What is Organizational Change?
Organizational Change is the process by which an organization might alter its structure, culture, strategies or a number of other elements in order to influence change in either one facet or many facets of their operations. Often, organizational change is utilized in order to solve a problem, or operational failure - according to the carnegie school of thought. In these instances, organizations identify a specific problem or series of problems, and determine a plan of action to alter processes in order to rectify the specified problem.
Explore online EdD programs and jumpstart your career in organizational change and leadership.
Types of Organizational Change
There are a variety of different ways organizational change can occur within an organization, and at all levels of operations. From the CEO down to the entry-level workers, implementation of organizational change can include alterations to any facet of processes. Here are some examples of the types of organizational change that may be employed by an organization in need:
Transformational:
A shift in the culture of an organization, resulting in an overhaul of the underlying strategies and operations the organization had employed in the past.
Incremental:
Either a single, or multiple small adjustments that are made to affect change without overhauling all of the organization's existing processes and strategies (i.e. utilizing new CMS software).
Vanderbilt University • Nashville, TN
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership and Learning in Organizations
Program Type
Doctorate
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Delivery Mode
Online
Length of Program
3-4 years
Credits
54
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Thirty applicable graduate-level hours must be transferred to this degree program from a regionally accredited institution
- Above a 3.0 GPA
- At least three years of leadership experience required
- Verbal and quantitative ability
- Statement of Purpose
- TOEFL or IELTS for international applicants
Pepperdine University • Malibu, CA
Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership
Program Type
Doctorate
Delivery Mode
Online
Length of Program
Complete in as few as 40 months.
Credits
Minimum of 57 credits.
Concentrations
Change Management: The Change Management specialization equips you with the tools and insights to effectively design and implement change within an organization. Our program's emphasis on change management responds directly to the evolving needs of today's global marketplace, empowering you to navigate organizational shifts with confidence., Learning Technologies: The Learning Technologies specialization prepares you to deploy new and proven learning technologies within schools, corporations, and other public and private organizations., PK-12 Leadership: The PK-12 Leadership specialization prepares Pre-K-12 leaders in various roles to create and sustain strong learning environments within schools and school districts. Note, this program does not offer credentials/licensure, but is designed for those who already possess the required licensure to continue their professional learning and elevate their school systems to new levels of academic excellence.
Admission Requirements
- Online application
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
- Résumé or curriculum vitae (CV)
- Official transcripts sent electronically via one of the approved companies listed on the GSEP website from the institutions that awarded the bachelor’s and master’s degrees to the applicant, as well as all transcripts from all other colleges or universities attended
- Two letters of recommendation (LOR)
- Statement of Interest
- A personal and/or group interview with a program director or designees is required for qualified applicants.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC
Doctor of Education in Organizational Learning and Leadership
Program Type
Doctorate
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Delivery Mode
Online
Length of Program
Complete in as few as 36 months.
Admission Requirements
- No master’s degree required to apply
Organization-Wide:
Typically undertaken in order to evolve an organization into a different level in their life-cycle (i.e. from a start-up to a fully-fledged enterprise).
Subsystem:
A change that occurs at a micro level and does not involve a company or organization-wide shift in strategy and vision.
Planned:
When the organization recognizes a need for a change and proactively charts out a timeline for accomplishing this change.
Unplanned:
An organization-wide reaction to a crisis or unexpected occurrence, such as a company reacting to a sudden burst of bad publicity.
Where is Organizational Change Practiced?
Realistically, organizational change is practiced in almost every sort of organization or institution imaginable. Educational institutions from pre-school to collegiate level, small shops to large corporations, and many other organizations are all commonly asked to employ organizational change in a variety of ways. For example, a large corporation might experience an unplanned organizational change when they are forced to deal with a public relations crisis and must adapt to their new environment. Any successful enterprise, be it a top tier-university or a bookshop in a small town, must be knowledgeable about organizational change in order to best prepare to keep up with rapidly changing customs, policies, and procedures.
Organizational Change Degree Programs
Organizational Change, Organizational Change and Leadership, or Learning and Organizational Change advanced degrees have been cropping up more and more over the past years, as organizations begin to place more of an emphasis on adaptability and efficiency. Although commonly OCL degree programs may be associated with business and/or considered complementary to an MBA program, there are also programs readily available in the space of education doctoral degrees. In EdD degrees that focus on organizational change, students take courses designed to prepare them to become transformative leaders in a field of their choosing - be it an educational institution or a private corporation.
What Can I do with a Degree in Organizational Change?
Careers in the Education Sector: After graduating with a degree in a field related to organizational change, such as an EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership, one can pursue a variety of career options - many of which exist within the world of education. Examples of leadership careers within the education sector might include administrative officer at a university, upper administration in a school or district, or even a position as a professor. An EdD in Organizational change sets students up nicely for success leading the way in innovation in education.
Careers in the Business Sector: Another viable career option for experts in organizational change is in the business world - at almost any level imaginable. From consulting with firms in how to best alter their operations to better suit their needs to transforming your small business into a fully-fledged enterprise, educating yourself in organizational change is a great way to set yourself apart from a crowded world of business students.
Information last updated: August 2026