Managing in Turbulent Times

EBS MBA Spring Term 2012

Module: Managing in Turbulent Times
This module closely examines the forces that cause change and determine the competitive advantage of a firm, as well as how these forces can be anticipated and managed. Furthermore, it elaborates on how to induce, control and cope with change at individual, team and organizational levels. Upon completion of the module, students should understand the constant interaction among external players in the market, competitors, and business environment, as well as internal players concerned with decision making within a firm. This knowledge should be applicable to different settings. In the first part of the module, teams of 3 students each will apply foresight tools, such as the Delphi and scenario techniques, to conduct a survey-based foresight study on the long-range future of a chosen industry (previous assignments included  The Future of Automotive Industry 2030). This assignment includes writing a final scenario report and concludes with a class presentation. The second part of the module deals with managing change. Please refer to the following course descriptions for more detailed information.

Course: Corporate Foresight & Strategic Management
The overall aim of this course is to help students prepare their organizations for future change: how to discover new trends, how to evaluate the relevance and validity of new developments for organizations, and how to project the potential implications of these developments for organizations. Students will learn a comprehensive set of tools for strategic foresight in executive management and communication. These skills are particularly in demand at strategic consultants, as well as in corporate development / strategy departments, innovation management and risk management. The strategic foresight toolbox includes various innovative methods, such as the scenario and Delphi techniques, backcasting, roadmapping, and wargaming, among others.

Course: Change Management
The process of managing change in organisations is a complex endeavour. The most carefully developed plans often fail in the implementation phase and detrimentally affect the performance of the organisation and the social morale of its employees. In addition, many change initiatives are not maintained over time. This course supports in assessing which factors foster acceptance or resistance to change. Strategies are discussed on how to effectively cope with and benefit from change.