Presentations of Real-Life Projects
Carrying out and sustaining long-term change within organizations requires more than great ideas, it requires knowledge of human reactions to change and how the politics of a specific social setting will impact implementation. This is something the students learn theoretically in their studies and practice in cases, but the real-life projects they get to put their skills to the test and deliver real value to their clients, and learn many additional lessons that cannot be taught in a classroom.
As the final element of their projects, the groups present their results and key learning points. Valuable lessons were not restricted to familiarizing oneself with new systems and sophisticated terminology, but also getting acquainted and comfortable in the role of a consultant. Another important aspect was learning the dynamic not only in the partner organizations but within the teams themselves, to be able to create spaces of psychological safety which allows all team members to build on each others' work.
Working with real-life projects, the teams were often challenged by the many different views that would exist on a specific problem or situation calling them to develop their ability to navigate in these complex and ambiguous situations. Working with real clients, they also realized how getting more responsibilities and information requires trust, something that takes time to grow between partners. Some groups even reported having to set limits on how much they could do, as the organizations became more and more enthusiastic about their contributions. This is a great testament to the diligence and knowledge of the students at SSE!
