Change is now the only constant in people’s professional and personal lives. To succeed professionally, one must effectively manage change. Yet most change initiatives fail or fall short of their intended outcomes.

What is it all about?
This minor introduces you to the challenging and fun field of change from multiple perspectives. It offers you an opportunity to develop your change competences so that you are better equipped to deal with change in future work settings. 

What’s in it for me? 
During this minor, you will develop the skills needed to plan, implement and evaluate organisational change successfully. You will achieve this by participating in a Change Experience: an 18-week project in which you will work alongside four or five fellow students on a real-life case study involving an organisation, city or industry on the verge of significant change. Your goal in this project is to have a real impact by generating enthusiasm among stakeholders for your change plans, to the extent that they want to carry your plans forward.

After the minor, you will be able to: 

• Make an analysis of external developments that could influence the organisation.
• Set up a business model.
• Formulate strategic options based on the analysis.
• Analyse your own organisation in terms of its strengths and weaknesses.
• Formulate strategic objectives so that operational objectives can be derived from them.
• Diagnose complex situations using appropriate diagnostic models.
• Provide insight into how the current situation is maintained by various factors.
• Identify the core of the change issue.
• Properly substantiate the choice of a specific change strategy by considering the nature of the issue, the organisation’s change history, the change agents, and the energy and resistance of all those involved.
• Translate the chosen change strategy into an intervention plan comprising a variety of interventions aimed at the effective and efficient implementation of the change (including a training plan).
• Develop a communication plan that aligns with the chosen change strategy.
• Determine the financial, legal and organisational feasibility of the intended change.
• Write a resistance handling plan.

• Bachelor’s degree students in their third or fourth year
• Propaedeutic certificate obtained

Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading change. Harvard Business School Publishing. ISBN: 9781422186435 

During this minor different teaching methods will be implemented:

• Workshops
• Lectures
• Discussion groups
• Learning communities
• Project work

Students will typically spend three days on campus and two days working on the Change Experience project, either on campus or elsewhere.

The assessment consists of an individual assignment, a group report, a presentation and an individual reflection.

Language of instruction
Although some project groups may be bilingual (English/Dutch), English is the primary language.

Topics and Structure of the minor
You will participate in various workshops and meetings organised around the following five themes: Organisational Behaviour, Change Management, Project Management, Business Development and Strategy & Innovation. These topics are of great importance for successfully implementing change. Together, the five topics offer the right combination of practical and theoretical knowledge to help you with change projects.

Change (often) starts with the process of forming a strategy. Based on an analysis of your organisation and the wider environment, you can develop a vision for the future. You can use the familiar SWOT analysis, but from a broader perspective, and familiarise yourself with the Business Model Canvas. This model describes how an organisation creates, delivers and retains value. 

Change management is central to this minor. How can you shape the change process professionally? The need for change often arises from an organisation’s strategic plan. What is the desired change? Which change strategy offers the best chance of achieving this? What interventions ensure this happens? We also look at forms of resistance, how to recognise them, and effective strategies for dealing with them. 

During the minor, you will also develop your personal competencies and complete an individual assignment. It is your responsibility to apply the knowledge gained from the workshops and individual assignments to your experience of change.

Additional costs
Only extra costs for mandatory reading materials apply.