Aligent Technology

Georgetown University

School of Continuing Studies

Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources Management

Course Syllabus, Summer 2012

Course: Managing Complex Systems Change (MPHR-801-01)

Class time: Thursday, 6:00 p.m. – 9:20 p.m.

Location: To Be Determined

Instructor: Professor Nadine L. Burnside, PhD

Office: Georgetown University

3307 M Street, NW

Washington, DC 20057

Office Hours: By Appointment

Contact Telephone: 301 297-9641 (Landline)

301 775-9771 (Mobile)

Email: nlb43@georgetown.edu

Course Description:

Today, organizations are faced with a multitude of internal and external challenges. They are driven to constantly rework, retool, and reorganize themselves to enhance their effectiveness and sustain their competitiveness. Thus, organizational change projects are complex and involve the development and application of systematic methodologies and techniques that recognizes and takes into account the impact of people, systems, processes, resources, and organizational culture.

In this course, students learn how organizational change occurs at the individual, group, and organization-wide levels and why even carefully planned change has many unintended consequences. Students analyze organizational change case studies, evaluate causes of failure and factors of success in organizational development projects, and design optimal change interventions. In addition, the course explores and examines various theories and concepts of change, as well as the successful and unsuccessful experiences and practices of managing organizational change. More specifically, the course addresses the success factors that contribute to an organization being able to depend on the capabilities of its human resources as it undertakes change efforts that advance business strategies and improve overall organizational effectiveness.

To enhance their personal capabilities, students become familiar and understand the...