96329 Implementing and Evaluating Change
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Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 92297 Health Systems and Change
Description
Health service leaders are facing increasing pressure from changes to the population, patient expectations, political environments, plus the growing demand to demonstrate affordable and effective service delivery. For this reason, a new skill set is required from healthcare leaders that focus on creating an environment for change. Most countries accept that existing health care models are not sustainable for future decades resulting in health service leaders engaging in service improvements and redesign activities that ensure services continue to reflect the care needs of consumers.
This subject focuses on assisting students develop skills and knowledge in managing planned change in the health system, through examining a range of change management approaches and their application to health service delivery. The subject focuses on relevant change management theories, implementation theories and approaches, use of evidence and strategies to influence senior staff within your organisation. Students are introduced to concepts, theories and frameworks that will support them to manage and plan change in their workplace.
Students leave this subject with the knowledge and competence in leading successful service change.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Critically appraise relevant strategies to implement individual or organisational change in the healthcare environment based on validated theories and models; |
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| B. | Critically reflect on the impact of personal experiences of change when leading and managing change; |
| C. | Analyse the contextual factors that act as a stimulus for change, resistance to change and successful change in health care; |
| D. | Propose fundamental leadership skills necessary to implement organisational change and act as a change agent; |
| E. | Create a variety of ways in which complex issues can be effectively communicated for a variety of target audiences. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Are reflective, critical thinkers who influence practice, policy and research to achieve clinical excellence and transform healthcare services (1.0)
- Critique, interpret and synthesise data and research findings to develop safe, effective and evidence-based solutions to healthcare challenges (1.1)
- Propose relevant problem-solving and human factors theories to the analysis of common issues inherent in the management and evaluation of healthcare services (1.2)
- Initiate and explain change management methodologies appropriate to improving healthcare outcomes (1.3)
- Validate the importance of integrating stakeholder partnerships in all healthcare decision-making activities (3.2)
- Communicate effectively and appropriately in challenging, complex and diverse situations (4.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is designed to assist students understand the complexities associated with implementing change in the multidisciplinary health service environment. Health services are continually changing to meet the needs of the community, and effective leadership is needed to successfully implement change. This subject addresses the challenges of managing change, and is conducted across six weeks of online activities. This approach to teaching and learning is responsive to the needs of postgraduate students who need to balance study with their professional and personal commitments. It is anticipated that the knowledge and skills gained in this subject will allow graduates to appreciate the complexities of implementing change within health care environments and show leadership, whilst confidently implementing changes utilising change management and leadership models and theories.
Students access online learning resources such as podcasts, videos and literature to improve their confidence in approaching the proposed content and afford them time to construct questions.
Case based scenarios
Case based scenarios are used to help students explore the approaches to implementing and evaluating change in health care. Real and hypothetical cases will be used to depict situations related to effective and ineffective leadership, as well as successful and unsuccessful change initiatives. Students will use these scenarios to learn concepts, interpret existing processes and procedures that require change, identify individual and organisational readiness for change, form judgements on the most appropriate methodology to guide change, and develop solutions to ensure change acceptance.
Self, peer and teacher feedback is provided to develop students' skills.
Online learning materials
This subject benefits from access to resources via Canvas, including videos and online learning resources which enable students to explore theoretical models of, frameworks and approaches to change and discuss, via discussion boards, with their peers and academic staff how to implement these into daily practice. A number of industry representatives provide their experience in implementing change at a clinical process, local, statewide and national level, and reiterate lessons learnt in their change journey.
Assessment range
Students will be exposed to a variety of assessment modes, including a construction of a brief video 'pitch' and accompanying essay, and change initative implementation action plan (report). Feedback will be provided on assessments to ensure students can identify areas for development and areas of sufficient expertise. Some of the assessments will use a case study approach, with the student asked to assume a designated management role in a hypothetical health service.
Early low-stakes feedback will be provided via feedback on online discussions and activities.
Continual feedback will be provided via peer and Subject Coordinator contributions to the online discussions; completion of online activities; and progressive assessment tasks, worth 20%, 40% and 40%
Content (topics)
- Contemporary change theories
- Change leadership theories and styles
- Managing planned organisational change
- Resistance to change and how to deal with resistance
- Making a case for change
- Negotiation for change (including industrial negotiation)
- Personal and organisational development
- Health system reform
- Implementation Science theories and frameworks
- De-implementation as a necessary change
- Process evaluation – evaluating the implementation of change initiatives
- Case studies addressing change initiatives in healthcare
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Critical Reflection
| Intent: | This assessment focusses on applying concepts of change to a personal experience of workplace change. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0 and 4.0 |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 500 words |
Assessment task 2: Video and Essay
| Intent: | This assessment focuses on the skills that healthcare services managers require to communicate the kinds of change initiatives that frequently occur in healthcare work, and to persuade staff (or other stakeholders) to cooperate with the change. Your success will depend on the case you make for change, as well as the manner in which you communicate it. This assessment addresses face-to-face communication, such as in a presentation to staff, or perhaps a video shared on the staff intranet. This assessment will give you the opportunity to:
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, C, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.2 and 4.0 |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 2 to 3-minute video and 1000 words |
Assessment task 3: Action Plan for a Change Initiative
| Intent: | This assessment focusses on exposing students to the complexities of implementing change in a health setting from delivery through to the evaluation phase. Students are asked to develop a Change Initiative implementation Action Plan drawing upon one or more models or theoretical frameworks and leadership approaches, providing a rationale for their use. This assessment builds on Assessment 2. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, C, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.2 and 4.0 |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 1500 words |
Required texts
There is no specific text for this subject, although students will need to consult the e-readings listed in Canvas.
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.
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