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MBA project: leaders of change

This module offers you the opportunity to make a real change and become a leader of change. The aim is to help you develop as a reflective and independent practitioner by exploring a real business environment that could be in a national or international context and influence real organisational outcomes if your recommendations are implemented. As this is the capstone module of the MBA qualification, it should be the last one that you'll need to successfully complete in order to gain your MBA.

Vocational relevance

The module recognises the strong emphasis placed by students and their employers on the value of effective practical application of module-based learning. This module has been designed to meet these requirements. A key aspect of this is in developing and demonstrating a capability for critical and self-directed learning and a capability to apply masters-level learning integrative to organisational problems.

It is anticipated that the content of this module, especially the requirement to undertake and report on a practice-based project along with the professional tips and skills that you'll develop throughout the module, will make a significant contribution in your professional practice.

Qualifications

B875 is a compulsory module in our:

Module

Module code
B875
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
30
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

The main aim of the module is to assist you in completing your MBA project and developing you as a reflective and independent practitioner.

For your MBA project, you'll first have to decide on an organisation you would like to use as a case study for your project, select a problem they face and propose how you would solve this problem. The next step is to choose appropriate research tools (primary and secondary, qualitative and quantitative) that will enable you to collect information in order to make recommendations as to how you will proceed with the change or how you have implemented your change. Finally, you'll provide your reflections on the skills, knowledge and competencies you have developed, as well as your recommendations for the implementation of your change.

In order to assist you in successfully completing your MBA project, the module will be structured into three units as follows:

Unit 1
The aim of this unit is to support you in deciding on the organisation, problem, and change you will focus on in your MBA project. You'll develop planning, time and change management skills by exploring issues such as accessibility, organisational and inter-organisational elements and practical issues in order to decide which organisation may be appropriate for your project. In order to decide on a problem you would like to explore in your chosen organisation and identify relevant change you would like to implement, you'll review current understanding and assess alternative approaches to the identified problem, applying theory.

Unit 2
In this unit, you'll be introduced to different methods of data collection and ethics. You'll go through planning, time management, stages of the research process and epistemological assumptions that can help you manage the research process. You will also develop an understanding of collecting and analysing data by exploring the use, collection and analysis of secondary and primary (qualitative and quantitative) data. Finally, you'll advance your knowledge of the ethical issues associated with practitioner research.

Unit 3
This unit will support you in completing and writing up your final MBA project. Time will be allocated in order to collect secondary and/or primary data and implement your change when possible. You will also have time to analyse your data and start thinking of your findings while you will explore how you can draw conclusions from your data. Finally, you will have time to concentrate on writing your MBA project and submitting your end-of-module assessment.

You will be required to study between 12 and 15 hours per week for six months.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Your learning will take place within a tutor-facilitated group of approximately 16 students. Your tutor is responsible for providing individual tuition, professional advice and support, mentoring, assessment and regular feedback on your performance throughout the module. You will learn by working with your group and individually online in structured activities supported by a wide range of resources, including books and a world-class online library.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box.

Residential School

Satisfactory participation at a compulsory residential school is required in order to pass this module. The residential school will be offered in face-to-face and online options. Face-to-face residential schools will be held in the UK and will run over three days. If you start the module in November, the residential schools take place in January. If you start in May, the residential schools will be in July.

Online schools will be offered in two formats: short intensive, requiring 6 to 8 hours a day of online participation, and a longer, more asynchronous school, spread over 14 days and requiring about 60 to 90 minutes a day. Both versions of the residential school (face-to-face and online) have been devised to deliver the same learning outcomes.

The residential school element of this module is an opportunity to interact with other managers and tutors and to work in small groups. The focus is on assisting students to manage the research process and understand the complexities and requirements of conducting (primary and/or) secondary research when exploring a problem in management-based projects.

Course work includes

2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment

Future availability

MBA project – leaders of change starts twice a year, in May and November. This page describes the module that will start in November 2024 and May 2025. We expect it to start for the last time in November 2028.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Entry requirements

This is a compulsory module in the Open University Business School Masters degree programme, and you must have successfully completed Managing in a changing world (B870) and Creating and sustaining value (B872) before registering on this module.

Register

Start End England fee Register
03 May 2025 Oct 2025 £3360.00

Registration closes 17/04/25 (places subject to availability)

Register
01 Nov 2025 Apr 2026 Not yet available

Registration closes 16/10/25 (places subject to availability)

Register
This module is expected to start for the last time in November 2028.

Future availability

MBA project – leaders of change starts twice a year, in May and November. This page describes the module that will start in November 2024 and May 2025. We expect it to start for the last time in November 2028.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Residential school

This module has a residential school. There’s no additional cost for this, but you must pay for your travel.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

Study materials

What's included

You will have access to regular opportunities for engagement with other students and a module website, which includes:

  • a week-by-week study planner
  • course-specific module materials
  • audio and video content
  • published articles
  • interactive tools to develop your management thinking abilities
  • online tutorial access
  • online university library access.

You will need

A portable device such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop will be useful to participate in some activities at the face-to-face residential school.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

If you have a disability

Elements of this module are delivered online and include the use of real-time online discussions and an interactive whiteboard space, so time spent using a computer and the internet will be extensive. If you use assistive technology or have a hearing or speech impairment and have concerns about accessing this type of virtual environment and materials, contact The Open University to discuss it further before registering.

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.

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