Course syllabus for Managing change in the construction industry

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-12 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameFörändringsledning i byggsektorn
  • CodeTEK660
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPDCM
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyIndustrial Engineering and Management, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 88117
  • Maximum participants72
  • Minimum participants15
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsNo

Credit distribution

0119 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		0 c0 c0 c7.5 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Students admitted to MSc programme within Architecture, Civil engineering, Industrial engineering and management.

Aim

The overall aim of the course is to train students to actively participate, as leaders and co-workers, in various organizational change processes in the construction industry. The course seeks to develop analytical skills required to manage change in complex situations. This involves raising the students' knowledge and stimulate a critical thinking related to organizational change theories, change management practices, continuous improvement and ethical conduct.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • Define, describe, review and interrelate core theories on change management and change processes
  • Describe and discuss phenomenon and/or problems related to organizational change in the construction sector
  • Describe and apply management practices related to change management and continuous improvement, e.g. ISO9001
  • Develop analytical skills required to manage change in complex situations
  • Have a sustainable and ethical understanding and approach to organizational change processes
  • Discuss and critically engage with existing theories and research within the subject of change management
  • Collect, analyze, assemble and contrast various literature and theories on organizational change and change processes in relation empirical examples from the construction sector
  • Critically review and discuss peer students work
  • Read and write academic texts

Content

Related to the core subject of change processes in the construction sector the areas covered include theories and practices on:
  • Organizational change management
  • Motivation and resistance to change
  • Leadership and communication in change processes
  • Sustaining change – organizational learning
  • Change management diagnosing - methods and tools
  • Continuous improvement - models and methods
  • Client driven innovation and change
  • Ethical conduct
All course participants study a common body of literature and in addition each student specializes in a selected area (term paper and presentations). The theoretical content of the course is discussed in the perspective of cases/experiences from change projects in the construction industry.

Organisation

The course consist of:
  • lectures, incl. guest lectures from industry and academia (min 75% participation required)
  • exercises (compulsory)
  • workshops (compulsory)
  • a major part of the course is a group assignment (compulsory)

Literature

Hallin, A., Olsson, A., and Widström, M. (2021) Change Management, Studentlitteratur.

15-20 scientific articles.

Examination including compulsory elements

The students are expected to be main drivers of their own learning. The keywords of the course are participation, responsibility and commitment.

The examination is based on an oral exam, participation in compulsory elements, a term paper written in groups, a group presentation, and written individual reflections on exercises and group work. 

Active participation in lectures may affect the final grading.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.