02 Feb Note: Retrieved from

6–7: Current Topics in Change Management

Throughout this seminar experience, you have explored foundational content, past and current research, and trends and innovations in the field of change management. In addition to acquiring this body of knowledge, you have also considered possible areas for future research in the field.

To prepare for this Assignment, identify a research topic for this final paper. Choose from any of the following:

· An idea from the general topics in Week 2, 4, or 6

· The topic of your own Doctoral Study (if it concerns change management)

· The topic of your own Presentation

· Gaps in the literature identified by you or your colleagues during the Discussions in Weeks 2, 4, or 6

· A topic from any of the readings from Weeks 2, 4, or 6

By Day 7 of Week 7

Submit an 8- to 10-page evaluation (excluding title page and References section) of your research on change management. In your evaluation, be sure to address the following:

Analysis of the Field

· What is your analysis of the state of the field of change management? Describe important issues or current dilemmas in the field.

Research Topic

· State and provide background information for your research topic.

· What are the current theories and areas of debate for your topic?

· Are there particular industries or technologies that will be impacted by your topic? If this impact is positive, how can it be maximized, and if negative, how can this impact be mitigated?

Future Directions

As a global change agent, consider the future directions of change management to address the following:

· Indicate specific areas of further research in this topic that would prove beneficial.

· What potential impact might the topic that you have chosen have on the overall state of the field and the future directions of change management research in the next 3–5 years?

· What processes and strategies would you recommend that leaders in organizations employ to manage this type of change effectively?

Be sure to review the Final Paper Guidelines and Week 7 Assignment Rubric. Use the APA Course Paper Template, located in the Learning Resources for this 2-week unit. Your paper should include the following headings: Analysis of the Field, Research Topic, and Future Directions. Please Note: For each page of your paper, you must include a minimum of two APA-formatted scholarly citations.

Change management and the field of organizational development are constantly evolving in response to trends in the marketplace. Since the early 1950s, theorists have analyzed the models and established theories to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of organizational programs. As company leaders embrace their social and ethical responsibilities in the context of a changing society, their strategies and techniques for implementing successful change must be congruent with the stakeholders’ needs. As one can presently see, companies are changing their products, structures, and leadership styles to deal with a rapidly changing society.

This week’s literature contains the issues of quality and corporate social responsibility. In particular, you will examine how values and underlying personal assumptions about the world and organizations influence the creation of our shared reality and the models we adopt for conducting business.

Learning Objectives

Independent scholars will:

· Analyze prior research on quality and corporate social responsibility in the field of change management in order to identify opportunities for new research

· Evaluate applicability of change management research literature to business practices and social change initiatives

· Assess the potential impact of a peer group’s research findings on the field of change management

· Construct an annotated bibliography of resources related to the proposed research topic for preparation of the final paper

· Analyze the state of the field of change management in terms of important issues or current dilemmas in the field

· Evaluate current research on the field of change management to identify future trends, impacts, and opportunities

· Evaluate methods for effectively instituting change programs

Photo Credit: Fiona Jackson-Downes and Nick White / Cultura / Getty Images

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Important Note: Some of the readings found in this course are more than 5 years old. Although we strive to use current references whenever possible, many of the seminal articles/resources found in this course are from the theorists who created the original theory/theories.

Baldarelli, M.-G., & Gigli, S. (2014). Exploring the drivers of corporate reputation integrated with a corporate responsibility perspective: Some reflections in theory and in praxis. Journal of Management & Governance, 18(2), 589–613. doi:10.1007/s10997-011-9192-3

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Duran, J. J., & Bajo, N. (2014). Institutions as determinant factors of corporate responsibility strategies of multinational firms. Corporate Social Responsibility & Environmental Management, 21(6), 301–317. doi:10.1002/csr.1308

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Griffin, J. J., Bryant, A., & Koerber, C. P. (2015). Corporate responsibility and employee relations: From external pressure to action. Group & Organization Management, 40(3) 378–404. doi: 10.1177/1059601114560168

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Kolk, A., & Perego, P. (2014). Sustainable bonuses: Sign of corporate responsibility or window dressing? Journal of Business Ethics, 119(1), 1–15. doi:10.1007/s10551-012-1614-x

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Pedersen, E. R. G., & Gwozdz, W. (2014). From resistance to opportunity-seeking: Strategic responses to institutional pressures for corporate social responsibility in the Nordic fashion industry. Journal of Business Ethics, 119(2), 245–264. doi:10.1007/s10551-013-1630-5

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Puranam, P., Alexy, O., & Reitzig, M. (2014). What’s “new” about new forms of organization? Academy of Management Review, 39(2), 162–180. doi:10565/amr.2011.0436

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Schrempf, J. (2014). A social connection approach to corporate responsibility: The case of the fast-food industry and obesity. Business & Society, 53(2), 300–332. doi:10.1177/0007650312449577

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Walden University. (2015a). APA course paper template (6th ed.). Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/ld.php?content_id=7980596

Important Note: This template must be used for the Week 7 Assignment. Failure to use this template will result in a mandatory grade of zero for that Assignment. It is recommended that you download and save this template so you have it available for future Assignments.

Zdanyte, K., & Neverauskas, B. (2014). Ensuring of sustainable development for contemporary organizations development. Economics & Management, 19(1), 120–128. doi:10.5755/j01.em.19.1.5737

Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Document: Final Paper Guidelines (PDF)