BE784-7-SP-CO:
Innovation and Change Management in Health and Social Care

The details
2024/25
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
18 October 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MSC N2B912 Leadership in Health and Care

Module description

This module will encourage students to experience, think and reflect upon the nature of change, creativity and innovation within health and social care organisations.


The module provides students with an advanced understanding of change in organisations where creativity and innovation emerge as a key challenge or represent a necessity. A variety of examples will be used but students will be expected to consider the application of creativity, change and innovation management in the context of health and social care organisations.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To provide students with an understanding and appreciation of a range of theories on different types of change and organisational learning;

  • To provide students with an understanding and appreciation of a range of theories on creativity, collective creativity and innovation;

  • To enable students to critically evaluate the impact of these theories in terms of organisational change and development;

  • To identify key factors that influence creative processes within teams and organisations;

  • To enable students to critically evaluate most common practices and methods of innovation management.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be expected to be able to:



  • Understand various type of change and organisational learning

  • Understand a wide range of theories and perspectives on creativity, collective creativity and innovation

  • Evaluate the impact of creativity and innovation on organisational change and development

  • Identify and analyse in-depth the key factors the influence creative processes

  • Understand and discuss various practices and techniques of management of change

  • Critically reflect on the key debates on change, creativity and innovation.

Module information

Throughout the module, students have the opportunity to explore theoretical approaches and practices related to collective creativity, innovation management and management of chnage. Most relevant theories are explored and used as interpretative lenses to deepen their understanding of cases of changes and transformations focused on creativity and innovation.


Syllabus 



  • Session 1 - Introduction on Change, Creativity and Innovation


The first session will introduce the module programme and the interrelated concepts of change, creativity and innovation. We will have an overview of these areas and discussing why creativity and innovation are vital.



  • Session 2 - Change and Organisational Learning


In this second session, we will analyse the different approaches to change and will discuss an organisational learning perspective. In particular, we will discuss different types of change, change agents, and learning dynamics.



  • Session 3 & 4 - Incremental and Radical Changes


In sessions 3 and 4, we will compare and contrast incremental and radical changes and how they have a different impact. We will review the main theories along with key methodologies, exploring case studies and developing activities and exercises.



  • Session 5 & 6 - Creativity in Organisations: From individual to collective and organisational creativity


In sessions 5 and 6, we will focus on creativity in organisations. We will explore all different levels of analysis related to creativity, starting with individual creativity and continuing with team creativity and organisational creativity.



  • Session 7 & 8 - Innovation and Innovation Management


In sessions 7 and 8, we will view innovation as the introduction of anything new in the environment in which an organisation operates. We will consider different models of innovation, approaches to organising for innovation and managerial practices.



  • Session 9 & 10 - New models of Collaboration and Conclusions


In sessions 9 and 10, we will consider how collaboration plays a crucial role in change and innovation. We will discuss for example key issues related to collaborative innovation, end user innovation and collaborative research.



  • Students will be expected to prepare pre-assigned readings ahead of the sessions, which will be a mix of lecture, group work and discussion.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 3-hour morning session per fortnight.
  • One 3-hour afternoon session per fortnight

The morning and afternoon sessions to be on the same day, to make a full day.

Each session will combine a formal lecture with in-depth group discussions and activities.

The module will consist of a variety of learning and teaching methods. Students will be encouraged to engage in reading, writing, participative learning, presentations, case studies, and virtual group-work / interaction.

Teaching delivery will be inclusive, and will:

  • Respect the diversity of students
  • Enable all students to take part in learning and fulfil their potential
  • Ensure different students’ learning needs and preferences are met, regardless of their backgrounds, learning styles or abilities
  • Remove any barriers that prevent students from learning.

An inclusive approach benefits all students because it values their individual strengths and contributions and makes the learning experience richer and more diverse for everyone.

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Report (slides)  20/03/2025  20% 
Coursework   Essay (case analysis 2500 words)  08/05/2025  80% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Stefano Cirella, email: scirella@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Stefano Cirella

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Dr Kate Parkinson
University of Salford
Subject Leader, Health and Social Care
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
Essex Business School

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