MGN565 Human-Centric Change Leadership


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:MGN565
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:24 credit points of completed study
Equivalent:MGZ505, MGN505
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

Technological disruption, social transformation, economic uncertainty, and new business models are reshaping how you and your organisation operate and compete. In this era of algorithmic systems and AI-driven decision-making, effective change management is essential not only for organisational success but also for building trust and safeguarding ethical practice. In this unit, you will explore the complexities of leading and managing change in digitally enabled workplaces, gaining the capabilities to plan, govern, and implement organisational transformation responsibly. You will develop leadership skills to navigate ethical risks, manage stakeholder expectations, and leverage change management technologies — including AI — to deliver sustainable performance. By the end of this unit, you will have practical tools, frameworks, and roadmaps to guide effective change.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Identify, critically evaluate and synthesise change management theories, models, and processes to diagnose complex organisational transformation challenges. [KS 1.1, HO 2.1]
  2. Apply higher-order analytical and digital capabilities, including AI-enabled tools, to provide evidence-based recommendations for complex organisational change opportunities and risks. [KS 1.2, HO 2.2, SE 5.1]
  3. Apply social and ethical understanding in the context of organisational change and development initiatives. [SE 5.1]
  4. Communicate and justify evidence-based change management strategies and recommendations persuasively in written form, using appropriate digital and change management technologies for professional audiences. [KS 1.2, PC 3.1]

Content

The topics covered in this unit include:

  • Foundations of Change Management and Contemporary Change Models: Frameworks for managing transformation in dynamic and AI-augmented contexts
  • Consulting Processes and Techniques: Partnering with stakeholders, building trust, and navigating resistance
  • Diagnostics and Data-Driven Insights: Data collection strategies, analytics, and the use of AI-enabled change management technologies
  • Governance, Ethics, and Trust in Algorithmic Systems: Responsible AI, risk navigation, and ethical decision-making in organisational change
  • Intervention Strategies: Individual, team, techno-structural, and strategic interventions to enable sustainable performance
  • Leadership Capabilities for Change: Developing adaptive, ethical, and future-focused leadership for digital transformation
  • Evaluating Change Outcomes: Tools, metrics, and frameworks for assessing impact, sustainability, and trust-building


QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)

The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.

Knowledge & Technical Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
1.2 Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HO)
2.1 Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.

Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
3.2 Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.

Teamwork & Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection and accountability in applying knowledge and skills for own learning and effective practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across a range of complex activities and contexts.

Social, Ethical & Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues and critically reflect on the responsibilities and impacts of organisations in national and international business contexts.

Learning Approaches

The teaching and learning strategies applied in this unit are intended to maximise your involvement and engagement with the concepts that are being presented and to provide opportunities for you to develop thinking and practical skills in a supportive environment. Learning activties are structured to provide a dynamic learning environment to promote critical and analytical applications of theory and frameworks to real world cases. A wide range of approaches are utilised to create interactive learning experiences across learning activities.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

  • Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
  • Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
  • Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
  • Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment

Overview

The assessment is designed to give you practical experience in implementing a change intervention and developing a resultant practical change management plan.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Foreseeable Futures Report

Assessment item 1 assesses your ability to draw on discipline knowledge, higher order thinking skills and use technological tools to generate foreseeable future scenarios. You will write a report outlining the scenarios and explore the change implications of these scenarios.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1, 1.2), HO (2.1), PC (3.1), SE (5.1)

 

Weight: 50
Length: 2000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 7
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3, 4

Assessment: Change Management Plan

The Report and Plan assess your ability to develop a change management plan that uses relevant interventions and technologies to meet a client’s specific needs. You will also be required to consider the associated social and ethical issues.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.2), HO (2.2), PC (3.1), SE (5.1)

 

Weight: 50
Length: 2000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 2, 3, 4

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Weekly resources will be made available on the unit Canvas site.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with this unit. 

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

QUT Business Capabilities (Postgraduate)

HO (2.1): Critical Analysis

Relates to: ULO1, Foreseeable Futures Report

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO2, Change Management Plan

KS (1.1): Discipline and Professional Practice Knowledge

Relates to: ULO1, Foreseeable Futures Report

KS (1.2): Technical, Technological and Research Skills

Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO4, Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan

SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding

Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

BN87 Master of Engineering Management

  1. Apply systematic approaches to plan, design, execute and manage an engineering management project
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan
  2. Communicate complex information effectively and succinctly, presenting high level reports, arguments and justifications in oral, written and visual forms to professional and non-specialist audiences.
    Relates to: ULO4, Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan
  3. Organise and manage time, tasks and projects independently, and collaboratively demonstrating the values and principles that shape engineering management decision making and professional accountability .
    Relates to: Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan

BS11 Master of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated and advanced discipline and professional practice knowledge, including knowledge of relevant research principles and methods.
    Relates to: ULO1, Foreseeable Futures Report
  2. Apply technical, technological and technical research skills to organise and interpret discipline knowledge, including theory and practice, to investigate business issues.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan
  3. Critically investigate real world business issues and problems drawing on analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, including theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO1, Foreseeable Futures Report
  4. Exercise creativity and intellectual independence and make informed decisions and judgements in planning, designing, and executing strategic and research-based responses to address real world issues and problems.
    Relates to: ULO2, Change Management Plan
  5. Use information literacy skills and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes, contexts and audiences.
    Relates to: ULO4, Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan
  6. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices of business in critically analysing and effectively responding to complex business issues.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan

EN55 Master of Professional Engineering

  1. Apply advanced and specialist knowledge, concepts and practices in engineering design, analysis management and sustainability.
    Relates to: Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan
  2. Critically analyse and evaluate complex engineering problems to achieve research informed solutions.
    Relates to: Change Management Plan
  3. Communicate complex information effectively and succinctly, presenting high level reports, arguments and justifications in oral, written and visual forms to professional and non specialist audiences.
    Relates to: Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan
  4. Organise and manage time, tasks and projects independently, and collaboratively demonstrating the values and principles that shape engineering decision making and professional accountability.
    Relates to: Foreseeable Futures Report, Change Management Plan