Change Management
Business and service organizations must be nimble to thrive in today's complex marketplaces. Innovation is more than a buzzword — it's become a necessity. Organizations must constantly change from within to build viable processes and structures that can sustain success. They must also adapt in response to their environments through innovative management and creation of new services. This certificate provides a comprehensive overview of what it takes to thrive in an age of innovation and strategy, exploring a variety of topics — product development, quality management practices, the application of technology. Through coursework in organizational change, business innovation and change management, managers or aspiring managers can develop structured approaches to change across all levels of an organization.
This program was formerly titled Innovation and Change Management.
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Post-baccalaureate students at Northwestern's School of Professional Studies pay per course. For more information about financial obligations and tuition, visit the Tuition page.
In addition to completing an online application, you'll also need to submit a few supplemental materials. A list of requirements for admission including application deadlines and tips on how to apply can be found at the Admission page.
Whether you're a first-time registrant or current and returning student, all students register using our online student registration and records systems. Important information about registering for courses at SPS, including registration timelines and adding or dropping courses in which you are already enrolled, can be found at the Registration Information page.
| Program Courses: | Course Detail |
|---|---|
| Team Leadership and Decision Making <> COMM_ST 250-DL | This course is organized to expose students to foundational
perspectives and concepts of effective, ethical leadership and
collaboration. Our work together will focus upon communication
principles and practices that support evaluation of others’
leadership and your own practices as part of a team. We will
explore models and theories that describe these topics and gain
practice thinking and writing critically. The goal of this course
is for students to leave with applicable knowledge and tactics that
will help them to engage with others--as a leader and a team
member-- to achieve good results in good conscience. View COMM_ST 250-DL Sections |
| Organization Behavior <> ORG_BEH 301-DL | Our contemporary lives are shaped by participation in commercial, social, and government organizations. This course uses social science research to explicate the dimensions of formal organizations and show how they influence our public and private behavior. The course will investigate sources of organizational success (positive function) and failure. Students will learn how to address organizational dysfunction through applying research-based solutions. Exercises include case study scenarios, role-play videos, simulations, and path-dependent decision making. By the end of the course, students will be able to diagnose organizational problems and devise targeted remedies. This course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to tuition. View ORG_BEH 301-DL Sections |
| Organizational Change <> ORG_BEH 310-DL | In-depth investigation of the forces driving organizational change and their impact on people and structure. This course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to tuition. View ORG_BEH 310-DL Sections |
| Conflict Resolution <> ORG_BEH 311-DL | Conflict takes place daily in all organizations, regardless of size. Research indicates ways to deal with misunderstood and mismanaged conflict. In this course, we will focus on two types of conflict: conflict that is positive and has the ability to increase productivity, effectiveness, and satisfaction; conflict that will result in negative outcomes. Recognizing both the positive and negative impact of conflict is essential. With that knowledge, you can develop positive strategies to maintain excellent working relationships and address issues as they occur. Our goals, then, are to identify conflict, determine whether it is positive or negative, and resolve it to the benefit of all. This course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to tuition. View ORG_BEH 311-DL Sections |
| Strategic Planning & Management <> ORG_BEH 367-DL | This course applies the concepts of strategic planning to
various types of organizations. Initial discussions will provide a
basic framework for preparing a strategic plan for corporations,
non-profits and government agencies. Practical applications will be
developed from case studies and the experiences of the instructor
and students. Since we can learn from wide range of situational
discussions, we will consider entrepreneurial and established
operations, as well as success stories and failures. This course is
conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to
tuition. View ORG_BEH 367-DL Sections |
| Entrepreneurship and Technology ORG_BEH 369-DL | This example-based course examines technology companies and the various ways one can interact with the world of entrepreneurship. The course targets students who want to understand start-ups and venture capital or work at a technology company. We will focus on how businesses get off the ground and how your individual skills might fit into a technology company at various stages. A primary focus for the course is bringing real world experience to each topic via recordings, speakers and current events. You’ll leave this course having a better idea of career paths available in the technology industry. This is not a sector-specific course and will touch on various verticals within start-ups. This course will include six required synchronous sessions on Thursday evenings from 6 PM - 8 PM on 3/27, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1, 5/15 and 5/29 via Zoom. View ORG_BEH 369-DL Sections |
