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QB4008: UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING CHANGE (2025-2026)

Last modified: 08 Oct 2025 14:47


Course Overview

This course introduces the theory and practice of change management, a key area in consultancy. You will explore how individuals and organisations navigate transformation, gaining practical skills through case studies, group work, and presentations. Designed to build your consultancy competencies, the course helps you understand how to diagnose problems, develop strategies, and support change in today’s fast-paced and evolving business environment.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Offshore Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Robert Rogers
  • Mr Stephen Fettes

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Programme Level 4
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

In today’s rapidly evolving global environment, the ability to understand, adapt to, and lead change has become a vital skill for individuals pursuing careers in management, consultancy, or leadership roles. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of change management at the individual, team, and organisational levels. It is designed to support both personal development and professional capability by combining academic knowledge with practical application.

Throughout the course, you will engage with key themes such as psychology of change, team adaptation, organisational restructuring, cultural transformation, mergers and acquisitions, sustainability, and digital innovation. Emphasis is placed on the role of communication, leadership, and resilience in driving successful change, particularly in uncertain or complex environments. You will also reflect on your own experiences with change and explore the personal development needed to build your preferred future.

Learning takes place through interactive lectures, case-based discussions, group work, reflective activities, and consultancy-style challenges. These methods aim to build both your confidence and competence as a future change agent, whether you are working within an organisation or as an external consultant. You will also gain experience applying analytical tools and frameworks to real-world scenarios, while developing transferable skills such as research, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork and communication. The overall course aims are:

• To provide you with theoretical and practical knowledge pertaining to managing change at individual, group, and organisational levels
• To prepare you with the knowledge to identify the need for personal change for future career development
• To equip you with the skills and tools needed to become an internal change agent in your future workplaces, or support a career in management consultancy as an external change agent

The intended learning outcomes of this course are:
• Provide a historical overview of relevant change management theories.
• Compare and contrast the dominant models and frameworks for understanding types of change.
• Discuss and debate organisational change programmes focusing on quality, re-engineering, culture, learning, knowledge and technology.
• Identify and assess issues pertaining to the 'practice' of managing change.
• Explain the linkage between theory and practice in making sense of organisational change.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2025 for 1st Term courses and 19 December 2025 for 2nd Term courses.

Summative Assessments

Oral Presentation: Group

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Group Presentation worth 25% of the overall grade.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
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Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 75
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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3,000-word Essay worth 75% of the overall grade.

Word Count 3000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
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Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback Word Count 3000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILOs for this course are available in the course guide

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