Organisations as Complex Environments and Change

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Organisations as Complex Environments and Change (BXL622)

Synopsis

Organisations operate within complex ecosystems. Learners will be challenged to make meaning of differing theoretical perspectives on contemporary theories of organisation and organisational development, and their ideas about learning, innovation, and change. This meaning making process will contribute to learners’ ability to position and support change. Using Knowledge Forum software and physical face-to-face sessions, they will learn to lead discussions that improve on ideas and understandings and move the discussion forward to deepen and co-construct knowledge of this field. Using their own or a selected organisation as the subject, they will move between theory and practice to grow their stance (philosophical beliefs) about organisational change in complex, dynamically changing environments.

Level: 6
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY REGULAR SEMESTER

Topics

Using Knowledge Forum
The nature of organisations as a complex environment
Organisational theories and the learning organisation
Organisations in dynamically changing ecosystems
Organisations and change
Trends in relevant ecosystems
Change models
Does practice theory go beyond O&D understandings?
Evaluating practices
Using a new eye to understand challenges and possibilities for learning, innovation and change
Synthesising key concepts
Learners’ reflexive stance

Learning Outcome

Critique organisational develop theories
Examine what organisational theories imply for learning, change and innovation
Evaluate different change models
Analyse the role of their organisation within its ecosystem
Collect a range of practices that support learning, innovation and change
Construct their own stance on change that supports learning and innovation in organisations