Structure | The Warwick Executive Diploma in Organisational Change

An innovative executive-level programme

The programme is delivered in four modules, each over four days at WBS London, so executives don’t need to divert from their usual responsibilities at work. Upon successful completion confers the qualification of Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Change from the University of Warwick.

The four modules build and develop new leadership thinking and transform strategic understanding over one year, with new learning immediately utilised in your own organisation between modules as well as through your final individual project.

Modules

Creating Strategic Advantage: 16-19 March 2022
Introduction to Organisational Change: 18-21 May 2022
Implementing Organisational Change: TBC
New Perspectives on Organisational Change: TBC

Click on the module links in the drop down below to see further details of the module content.

Individual project
The final component of your Executive Diploma is the individual project. The project is completed and submitted after the four core modules, though you will begin developing ideas for your project from the outset, as it is intended to be an integrating focus for your learning across the whole Diploma.

The scope of the project allows you to apply and develop your thinking from each Diploma module to a strategic challenge of your choosing. The Course Director and faculty will support you in developing the project outline and you will deliver the 6,000 word project report as the final assessment of your Diploma after completion of the modules and their assignments.

Assessment
You will be required to complete written assessments, plus a further strategic project. All assignments are designed to be directly related to your own organisational context and challenges. In order to gain the qualification of Postgraduate Diploma awarded by the University of Warwick, you will need to attend all four taught modules, and pass the assessment in each module and your project.

How will we teach you?

Peer networks and debate: Questioning, discussion and debate with a support network of peers as well as truly interactive relationships with teaching faculty
Bespoke distance learning platform: Inter-modular support from the my.wbs platform, which is used to deliver our Distance learning MBA
Guest speakers and practitioners: relevant and relate-able speakers from industry and practice will feature within each individual module
Personal development and action learning: Utilising reflective practice, psychometric tools and analysis as well as learning through doing.

Learning in London, the financial capital of the world
Opened in June 2015 on the 17th floor of The Shard, WBS London houses a 100-seat lecture theatre and a smaller one at 80 seats, plus seminar rooms and space to network. In October 2017 we announced that WBS is expanding our London base to include the 13th floor, increasing our footprint at The Shard by 50 per cent.

The Shard is situated next to the London Bridge transport hub so getting to us from anywhere in London, the UK, and international locations, could not be easier.

Modules

Introduction to Organisational Change

The programme commences with an exploration of the imperative for change in organisations today and why an understanding of the dynamics of change is critical for you as leader. You will understand how change occurs in organisations and individuals, group and organisational processes, that shape the human response to change. You are encouraged to reflect on your role as change agent and in particular to consider your personal response to change. As a result of this module you will develop greater self-awareness and capacity for reflection in your role as a change agent within your organisation.

Creating Strategic Advantage

Strategic insight and vision is what ignites, and provides direction for, the forces of change within an organisation. This module will build on your existing knowledge and experience by introducing you to the latest thinking from the world of strategy, enabling you to challenge afresh the fundamentals of your business, robustly diagnose the need for change, and frame the change challenge. You will develop an advanced understanding and in-depth insight into strategic thinking and practice and you will be supported to apply the theory and practice to your own organisation for the design and delivery of an effective change strategy.

Implementing Organisational Change

You will build on the foundations laid down in the opening module by examining a range of theories and concepts including those concerning change leadership, human networks, planning, stakeholder analysis, and influence that will enable you to craft and implement effective change strategies. The module integrates cutting-edge theory from a range of disciplines, including social psychology and organisation behaviour, in order for you to understand which techniques might prove successful where more traditional processes of change have failed. During this module you will also critically reflect on your own change leadership style and capabilities and formulate a personal development plan.

New Perspectives on Organisational Change

This final module explores the challenge facing organisations today in responding to continuous and rapid change in their environment and increased uncertainty. You will examine new perspectives on organisational change and its implementation including emergent change, agile change, strategic design thinking, and the creation of organisations designed around continuous change. Combined with your new strategic understanding, you will have the ongoing ability to critically analyse these approaches and their appropriateness in the context of the current and future needs of your organisation.

Module details