Change Management and Leadership

Organisations are continually adapting to changing technologies, market conditions, customer expectations, and strategic priorities. Successfully leading change requires more than project management expertise - it demands strong leadership, effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to support people through uncertainty.

This course provides practical tools and proven approaches that help professionals manage change effectively while developing the interpersonal and leadership skills needed to build commitment, overcome resistance, and deliver successful outcomes.

What you will learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Develop a critical understanding of the key principles and approaches to change management
• Apply established and contemporary change management frameworks within organisational settings
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills when leading and managing projects and teams
• Critically evaluate leadership styles and techniques used during organisational change
• Develop strategies for communication, stakeholder engagement, and conflict resolution
• Build self-awareness and reflective practice to enhance leadership effectiveness
• Apply change management and leadership approaches to real-world organisational challenges

How you will learn

This course combines live teaching, practical case studies, collaborative discussion, industry insight, and independent learning to support the development of effective change leadership capabilities.

You will learn through:

• Tutor-led sessions exploring key change management and leadership concepts
• Practical case studies examining organisational transformation and change initiatives
• Group discussions focused on leadership challenges and change scenarios
• Activities that develop communication, negotiation, coaching, and conflict resolution skills
• Opportunities to analyse stakeholder engagement and organisational dynamics
• Reflective exercises designed to strengthen self-awareness and leadership capability
• Industry guest speakers sharing contemporary challenges, experiences, and solutions from practice

Course content

The course explores the principles, practices, and leadership capabilities required to successfully manage organisational change.

• Foundations of Change Management
• Leadership and Change
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
• Interpersonal Skills for Change Leaders
• Managing Change Within Projects
• Reflective Leadership Practice

Assessment

Assessment is designed to help you apply change management and leadership principles to a realistic organisational transformation scenario.

You will take on the role of a change leader and develop a comprehensive change management plan for an organisation undergoing significant change. This assessment provides an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to analyse organisational challenges, develop practical solutions, and apply leadership principles within a professional context.

Through the assessment, you will develop your ability to:

• Apply change management models and frameworks to real-world situations
• Develop effective change strategies and implementation plans
• Analyse stakeholder needs and communication requirements
• Evaluate leadership approaches and their impact on organisational change
• Reflect on your own leadership capability and professional development
• Produce evidence-based recommendations that support successful change outcomes

The assessment focuses on practical application of leadership development, strategic thinking, and workplace relevance rather than purely academic analysis.

Applying your learning

Throughout the course, you will:

• Explore real-world examples of organisational change and transformation
• Analyse leadership challenges associated with managing change
• Develop practical solutions to complex organisational issues
• Strengthen communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Reflect on your own leadership style and professional development
• Learn from industry practitioners and contemporary case studies

You will leave with:

• A stronger understanding of change management principles and practices
• Greater confidence in leading teams and managing organisational change
• Enhanced communication, coaching, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Practical tools and frameworks that can be applied immediately in the workplace
• Increased self-awareness and leadership effectiveness
• The ability to develop and implement successful change initiatives within a range of organisational settings

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

The course is suitable for professionals involved in project management, organisational development, leadership, operations, business improvement, or change management. It may also benefit individuals aspiring to management and leadership positions where change leadership skills are increasingly important.

Participants should be prepared to engage with case studies, discussion, reflective activities, and independent study at SCQF Level 11. Previous experience of managing projects, teams, or organisational change may be beneficial but is not essential.

Certification

Upon successful completion, participants will be awarded 20 credits at SCQF Level 11.

These credits may contribute towards further postgraduate study where appropriate and in line with University regulations.

Sector and workforce relevance

This course reflects current organisational challenges and best practice in change management, leadership, and project delivery. Through practical case studies, applied learning activities, and contributions from industry speakers, participants will explore how organisations manage transformation in response to changing business environments.

The course is informed by contemporary approaches to leadership, stakeholder engagement, organisational development, and project-based change, ensuring that learning remains relevant to professionals working across a wide range of sectors. Participants will develop practical capabilities that support effective leadership and successful change implementation within real-world organisational contexts.

NOTE: This is a university module and upon approval of your application, you will be invited to register and then supported to complete enrolment. To enrol on the university system, the first step involves security set-up using the Microsoft Authenticator app; you will need to ensure that you have a compatible smartphone.

Further enrolment information is available at the Student Information Portal.

To access this module via the CPD route, individuals should be ordinarily resident in Scotland.