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Foundations of Strategic Change

John Oesch

Change is complex and often uncomfortable — even seasoned leaders have failed to deliver on their intended strategies — but it doesn’t have to be. The Foundations of Strategic Change course serves an introduction to developing your own strategic change initiative.

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A successful initiative begins with a clear understanding of why, what, and how you aim to effect change. You’ll learn about the context of, and models associated with, organizational change, including the background of change leadership and why change is difficult for organizations to implement.

Read more

Change is complex and often uncomfortable — even seasoned leaders have failed to deliver on their intended strategies — but it doesn’t have to be. The Foundations of Strategic Change course serves an introduction to developing your own strategic change initiative.

****

A successful initiative begins with a clear understanding of why, what, and how you aim to effect change. You’ll learn about the context of, and models associated with, organizational change, including the background of change leadership and why change is difficult for organizations to implement.

Once you’ve explored the theoretical foundations, you'll have the opportunity to establish a vision and purpose for change in your own context. Learn how to diagnose potential problems, design a change intervention, and establish a strategy to bring your change initiative to life.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Skills to outline the context of change leadership.
  • The ability to describe the foundational models that highlight how organizational change is achieved.
  • The components of a strategic change initiative.
  • Skills to identify problems in organizational processes.
  • Design principles to incorporate when designing your change initiative.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Examines the context, models, and components of strategic change, which is highly relevant to managers and change leaders
Taught by John Oesch, a seasoned expert in organizational change
Explores the theoretical foundations of change leadership and how to develop a strategic change initiative
Provides opportunities to practice diagnosing problems, designing interventions, and establishing strategies for change, which is practical and hands-on
Requires no prerequisites and is accessible to learners with varying backgrounds in change management

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Reviews summary

Foundations for strategic organizational change

According to students, "Foundations of Strategic Change" is a highly relevant and practical course for professionals navigating organizational transformations. Learners consistently highlight its ability to provide a solid theoretical foundation complemented by actionable strategies. Many found the content well-structured and clear, making complex concepts accessible. The instructor's expertise and engaging approach are frequently praised, contributing to a largely positive learning experience. While the course is broadly effective in its foundational aims, some learners suggested a desire for more in-depth case studies to further enhance the practical application of the concepts.
Instructor effectively conveys complex concepts.
"The instructor's explanations were clear and kept me engaged throughout the modules, simplifying difficult ideas."
"I found the teaching style very approachable, making dense topics easy to grasp and follow."
"Their insights, shared from experience, were truly invaluable and added significant depth to the lessons."
Builds a comprehensive understanding of change models.
"The foundational models discussed provided a great understanding of organizational change."
"I appreciated the depth of theoretical knowledge, which truly explained why change is so difficult to implement."
"It's a clear and concise overview of change leadership concepts, establishing a strong base."
Provides actionable strategies for real-world change.
"I gained practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."
"This course helped me approach strategic change with a much clearer, actionable plan."
"The frameworks provided are incredibly useful for navigating real organizational challenges, offering tangible insights."
Highly valuable for leaders and managers.
"As a seasoned leader, this course offered fresh perspectives on common change challenges."
"Perfect for anyone in a management role looking to lead successful initiatives within their organization."
"I recommend this course for professionals aiming to effect significant organizational shifts and improve their leadership."
Could benefit from more real-world examples.
"I wished for more in-depth case studies to see these concepts applied in various complex scenarios."
"While the theory is strong, I would have loved to explore more intricate real-world examples to solidify understanding."
"The course could enhance its practical application with additional detailed, diverse examples of change initiatives."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Foundations of Strategic Change with these activities:
Review 'Leading Change'
Build a strong foundation for your strategic change initiative by understanding the key principles of change leadershipoutlined in this seminal work.
View HBR's 10 Must Reads for Executive Teams on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read Chapters 1-3 focusing on the nature of organizational change, the role of leadership, and the key challenges involved in leading change.
  • Summarize the author's model for successful change and identify the key elements that resonate with you.
Explore Best Practices in Change Management
Supplement your understanding of strategic change by exploring best practices and case studies from successful change initiatives.
Browse courses on Change Management
Show steps
  • Access online resources and industry articles on change management best practices.
  • Attend webinars or workshops led by experienced change practitioners.
Conduct a SWOT Analysis
Gain practical experience in assessing your organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to inform your change strategy.
Show steps
  • Gather data through interviews, surveys, and document review.
  • Identify and categorize key factors in each category (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).
  • Develop insights and recommendations based on your analysis.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Become a Peer Mentor
Reinforce your knowledge by sharing it with others. Become a peer mentor and provide support to fellow students as they navigate the course content.
Show steps
  • Identify a classmate or student in a similar course who could benefit from your support.
  • Establish a regular cadence for meetings or online discussions.
  • Provide guidance, encouragement, and feedback on their learning journey.
Develop a Change Vision Statement
Articulate a clear and compelling vision for your change initiative to inspire and motivate stakeholders.
Browse courses on Mission Statement
Show steps
  • Define the current state and identify the desired future state.
  • Brainstorm and refine a statement that captures the essence of the desired change.
  • Ensure the statement is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Compile a Toolkit for Change Agents
Build a comprehensive resource for your change initiative by compiling articles, case studies, and tools related to strategic change.
Browse courses on Resources
Show steps
  • Conduct a literature review and gather relevant resources.
  • Categorize and organize the resources into a structured format (e.g., online repository, shared document).
  • Provide annotations and summaries to enhance the usability of the toolkit.
Create a Communication Plan
Develop a comprehensive plan to effectively communicate and manage the change initiative with stakeholders.
Browse courses on Communication Plan
Show steps
  • Identify key stakeholders and their communication needs.
  • Define communication channels, messages, and timelines.
  • Develop strategies for managing resistance and addressing concerns.
Implement a Pilot Change Initiative
Gain hands-on experience by implementing a small-scale change initiative to test your approach and gather feedback.
Browse courses on Change Implementation
Show steps
  • Select a specific area or process for the pilot project.
  • Develop a detailed plan and timeline.
  • Execute the pilot project and monitor progress.
  • Evaluate the outcomes and make adjustments as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Foundations of Strategic Change will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

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Course image
Effort
3 to 5 hours per week for 4 weeks
Level
Intermediate
Via
edX
Institution
University of Toronto
Instructor
John Oesch
Language
English
Transcript
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Examines the context, models, and components of strategic change, which is highly relevant to managers and change leaders
Taught by John Oesch, a seasoned expert in organizational change
Explores the theoretical foundations of change leadership and how to develop a strategic change initiative
Provides opportunities to practice diagnosing problems, designing interventions, and establishing strategies for change, which is practical and hands-on
Requires no prerequisites and is accessible to learners with varying backgrounds in change management
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