design and carry out a small research project in a narrower area within the field of change management and improvement processes. Collect, analyze, assemble and contrast various literature and theories on organizational change and improvement processes in relation to empirical examples from industry. Develop a sustainable and ethical understanding and approach to change. Critically review and discuss peer students work. Read and write academic texts. Reflect on learning processes carried out in groups containing diverse education backgrounds, gender, and nationality.

Schedule

TimeEdit

Course literature

The course literature consists of a selection of articles which are provided on Canvas.

Course design

This course provides insights into strategy, change and improvement theories and practices on the organizational level; it consists of lectures, literature seminars, seminars with experienced change managers from industry, as well as authoring and presentation of a term paper. The areas covered include theories on change processes, learning, leadership, resistances, and levels of analysis.

All course participants study a common body of literature and in addition each student specializes in a narrower area (term paper). The theoretical content of the course is discussed based on academic papers, research, and practical experiences of change projects in industry. These experiences come from research projects, participants’ personal experiences and above all from seminars with experienced change managers.

A major part of the course is an in-depth group assignment where participants themselves choose a specific area to specialize in. The aim is to combine theories with practice by conducting a literature analysis accompanied by own data gathering from organizations and document the analysis in a term paper.

Changes made since the last occasion

• The point system has been adjusted
• Literature seminar material has been changed and a quiz is added
• Exercise reflections are done orally during the exercise and not in a written assignment
• The project presentation is examined
• The course material has been updated.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

• Discuss and critically engage with existing theories and research within the subject of change management and improvement processes
• Design and carry out a small research project in a narrower area within the field of   change management and improvement processes
• Collect, analyze, assemble and contrast various literature   and theories on organizational change and improvement processes in relation to empirical examples from industry
• Develop a sustainable and ethical understanding and approach to change
• Critically review and discuss peer students work
• Read and write academic texts
• Reflect on learning processes carried out in groups containing diverse education backgrounds, gender and nationality.

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

https://www.chalmers.se/en/education/your-studies/find-course-and-programme-syllabi/course-syllabus/TEK431/?acYear=2026/2027

Examination form

The examination is based on a term paper written in groups, final opposition and presentation of the term paper, active participation in exercises, and an individual reflection.

Active participation in literature seminars and reflections on guest lectures can affect the final grading. The final grades are fail, 3, 4, or 5.

• Literature seminars + literature quiz on canvas

As a participant you are expected to read all the material supplied before each literature seminar and perform the compulsory online Quiz (pass is needed). Attendance at literature seminars is highly recommended both because of the opportunity of learning in small group discussions/seminars and because active participation provides bonus points that affect the grading.

During the literature seminar sessions (Wednesday), the class is divided in two groups.

1. Literature Seminar group A from 13:15 to 15:00
2. Literature Seminar group B from 15:15 to 17:00

• 2/3 attendance for lectures and guest lectures

Attendance for 2/3 of the lectures and guest lectures is needed for a pass (6 out of 9 lectures).

• Guest lectures reflections

The guest lectures will highlight different aspects of change management in practice and are highly recommended. Submission of a written reflection (1,5-2 pages max.) based on the guest lecture, provides bonus points that affect grading as it is a way of showing active participation. You are assessed on: Ability to discuss and reflect on the guest lecture content and the ability to discuss your main personal learnings from the guest lecture. Guest lecture reflections are handed in one week after the guest lecture. NOTE: you are only able to hand in a guest lecture reflection when you have attended the guest lecture!

• Exercises

Attendance and active participation is required for the three exercises in the course. One exercise concerns the project and group work. Two compulsory exercises are given based on two case studies. Active participation and oral reflection during the exercise are required. 

• Individual reflection

An individual reflection of max 850 words is written based on the project work. In the individual reflection you are assessed on your: Ability to summarize the project work process. Your ability to discuss experiences gained from the project work process and relate these to the project contract decided on in the beginning of the course. Ability to reflect on your own role for the project process and outcome (what could you improve). Your ability to reflect on future personal learnings (what do you take with you) from the project and course. Ability to reflect on diversity, equality and ethical aspects. Deadline Monday 2025-10-26 (17:00h).

• Term paper (4-5 persons)

The term paper assignment includes the choice of topic to study, the development of a theoretical understanding and research questions, empirical data collection, analysis, hand-in of a written report and oral presentation at a seminar. The written report should not be more than 5,000 words. This strict limit excludes the front page, table of content, reference list, and appendices.

The first hand-in of the term papers is on Thursday 2025-10-15 (17:00 h). Each group is supposed to present its term paper and to provide constructive comments on 3 other group’s term paper. Attendance at the presentation seminar is mandatory. A specific presentation schedule will be distributed.

Each group will be assigned another group’s term paper to scrutinize in detail as opponents (more information will be provided on canvas). As an opponent, you are supposed to make both a written (1-2 pages) and an oral opposition including a few questions suited for discussion and suggestions for improvement. More detailed comments (e.g., on language etc.) are only provided in the written comment. In addition, you are also required to review two other term papers to be able to participate in a discussion (more information will be provided).

After the final presentation, you have the opportunity to consider the comments and improve your report. The final deadline to hand-in the term paper is on Wednesday 2025-10-28 (17:00 h). This version will be graded.

The presentation is graded on clarity in presentation, communication skills demonstrated, ability to critically review and discuss peer student's work.  

AI use

You are required to assume full responsibility for your work and must be capable of justifying the choices you've made regarding its content. This includes engaging in discussions about and defending the role AI played in shaping your submitted work, demonstrating a clear understanding of how it contributed. AI and AI-assisted technologies should only be used to improve readability and language of the work and not to replace authoring tasks such as e.g. producing the intellectual content, insights, or conclusions. At a minimum, provide a description detailing how and to what extent AI tools have been utilized in your work.