Leading Through Change

This course is designed to be an introduction to navigating the challenges of adapting to the rapidly changing conditions that we all face as the nature of work becomes increasingly complex and assumptions surrounding our skill sets become outdated. As new additions to the decision-making process such as big data and generative artificial intelligence (AI) increase the need to cope with exponential complexity, leaders require a new toolkit. This course proposes an approach to understanding what it means to adapt and remain flexible that extends to almost every profession; it is creating a mindset that supports diversity of viewpoints by remaining open to new ways of thinking in order to facilitate creativity and innovation. From a macro-perspective, students are made aware of alternative ways of framing change initiatives either as incremental or transformational events within an organization or social system. From this viewpoint they are then able to search for appropriate strategies designed to optimize present and future resources. Over the years, management theory has evolved from a prescriptive approach as best practice to adopting an approach that incorporates the latest research in psychology and neuroscience to deconstruct the issues and generate multiple alternatives that address present concerns. Students explore how their personal relationship with change influences their ability to lead systemic, adaptive, and transformational change. A learning experience of this type poses many interesting philosophical perspectives and provides a foundation for better understanding the complex decision-making matrices that drive most organizational dynamics.