Managing systemic change: inquiry, action and interaction
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This course views change as inescapable in everyday managing in situations ranging from personal to workplace to society in general. Rather than passively accepting change this course will equip you with skills to shape the nature and direction of change. It will develop your abilities to manage change with others so as to avoid systemic failures and improve joined-up actions amongst stakeholders along supply chains, in projects or, even, social activism. It is about learning to use systems thinking and practice to help you engage with change and act accordingly to recognise the interconnected nature of organisations and environments.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Engineering and Technology.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | TU812 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown.
What you will study
This course is based on the assumption that everyone is engaged in some form of practice – whether as a professional, a manager, a parent or a student. Through the course you will appreciate how your own understanding and practice can influence change. The course begins by exploring the nature of change and systems practice and why there is a need to manage systemic change. It goes on to address a simple but profound question: what is it that you do when you do what you do? It then considers the implications of practice in a networked or interconnected world, where groups, teams, organisations and even nations will have to be smarter in their ways of working together.
Some claim that we now live in a world of short-term projects with pre-specified goals that can no longer deal with the complexity and uncertainty we have to manage. You will be introduced to systemic inquiry, which is an alternative way to organise programmes and projects, so as to be better able to manage the complexity and uncertainty associated with living in a world where complex and uncertain issues like adapting to climate-change and sustainability are increasingly important.
The world of the future will require more skills and understanding of flexible and adaptive managing – we will have to place more emphasis on learning as we go and making sure the learning changes our practice and organisations. A promising way to do this is with systemic action research. The course will make it possible for you to organise and manage this type of practice – a form of research (with a small ‘r’) that is accessible to all people.
More effective collaborative working will be a demand placed on more and more people. This will make new demands on meetings, teams, projects, committees, as well as interagency and cross-professional and cross-cultural groups. This course will consider the theory and practice of ‘social learning systems and communities of practice’ in order to develop your understanding of how different groups might work together better using systems thinking in practice. You will be able to critically evaluate your own processes, structures and experiences in your working groups, communities of practice and networks and consider possible alternatives for the future.
Through developing an understanding of social learning systems and communities of practice you will aim to develop your own capacities for working with others in a practical way to bring about systemic change. Social learning and communities of practice are also at the forefront in managing. This material will be particularly useful to those who have encountered organisational structures that unhelpfully separate interconnected issues of change ( managing them in ‘silos’), or those who need to develop skills to work with multiple organisations.
In summary, the course aims to help you to engage with and improve complex situations that involve change in all areas of work; evaluate your own social structures and experiences of working groups, communities of practice and networks; and consider possible future alternatives.
Vocational relevance
By studying the course you will be able to take stock of your past experience, examine issues in your own working life, make sense of them using a range of innovative ideas, tools and techniques, and extend your competence as a professional. In our contemporary world, where all organisations face increasing uncertainty and complexity, the experience of our students is that successfully completing our systems courses not only benefits them personally but is of great benefit to the organisation in which they are employed.
The course will meet the needs of anyone engaged with taking action in situations that involve complex inter-connections, multiple stakeholder interests and have problematic boundaries. It will meet these needs by providing practical and conceptual foundations for managing in the broadest sense.
This course is ideal for those people who are in situations such as:
- inspiring innovation and/or creativity
- providing leadership
- organisations where you have to work with others to get something done – particularly where you want to feel good about working together
- positions where you have to work across boundaries (internal or external)
- tasks involving professionals with different perspectives on issues e.g. groups of policy-makers and other practitioners; public sector agencies; groups including business, government and NGOs; health services; project teams, etc.
- having to engage others in what you are doing (i.e. building stakeholding) either within or external to your organisation or project
- those where you and others are uncertain about the nature of the problem and thus what would constitute a solution (i.e. dealing with wicked problems)
- developing new policies that will affect a wide range of people
- managing change of some form or another
- project or programme development and/or delivery
- participating in or managing multi, inter or transdisciplinary research
- interdepartmental working parties, groups, committees
- managing a staff team
- policy development or implementation
- working more effectively with your colleagues and communities in developing your practice.
From the course you will begin to appreciate the limitations of many current ways of thinking and learn how they can exacerbate complexity, creating unintended consequences that can lead to systemic failure. When you finish you should be able to think and act differently, not only as an individual but in your working with others. Your ability to work with others will be developed by understanding what social learning and communities of practice are, and how you can participate in, and contribute to, both.
Entry
There are no entry requirements, but we do assume that you have already done some study up to HNC, HND or bachelors degree level in a relevant subject area, or have equivalent experience from your employment.
You do need to have a reasonable standard of spoken and written English to study successfully with us. Poor language skills will make study more difficult, and it will take longer. The normal requirements for English language skills are explained on our website.
If you have any doubts about whether your level of English is good enough for you to study this course you may find it helpful to look at our Skills for OU Study site.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
TU812 is a compulsory module in our:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (E28)
- MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice (F47)
TU812 is an optional module in our:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice (C72)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Management (C49)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management (D37)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems (E10)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Decision Making (D38)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Management (E08)
- MSc in Development Management (F11)
- MSc in Environmental Decision Making (F13)
- MSc in Information Systems (F37)
- MSc in Technology Management (F36)
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. These qualifications allow most postgraduate modules to count towards them. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability. This course utilises web-based multi-media teaching and materials which are delivered online, students who use specialist hardware or software are advised to seek advice from the Open University about how accessible this will be to assistive technology before they register.
If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
TU812 is a blend of online activities and text-based material, that are supported by a study guide and course books. Practical exercises, video demonstrations, online discussions and web-based multi-media teaching are used to ensure that the ideas become grounded in your own experience.
You will need
You will need a broadband connection to the internet to download video material. A dial-up connection will not be suitable.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. You will be able to contact your tutor by telephone, email and post. There is usually a lively student online forum. Contact the Postgraduate Technology & Computing (PTC) Office (telephone +44 (0)115 971 5566, or email) if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in November 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Engineering and Technology.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | TU812 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credits
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
Fascinating, very hard work, especially at the beginning if you have no systems background - I didn't. This is systems ...
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