School of Social Work Syllabus Template Guide s19
Social Work 669
Section #60439
Managing Change and Organization Development
3 Units
Spring 2013
Instructor: / Jon Simon Sager, PhD, Clinical Associate ProfessorE-Mail: / / Course Day: / Thursday
Telephone: / (213) 740-8003 / Course Time: / 4:10 pm - 7:00 pm
Office: / MRF 333 / Course Location: / WPH B30
Office Hours: / Thursday 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm - 11:30 pm
Saturday at City Center 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
And by appointment
(Be sure to see me about the Saturday dates when I will be holding office hours)
I. Course Prerequisites
SOWK 503, SOWK 505, SOWK 534, & SOWK 535
II. Catalogue Description
Conceptual framework and practical skills needed to design, implement and evaluate effective change and organization development programs.
III. Course Description
This course is designed to provide students with a conceptual framework addressing the strategic importance of managing change and organization development (OD) in various agencies, human service organizations, community organizations and other settings. Uncertainty, complexity and rapidly changing organizational environments create the necessity for organizations to respond to and effectively deal with turbulence and instability. The capability of an organization's human resources to adapt to such conditions, adopt and successfully use new practices, technologies and develop ways of performing organizational tasks is vital to proactive and sustainable human service organizations. Managing change and OD are essential to these processes.
The management of change and organizational development is a dynamic process. This course focuses on understanding how to plan and implement change in various organizations and other settings. Effective change management and OD maximize the congruence between an organization's mission, goals, strategies, environment, technology, structure, processes, people, culture and reward systems. Managing successful change requires an understanding of the systemic interrelationships among these factors and how changes in one affect another. Within the context of this organizational complexity, students will examine the role of change agents at various levels of the organization and the integrative competencies and interpersonal skills required of individuals who initiate, manage and are affected by change. Managing change and OD is also a sense making and creative process; it requires the ability to discern new patterns and relationships both inside and outside the organization as well as openness to new ideas and possibilities.
This course is designed to provide students with both the conceptual framework and the practical skills needed to design, implement and evaluate effective change and OD programs. Creating effective change and OD programs for organizations begins with a diagnosis and assessment of the needs in the context of the organization's strategy. This also entails an analysis of the organization’s human resources, culture, organizational design and structure among other things. Once assessed and analyzed, the task becomes to design and develop interventions to achieve change and OD objectives. To accomplish the objectives also requires an understanding of: a) the roles of change agent(s)--internal and/or external change management or OD consultants, b) the importance of the political, cultural and technological contexts, and c) the effective development of customized change and OD intervention strategies as well as the familiarity with and ability to use and adapt existing techniques for effecting change.
The course will be taught from the perspective that students will one day be a stakeholder involved in some aspect of managing change and OD, whether as an employee, manager, or internal or external consultant delivering (or creating, or enabling) programs for organizational clients. This practical orientation drives the structure of the course which will involve experiencing not only the stages and activities of change management and OD, but includes exposure to the various tools, techniques and approaches that professional change management and OD specialist’s use. Some of this will involve actual participation in change and OD activities the instructor has used in his professional practice. Students will also become familiar with some of the most frequently used and popular interventions utilized by organizations as they embark upon the 21st century. Students will also learn how to obtain change management and organization development materials, as well as customize materials for particular organizational change and development purposes.
IV. Course Objectives
The Managing Change and Organization Development course (SOWK 669) will:
Objective # / Objectives /1 / To apply theories and perspectives concerning managing change and organization development in the context of human service organizations, diverse community settings and large and small systems.
2 / To assess the need for organizational change and OD interventions and be able to formulate strategies and tactics for organizational change and OD interventions.
3 / To identify the dynamics and issues in implementing and executing a change strategy or OD intervention in complex, diverse and multicultural environments as well as the challenges of developing learning and high reliability organizations that maximize the ability of the organization to effectively adapt to and cope with changing and turbulent environments.
4 / To understand the challenges for Organization development specialists and change agents at different levels of, and in different relationships to, the agency or human service organization.
5 / Students will demonstrate competency in applying principles of managing change and organization development to human service organizations and social systems at all levels of practice.
V. Course format / Instructional Methods
Lectures, experiential exercises, role plays, videos, power-point presentations, overheads, instrumentation and guest lectures (if available) will comprise the delivery format for the course. The course will be taught from the perspective that students will one day be a stakeholder involved in some aspect of managing change and OD, whether as an employee, manager, or internal or external consultant delivering (or creating, or enabling) programs for organizational clients. This practical orientation drives the structure of the course, which will involve experiencing not only the stages and activities of change management and OD, but includes exposure to the various tools, techniques and approaches that professional change management and OD specialists use. Some of this will involve actual participation in change and OD activities the instructor has used in his professional practice. Students will also become familiar with some of the most frequently used and popular interventions employed by corporations as they enter the 21st century. Students will also learn how to obtain change management and organization development materials, as well as customize materials for particular change and organization development strategies.
My lectures are designed to supplement and go beyond the assigned readings. I will be glad to answer questions about the readings, but expect my lectures to extend, provide insight and describe actual examples of the application of concepts covered in the readings and lectures.
Last, we will be flexible. Although I intend to follow the structure of the syllabus and course outline, like any good change agent and OD practitioner we will change and adjust in order to conduct deeper explorations of pertinent topics, accommodate the schedules of speakers, the access of videos and other equipment and so forth.
VI. Student Learning Outcomes
Student learning for this course relates to one or more of the following ten social work core competencies:
Social Work Core Competencies / SOWK 669 / Course Objective1 / Professional Identity / 4,5
2 / Ethical Practice / 4
3 / Critical Thinking / 1,2,3,4
4 / Diversity in Practice / * / 1,3,4,5
5 / Human Rights & Justice / 5
6 / Research Based Practice / 2,3
7 / Human Behavior / 2,3,4
8 / Policy Practice
9 / Practice Contexts / 1,2,3
10 / Engage, Assess, Intervene, Evaluate / 1,2,3
* Highlighted in this course
The following table explains the highlighted competencies for this course, the related student learning outcomes, and the method of assessment.
Competencies/ Knowledge,Values,Skills / Student Learning Outcomes / Method of Assessment /Professional Identity―Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
Social workers competent in Professional Identity:
§ Serve as representatives of the profession, its mission, and its core values.
§ Know the profession’s history.
§ Commit themselves to the profession’s enhancement and to their own professional conduct and growth. / 1. Advocate for client access to the services of social work. / Assignment 1
2. Practice personal reflection and self-correction to ensure continual professional development.
3. Attend to professional roles and boundaries. / Assignment 3
4. Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and communication.
5. Engage in career-long learning.
6. Use supervision and consultation. / Assignment 1,2 &3
Ethical Practice―Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
Social workers competent in Ethical Practice:
§ Fulfill their obligation to conduct themselves ethically and to engage in ethical decision-making.
§ Are knowledgeable about the value base of the profession, its ethical standards, and relevant law. / 7. Recognize and manage personal values in a way that allows professional values to guide practice. / Assignment 3
8. Make ethical decisions by applying standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. / Assignment 3
9. Tolerate ambiguity in resolving ethical conflicts. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
10. Apply strategies of ethical reasoning to arrive at principled decisions. / Assignment 2 & 3
Critical Thinking―Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
Social workers competent in Critical Thinking:
§ Are knowledgeable about the principles of logic, scientific inquiry, and reasoned discernment.
§ Use critical thinking augmented by creativity and curiosity.
§ Understand that critical thinking also requires the synthesis and communication of relevant information. / 11. Distinguish, appraise, and integrate multiple sources of knowledge, including research-based knowledge, and practice wisdom. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
12. Analyze models of assessment, prevention, intervention, and evaluation. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
13. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and colleagues.
Diversity in Practice―Engage diversity and difference in practice.
Social workers competent in Diversity in Practice:
§ Understand how diversity characterizes and shapes the human experience and is critical to the formation of identity.
§ Recognize that the dimensions of diversity reflect intersectionality of multiple factors including age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
§ Appreciate that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. / 14. Recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and values may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or enhance privilege and power. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
15. Gain sufficient self-awareness to eliminate the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse groups. / Assignment 2
16. Recognize and communicate understanding of the importance of difference in shaping life experiences. / Assignment 2
17. View themselves as learners and engage those with whom they work as informants. / Assignment 2 & 3
Human Rights & Justice―Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
Social workers competent in Human Rights & Justice:
§ Acknowledge that each person, regardless of position in society, has basic human rights, such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education.
§ Recognize the global interconnections of oppression and are knowledgeable about theories of justice and strategies to promote human and civil rights.
§ Incorporates social justice practices in organizations, institutions, and society to ensure that these basic human rights are distributed equitably and without prejudice. / 18. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
19. Advocate for human rights and social and economic justice. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
20. Engage in practices that advance social and economic justice. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
Research Based Practice―Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
Social workers competent in Research Based Practice:
§ Use practice experience to inform research, employ evidence-based interventions, evaluate their own practice, and use research findings to improve practice, policy, and social service delivery.
§ Comprehend quantitative and qualitative research and understand scientific and ethical approaches to building knowledge. / 21. Use practice experience to inform scientific inquiry. / Assignment 2 & 3
22. Use research evidence to inform practice. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
Human Behavior―Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
Social workers competent in Human Behavior:
§ Are knowledgeable about human behavior across the life course; the range of social systems in which people live; and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being.
§ Apply theories and knowledge from the liberal arts to understand biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development. / 23. Utilize conceptual frameworks to guide the processes of assessment, intervention, and evaluation. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
24. Critique and apply knowledge to understand person and environment. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
Policy Practice―Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
Social workers competent in Policy Practice:
§ Understand that policy affects service delivery, and they actively engage in policy practice.
§ Know the history and current structures of social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development. / 25. Analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance social well-being. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
26. Collaborate with colleagues and clients for effective policy action. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
Practice Contexts―Respond to contexts that shape practice.
Social workers competent in Practice Contexts:
§ Are informed, resourceful, and proactive in responding to evolving organizational, community, and societal contexts at all levels of practice.
§ Recognize that the context of practice is dynamic, and use knowledge and skill to respond proactively. / 27. Continuously discover, appraise, and attend to changing locales, populations, scientific and technological developments, and emerging societal trends to provide relevant services. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
28. Provide leadership in promoting sustainable changes in service delivery and practice to improve the quality of social services. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
Engage, Assess, Intervene, Evaluate―Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Social workers competent in the dynamic and interactive processes of Engagement, Assessment, Intervention, and Evaluation apply the following knowledge and skills to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
§ Identifying, analyzing, and implementing evidence-based interventions designed to achieve client goals
§ Using research and technological advances
§ Evaluating program outcomes and practice effectiveness
§ Developing, analyzing, advocating, and providing leadership for policies and services
§ Promoting social and economic justice / 29. Engagement:
Substantively and affectively prepare for action with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Use empathy and other interpersonal skills.
Develop a mutually agreed-on focus of work and desired outcomes. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
30. Assessment:
Collect, organize, and interpret client data.
Assess client strengths and limitations.
Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives.
Select appropriate intervention strategies. / Assignment 1, 2 & 3
31. Intervention:
Initiate actions to achieve organizational goals.
Implement prevention interventions that enhance client capacities.
Help clients resolve problems.
Negotiate, mediate, and advocate for clients.
Facilitate transitions and endings. / Assignment 3
32. Evaluation: Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate interventions. / Assignment 3
VII. Course Assignments, Due Dates Grading