• Senior and middle managers who want to drive strategic change at a company, as well as team level
• Decision makers who need to navigate disruption in their industry with a change management strategy
• Professionals in change management and HR who need to implement large-scale change in an organization
• Leaders of small businesses looking to effectively manage growth and scaling

• Develop a strategic approach to change management that aligns with your organizational strategy and design
• Gain the practical tools for implementing sustainable change in your business, while managing resistance from stakeholders
• Understand how to build a learning-ready organization in order to remain agile and gain a strategic competitive edge
• Learn from expert Kellogg School of Management faculty
• Engage with an international network of like-minded professionals

Module 1: Formulating a Strategy for Change

Understand the importance of strategy to create change and learn to write an effective strategy statement

• Identify the key elements of an effective strategy statement
• Practice writing a strategy statement
• Critique an organization's strategy statement
• Interview with Juli Duty, Founder and Executive Director, United Sound, Inc. – "Redefining Executive Strategy"

Module 2: Organizing for Change

Explore the importance of designing an organization effectively to manage change

• Relate the importance of an organization's structure to its competitive advantage
• Articulate the best approach to change an organization's design

Module 3: Metrics and Motivating for Change

Explore how the application of metrics can create motivation for change

• Use metrics and measurement to motivate for change
• Analyze data to determine the alignment between an organization's strategy and structure
• Determine how an organization should change to align its strategy and structure

Module 4: Organizing for Execution and Innovation

Explore the use of social network structures as a way to foster execution and innovation

• Articulate how to organize for closure versus brokerage
• Determine whether an organization is designed for closure or brokerage
• Analyze an organization's informal social networks and deduce whether it is structured for execution or innovation
• Recommend changes to an organization's informal social networks to foster execution and innovation

Module 5: Building and Leading Learning-Ready Organizations

Develop a framework for creating a learning-ready organization for a competitive advantage

• Identify the core concepts of a learning-ready organization
• Determine the learning-readiness of an organization
• Apply the concept of learning-readiness to organizational alliances
• Deduce appropriate social networks to facilitate a learning-ready organization

Module 6: Becoming and Remaining Agile

Discover the importance of strategic and organizational agility to implementing change

• Identify what agility is and discuss it in the context of organizational strategy
• Indicate ways to become more agile
• Apply tools to increase strategic and organizational agility

Module 7: Managing Resistance to Change

Examine the hurdles to implementing change and ways to overcome them

• Identify different types of innovation and how innovation leads to resistance
• Determine the risks associated with stakeholder perception to disruptive innovation
• Recommend ideas to manage resistance to change
• Interview with Adam Galinsky, Vikram S. Pandit Professor of Business; Chair of Management Division, Columbia Business School, Columbia University – “Creating a Sense of Disruption”
• Interview with Loran Nordgren, Associate Professor of Management & Organizations – “Managing Resistance to Change and the Importance of Persuasion”
• Interview with Nicholas Pearce, Clinical Associate Professor of Management & Organizations – “Leadership, Purpose and Courage”

Module 8: Making Change Sustainable

Ensure the long-term survival of your change management plan

• Understand the difference between installing change and implementing change
• Investigate an organization's ability to sustain change
• Predict whether a change management plan is likely to be sustained or not
• Interview with Sally Blount, Michael L. Nemmers Professor of Strategy – “Sustaining Change”
• Interview with Stephen King, Adjunct Professor of Executive Education – “Forming a Culture and Using Dialogue that Sustains Change”

Edward (Ned) Smith - Associate Professor of Management and Organizations, Kellogg School of Management; Associate Professor (by courtesy) of Sociology at Northwestern University; Faculty Affiliate, Northwestern Institute for Complexity (NICO)

What is the learning experience?

Strategic Change Management integrates rich, interactive media – such as videos, infographics, and e-learning activities – along with traditional didactic components such as study guides (program notes). There will also be opportunities for collaborative learning through discussion forums.

The introductory orientation module is designed to introduce participants to the online teaching and technical support network and help connect participants to each other.

What is the program format?

The program consists of 8 modules delivered over 2 months online. Learners can expect to dedicate 4-6 hours per week to watch videos, complete assignments and participate in discussions. Each module is opened weekly, allowing a flexible but structured approach to learning, with quizzes throughout to assess your learning process. Learners may choose to engage with the program module all in one sitting or in smaller segments of time throughout the week. While the modules do not close, access to assignments is closed each week.

Could a learner choose to opt out of some topics?

No. This is an online program in which a topic module is introduced each week and the learner is expected to watch the video lectures, participate in the live webinars, complete the exercises/activities and take the mastery quiz at the end of each week to progress to the subsequent week’s topic.

What methods will be used for grading and evaluations?

Program tutors and success managers will review assignments, discussions and exercises to determine participants’ understanding of the material, as well as ensure a positive learning experience in the online learning platform.

How much time is allocated to complete assignments?

The due date for submitting assignments is typically within 7 days of the module opening, but can be as long as 14 days, depending on the scope of the assignment. However, learners may request deadline extensions to accommodate for business and personal conflicts that may arise during the program timeframe. Reach out to the program tutor or success manager to discuss any challenges you may have in completing assignments.

Can participation in this program be counted as credit toward a degree, either at Kellogg, Northwestern University or another academic institution?

No. Executive Education offers only non-degree programs and each participant receives a certificate of completion at the end of the program. This certificate does not count as credit toward a degree. In addition, at this time, our online programs do not count as credit toward a Kellogg Executive Scholar Certificate.

Does the program offer community engagement for learners?

Yes, participants can create a profile, connect and collaborate with peers. In addition, in the live webinars, participants can interact with the head tutor and other content experts.

What are the requirements for accessing the program?

Participants will need the following to access the Strategic Change Management program:

• Valid email address
• Computing device connected to the internet (Mac/PC/laptop, tablet or smartphone)
• The latest version of your preferred browser to access our learning platform (though not required, we recommend using Google Chrome when accessing the Online Campus for optimal experience)
• Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word, Excel) and PDF viewer to access content such as documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts
• Additional software and resources may be required for certain programs – this will be communicated upon registration and/or at the beginning of the program
• PLEASE NOTE: Google, Vimeo and YouTube may be utilized in the program delivery.

Do the programs offer a certificate?

Yes. Participants will receive a digital certificate of completion from Kellogg following a successful conclusion to the program. Since this program is graded as a pass or fail, participants must receive 70% satisfactory feedback on submitted assignments and assessments in order to obtain the certificate. This digital certificate can be shared with colleagues and posted on LinkedIn. (PLEASE NOTE: We do not provide reports of assessments, or “transcripts,” since this is a non-degree program.)

Who is 2U, Inc./GetSmarter and what is their relationship with Kellogg Executive Education?

Kellogg Executive Education is partnering with GetSmarter, a brand of 2U, Inc., an online education provider, to develop and deliver this program. By working with 2U, Inc./GetSmarter, we are able to provide broader access to Executive Education, beyond our on-campus offerings, in a collaborative and engaging format that is consistent with Kellogg’s standard of quality.

Additional questions?

Please contact us by calling 847-467-6018 or email us at execedonline@kellogg.northwestern.edu.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience taking this course. I thought the content was both engaging and informative. The mix of forums, readings and videos kept me engaged throughout the course. I've already identified several ways in which I plan to bring information learned via this course back to my organization to better arm us to adapt to a rapidly changing business environment.”

Global Operations Director, Energy BBDO

“It was really impressive. The knowledge was jumping out of the videos, the articles and the case studies. It seemed so real you forget that it was an online course. An excellent learning experience, not too easy and not too hard. The interaction with the classmates was very interesting and helpful, very glad to share experiences and opinions with other people with different perspectives.”

Unit Manager, Sunlight European Battery Assembly

“My company is currently going through several deep change initiatives to position us for future success. This program has prepared me to help lead my company through these initiatives. This is a must take program for anyone looking to progress their careers in leadership!”

Business Strategy & Operations Manager

“Having worked in strategy for a little while now, I’ve always been highly interested in how organizations – and mostly the humans in them – can navigate ambiguity and change.  The capacity to align, on an ongoing basis, the strategy to an organizational structure and culture is critical to drive success and react to disruption.  I wanted to get better at understanding how to achieve this.

I’ve been lucky enough to complete the Strategic Change Management program from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Executive Education. In addition to being the perfect mix of theoretical backbone and practical tools & thoughts – it made me think about how much I could become a better leader.  Hats off to Prof. Ned Smith, PhD for building this program, it exceeded my high expectations.

Not only am I very happy to have completed it, I am now looking about what’s the next step to pursue that interest as it sparked a desire to explore even more.

Director, Strategy & Business Design at Nurun