ME2502 Change Project in Industrial Management 12.0 credits

The purpose of the course is that students through active work with a reality based change project will deepen, develop and synthesize their knowledge and abilities in the field of industrial management. It should be emphasized that the course project is authentic. Four major technology-based industrial companies are involved throughout the process and present their current challenges and problem areas. Throughout the semester students, course management and company representatives interacts in the process of developing a science-based solution in the form of an academic report.

The students’ work with a real problem within an existing organization on a major change project creates opportunities to implement theories and models in a rich context. By pinpointing problem formulation, collect data, analyze, draw conclusions and present an elaborated plan for the implementation of a change project The students use existing skills and (in the course given) new knowledge. Central leadership and project management skills are here trained.

The course also aims to increase the students' ability to deal with problems within the field of Industrial management based on a systems perspective - the final implementation plan must consider how the proposed changes affect the organization as a system (e.g. regard to consequences at the individual, functional and industrial level). Finally, as the implementation plan is based on assumptions and data from an existing organization the course aims to increase the students' knowledge and skills related to scientific approaches and data collection methods.

Choose semester and course offering

Choose semester and course offering to see information from the correct course syllabus and course offering.

Headings with content from the Course syllabus ME2502 (Autumn 2019–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

The course content is structured around the implementation of a major change project. In parallel and integrated with the students' own work with the change project are lectures and seminars where theory is presented and discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on leadership theory / change management, organizational and business development, interactions between fields in Industrial management (systems perspective), sustainable development, and scientific and methodological approaches.

Implementation of a major change projects in industrial and technology intensive organizations.
Present findings and recommendations in the form of a comprehensive academic report.
Lectures and seminars are aimed at deepening of the knowledge of change management, systems perspective, sustainable development and the scientific approach.
Seminars, presentations, interim- and final reporting associated with their own change project given in front of course management and company representatives.
Seminars for evaluating other students' scientific work.
Continuous interaction with representatives of the companies that are the subject of the change project and its organizations (study visits, data collection and guest lectures).
Personal reflection and feedback through the work on the individual examination portfolio (including the task to individually discuss and exemplify the fulfillment of the course's specific learning outcomes).

Intended learning outcomes

After the course students will be able to:

Creatively identify and formulate a concrete researchable problem based on an industrial and authentic issue.
Critically evaluate and apply knowledge, current research, theoretical concepts and research methods in order to analyze complex issues in industrial and technology-intensive businesses
Analyze, discuss and generate sustainable solutions to complex and reality-based challenges in industrial and technology-intensive businesses based on a systems perspective
Evaluate own results and recommendations in the area of industrial management with regard to sustainable development and ethical aspects
Lead, collaborate and provide feedback in project groups and reflect on group dynamics, academic work process and outcomes
Critically discuss other students' scientific work and judgements with regard to problem formulation, theory and method selection

Communicate your own positions, judgements and results - orally and in writing - towards companies and course management

Course disposition

No information inserted

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

ME2501 Perspectives on Industrial management

A minimum of 36 credits within the subject area of Industrial management.

Recommended prerequisites

No information inserted

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

Mainly the course is based on scientific articles and reports (to be announced in advance of the course start) and on students’ literature studies related to the project (minimum 15 scientific journal papers have to be referred).

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

INL1 - Assignment, 1.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
INL3 - Hand in assignment, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
PRO1 - Project, 1.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
PRO3 - Project, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
SEM1 - Seminar, 1.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Note: The first two weeks of the course includes mandatory activities.

Other requirements for final grade

Pass on all seminars, the problem formulation and the project plan, the implementation report, theory and self-assessment, and final individual examination portfolio. In addition, required active participation in discussions and seminars, as well as documented participation of company visits and project related work.

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Lars Uppvall

Ethical approach

All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course web

Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.

Course web ME2502

Offered by

ITM/Industrial Economics and Management

Main field of study

Industrial Management

Education cycle

Second cycle

Add-on studies

No information inserted

Contact

Lars Uppvall (lars.uppvall@indek.kth.se),

Supplementary information

The course is only open for students admitted to the Master programme Industrial Management (TINEM)

The course is not open for exchange students.