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Canyon College

online Special Topics in Management (Consulting) course

COURSE SYLLABUS: SPECIAL TOPICS IN MANAGEMENT (CONSULTING)


Course Title:
Department:
Instructor:
Prerequisites: 		BU624 - Special Topics in Management (Consulting)
Business
John D. Theodore, Ph.D., D.B.A., CMC - E-Mail - Vita
Good standing in the program.


Course Description:

This course is an in-depth study of organization-wide interventions designed to improve the organization and to effect change in the organization. This course will include techniques for developing and improving the organization from a holistic management approach. The course will help students develop an appreciation of the impact of internal and external factors that impact change to an organization in a global environment.

Learning Objectives:

The students will:
  1. Understand the major causes of organizational change and how these changes can affect the organization in meeting overall strategies, goals, objectives, and mission of the organization.
  2. Develop organizational development techniques for dealing with internal and external changes in the organization.
  3. Understand organizational development concepts from a systems theory viewpoint to implement changes and improve efficiency of the organization.
  4. Develop critical problem solving skills and examine organization change interventions from a holistic management perspective.
  5. Explain how change agents can work internally or externally with consultants to bring about change for the organization.
  6. Develop skills necessary to evaluate work processes and develop external consultant skills necessary to conduct needs assessments and assist in making final recommendations to senior leadership for implementation of recommended changes to organization
  7. Understand the difference between the role of the consultant and the role of the change agent in organizational development interventions.
  8. Examine and develop theoretical concepts to effect organizational change from actual organization development and change case studies
Required Text: Online Bookstore

Text(s)

Lippit & Lippit. (1986). The consulting process in action. Somerset, NJ: University Associates.

Lewin, M. D. (1995). The overnight consultant. Somerset, NJ: John Wiley & So

Suggested Additional Text

Block, P. (2000). Flawless consulting, 2nd Ed. University Associates, La Jolla, CA.

Supplementary Resources:

The students are encouraged to become familiar with other sources, especially those located electronically and particularly topics dealing with consulting.

Journals & Periodicals: Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, Annual Review of Psychology, Harvard Business Review, Journal of Management, Management Review and Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM) journal.

Assessment:
  1. Six reading and case study assignments covering important aspects in consulting and organization development interventions.
  2. A twelve-page Reflective Paper (APA Style, 5th Edition) on any consulting topic.
Academic Requirements:

  1. All students are expected to “attend” the course by completing all course assignments in an academic manner and with complete preparation.
  2. Grammar, punctuation, spelling and overall composition will be included in the grading of all assignments.
  3. Students are required to complete each unit within a one-week time frame. At the student’s request, and upon successful completion of a unit in less than one week, the instructor will provide students with subsequent units of homework in advance.
  4. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Method of Instruction

BU624 is a distance-learning course offered through Canyon College. Because this class is a partially self-paced program in that you may complete a specific weeks work at anytime during that week timeframe, it is essential that the student review all available materials located in the text, classroom, e-mail, and syllabus. Course examinations will be administered on-line during the fourth and eighth weeks of class. Prior to the submission of the first assignment each student is required to submit via e-mail to the instructor the following information.
Name, e-mail address, course expectations, professional work experience, educational background and anything else you would like the instructor to know about you.
Course Schedule and Assignments:

Week 1
Unit 1: Read an academic article or case on any Organization Development intervention. Submit a two-page analysis of the materials read.
Week 2
Unit 2: Read a Case Study from any part of the text. Submit a two-page summary on the case using references from your text to support your summary.
Week 3
Unit 3: Read an academic article on Consultants as Change Agents. Submit a two- page analysis of the materials read.
Week 4
Unit 4: Submit a detailed description of the Reflective/Term Paper you have chosen covering any topic in organization development or organization change, including the purpose of the study and the limitations of the study. This can be done in two to three pages. Wait for the professor’s comments.
Week 5
Unit 5: Read one academic article on External Organization Development Consultants. Submit a two-page analysis of the materials read.
Week 6
Unit 6: Read one academic article on Internal Organization Development. Submit a two-page analysis of the material read
Week 7
Unit 7: Read one academic article on Organization Change Implementation. Submit a two-page analysis of the materials read.
Week 8 – Final Exam
Unit 8: Submit your twelve-page Reflective/Term Paper. Wait for the professor’s comments.
Grading criteria:

Readings:
Reflective/Term Paper: 		50%
50%


* This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.