university of bristol phd social policy

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Social Policy PhD University of Bristol

Course options

Qualification.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

University of Bristol

SEP-24, JAN-25

• TUITION FEES
• ENTRY REQUIREMENT
• UNIVERSITY INFO

Course summary

• research centres

Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day.

The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies; we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

Tuition fees

• Afghanistan
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Congo (Democratic Republic)
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Ivory Coast
• Korea DPR (North Korea)
• Liechtenstein
• Marshall Islands
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Northern Ireland
• Palestinian Authority
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Republic of Ireland
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• Saudi Arabia
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• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• St. Kitts & Nevis
• Switzerland
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City
• Western Samoa

£ 20,700 per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University League Table

Campus address.

University of Bristol, Beacon House, Queen’s Road, Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1QU, England

Subject rankings

Subject ranking.

6th out of 42 3

Entry standards

Graduate prospects

Student satisfaction

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• Help & Terms of Use
• School for Policy Studies
• Faculty of Social Sciences and Law
• Website http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/

United Kingdom

Organisation profile

Our research

• examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life ranging from housing and neighbourhoods to health care, family policy to social justice, health inequalities to domestic violence, child welfare to social care for older people, poverty to social work, governance to criminology.
• influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions by looking at issues such as how we organise services for children and families, provide housing and health care for older people, develop our cities and neighbourhoods, and how effectively we provide social care and services for the vulnerable.
• investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make our headlines every day: the ever-widening gap between rich and poor, migration, domestic violence, forced marriage, out-of-hours GP services, mental health services, how we apply criminal justice, the rise in obesity and less active lifestyles.

Main areas of research:

• Adoption and foster care
• Cities, housing and neighbourhoods
• Child and family welfare
• Criminal justice and social harm
• Determinants of nutrition and physical activity
• Health and social care
• Inter-professional practice
• International social and public policy
• Mental health
• Poverty and social exclusion
• Social work practice and education
• Violence against women and gender-based violence

Fingerprint

• UK Social Sciences 100%
• Physical Activity Psychology 98%
• Policy Social Sciences 52%
• Research Social Sciences 50%
• Child Medicine and Dentistry 39%
• Women Social Sciences 35%
• Family Social Sciences 32%
• Support Social Sciences 30%

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Dive into details.

Select a country/territory to view shared publications and projects

Mrs Nura Aabe

• Bristol Doctoral College
• Migration Mobilities Bristol

Person: Member, Member, Doctor of Philosophy

Professor David W F Abbott

• Bristol Poverty Institute
• School for Policy Studies - Professor of Social Policy
• Cabot Institute for the Environment

Person: Academic , Member

Professor Isabella A G Aboderin

• School for Policy Studies - Perivoli Chair in Africa Research and Partnerships

Research output

• 4301 Article (Academic Journal)
• 1296 Chapter in a book
• 636 Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)
• 604 Commissioned report
• 433 Authored book
• 240 Other contribution
• 172 Edited book
• 75 Conference Paper
• 63 Web publication/site
• 62 Working paper
• 52 Review article (Academic Journal)
• 51 Other report
• 50 Performance
• 39 Book/Film/Article review (Academic Journal)
• 35 Scholarly edition
• 33 Article (Specialist Publication)
• 29 Editorial (Academic Journal)
• 26 Conference Abstract
• 22 Comment/debate (Academic Journal)
• 19 Letter (Academic Journal)
• 13 Conference Poster
• 10 Special issue (Academic Journal)
• 9 Other Conference Contribution
• 7 Digital or Visual Products
• 7 PhD thesis (not Bristol)
• 3 Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
• 3 Chapter in a report
• 2 Confidential report for external body
• 2 Other chapter contribution
• 2 Featured article (Specialist Publication)
• 2 Discussion paper
• 1 Foreword/postscript to book
• 1 Literature review (Academic Journal)
• 1 Special issue (Specialist Publication)

Research output per year

Accelerometer-measured 24-hour movement behaviours over 7 days in Malaysian children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Research output : Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

• Cross Sectional Study 100%
• Adolescent 100%
• Accelerometer 100%
• Cross-Sectional Study 100%

Accessing Meals on Wheels: a qualitative study exploring the experiences of service users and people who refer them to the service

• Qualitative Study 100%
• Semistructured Interview 100%
• Stereotype 100%
• Thematic Analysis 100%
• Lived Experience 100%

Anticipating the Use of Robots in Domestic Abuse: A Typology of Robot Facilitated Abuse to Support Risk Assessment and Mitigation in Human-Robot Interaction

• Human Robot Interaction 100%
• Risk Mitigation 100%
• Humans 100%
• Assessment 100%
• 12 Not started
• 605 Finished

Projects per year

Developing Impact in Equitable and Transformative Partnership Working With Africa

Ockendon-Powell, N. , Tikly, L. P. , Aboderin, I. A. G. , Bailey, A. M. & Gebremariam, E. B.

1/01/24 → 31/12/24

Project : Other

Hoppiness: Brewing with Care Homes

Gray, K. C. R. , Preston, M. F. G. , Fleetwood-Smith, R. E. , Manchester, G., Adams, C., Densley, G. & Willatt, A. M.

1/01/24 → 31/10/24

Project : Research

• Bristol 100%
• Home Care 100%
• Alcoholic Beverages 66%

The opportunities for using physiological data in AI-based closed-loop systems for young adults with T1D in the UK 

Armstrong, M. E. G. , Abdallah, Z. S. & O'Kane, A. A.

1/12/23 → 1/06/24

• Artificial Intelligence 100%
• Physiological Data 100%
• Closed Loop Systems 100%
• Glucose 75%
• Blood Glucose Level 50%

Student theses

(un)healthy prison masculinities : theorising men's health in prison.

Supervisor: Payne, S. (Supervisor) & Doyal, L. (Supervisor)

Student thesis : Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Access and equity in the school’s marketplace: the case for random allocation in secondary school admissions

Supervisor: Watson, D. L. (Supervisor) & Harris, P. R. (External person) (Supervisor)

Student thesis : Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Social Science (DSocSci)

A conversation analytic study of co-working between a person with learning disabilities and a person without learning disabilities

Supervisor: Dowling, S. F. (Supervisor) & Williams, V. J. (Supervisor)

14th Springer Prize for best paper by an early career scholar

Wang, Yiming (Recipient), Feb 2010

Prize : Prizes, Medals, Awards and Grants

2010/11 New Political Economy Graduate Student Paper Prize

Siles-Brugge, Gabriel (Recipient), 2011

2016 Annual Best Paper Award (International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity)

Li, Bai (Recipient), 2016

Replication Data for: What are the impacts of counter-SOC awareness raising strategies?

Peiffer, C. (Creator), Harvard Dataverse, 2024

DOI : 10.7910/dvn/xbf6jw , https://dataverse.harvard.edu/citation?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/XBF6JW

Comparison of children's physical activity profiles before and after COVID-19 lockdowns - dataset

Salway, R. E. (Creator), Zenodo, 24 Mar 2023

DOI : 10.5281/zenodo.7767743 , https://zenodo.org/record/7767743

A meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies on pregnancy vitamin B12 concentrations and offspring DNA methylation

Monasso, G. S. (Creator), Hoang, T. T. (Creator), Mancano, G. (Creator), Fernández-Barrés, S. (Creator), Dou, J. (Creator), Jaddoe, V. W. V. (Creator), Page, C. M. (Creator), Johnson, L. (Creator), Bustamante, M. (Creator), Bakulski, K. M. (Creator), Håberg, S. E. (Creator), Ueland, P. M. (Creator), Battram, T. (Creator), Merid, S. K. (Creator), Melén, E. (Creator), Caramaschi, D. (Creator), Küpers, L. K. (Creator), Sunyer, J. (Creator), Nystad, W. (Creator), Heil, S. G. (Creator), Schmidt, R. J. (Creator), Vrijheid, M. (Creator), Sharp, G. C. (Creator), London, S. J. (Creator) & Felix, J. F. (Creator), Taylor & Francis, 2023

DOI : 10.6084/m9.figshare.22684261.v1 , https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/A_meta-analysis_of_epigenome-wide_association_studies_on_pregnancy_vitamin_B12_concentrations_and_offspring_DNA_methylation/22684261/1

• 91 Participation in conference
• 66 Editorial activity
• 46 Invited talk
• 42 Public talk, debate, discussion
• 25 Participation in workshop, seminar, course
• 25 Media coverage or participation
• 17 Membership or peer review panel or committee
• 15 Publication peer-review
• 14 Advisory work for/on national or international committee or working group
• 11 Visiting an external academic institution
• 9 Fellowship awarded competitively
• 8 Membership of public/government advisory/policy group or panel
• 7 Membership of external research organisation
• 5 Festival, exhibition, performance
• 4 Stakeholder engagement
• 3 Appointments or secondments with industry or commerce
• 2 Consultancy
• 2 Hosting an academic visitor
• 2 Advisory work for/on panel for social community or cultural engagement Advisory work for/on
• 2 - Research and Teaching at External Organisation
• 2 Community engagement, including convening focus/advisory groups
• 1 External Examination and Supervision

Activities per year

Råd för framtiden (Advice for the Future)

Jade Levell (Keynote/plenary speaker)

Activity : Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference

Bristol mayor asks university to help tackle knife crime

Jade Levell (Speaker)

Activity : Other activity types › Media coverage or participation

International Day for Victims of Crime 2024

Activity : Participating in or organising an event types › Invited talk

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Social Policy

University of Bristol

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Learn more about this course.

Course Overview - Social Policy

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies, economics, psychology, physical activity, nutrition and health sciences, based within seven specialist research centres. Our research examines policy areas that affect us... Read more

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies, economics, psychology, physical activity, nutrition and health sciences, based within seven specialist research centres.<br/><br/>Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day.<br/><br/>The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies; we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.<br/><br/>We welcome new PhD students all year round. However, the largest intake is in September each year with a secondary intake in January. We strongly recommend applicants to consider either a September or January start.

Course Information

2 option s available.

Some courses vary and have tailored teaching options, select a course option below.

Course Details

Information

Clifton Campus

Course Address

Tyndall Park Road to Park Row, Bristol, BS8 1TH

Application Details

Application deadline

Provider Details

Course Code

Institution Code

Points of Entry

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Social Work PhD

University of bristol, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Social Work

Course type

A PhD in Social Work equips students with the skills and experience to apply social research methods and tools to critically examine some of the most pressing contemporary issues in social work practice, policy and education. Students are encouraged to develop a topic of interest that directly relates to their own practice experiences or is of wider interest and relevance to the delivery of social work services and support to disadvantaged individuals and groups, either in the UK or overseas.

Students will be supported to develop research questions and design a study that enables them to rigorously research their topic of interest and make an original contribution to the knowledge base of social work. Topics may directly explore practice issues or contribute more broadly to social work knowledge, working with specific groups and communities and addressing systems of inequality and social disadvantage. Where appropriate, students are encouraged to work in collaboration with relevant organisations and user and interest groups to ensure their research outputs and key findings can directly inform social work practice and service delivery.

We are a multidisciplinary, research-intensive school which brings together theory, policy and practice. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, gender violence, childhood studies, disability studies, health and social care, history, human geography, economics, psychology, physical activity, nutrition and health sciences, urban studies, and poverty, based within seven specialist research centres.

Supervisors in social work bring diverse interests across child and family social work (for example, looked after children; adoption and fostering; supporting parents with substance misuse or learning disabilities; domestic violence responses and interventions) and adult social care (for example, disabled adults' social care needs; housing and homelessness; mental health social work; social work with older people and carers; inclusive service provision for LGBTQ+ individuals).

The school is an exciting environment for postgraduate studies; we welcome students from the UK and abroad to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international social work and policy concerns.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

An upper second-class honours degree and a pass at MSc/MA level (or equivalent experience/qualification).

Social Work MA

Bangor university, social work msc, university of bedfordshire, applied social work practice: children and families ma, applied social work practice: leadership and management ma, applied social work: practice education ma.

Social Policy PhD University of Bristol

• On campus - h Clifton Campus
• Sep 1, 2023 Full-time - 4 years
• Jan 1, 2024 Full-time - 4 years
• Sep 1, 2023 Part-time - 8 years
• Jan 1, 2024 Part-time - 8 years

Key Course Facts

• Admission advice for international students

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 10 graduates of Social Policy PhD at University of Bristol for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Anthropology.

Salary of Graduates in Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Anthropology at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students .

Salary of all UK Graduates of Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology

Course description.

The School for Policy Studies links theory, policy and practice in a multidisciplinary, research-intensive environment. Our research engages with and influences national and international policy. Our policy experts come from a wide variety of backgrounds in social policy research, social work, sociology, poverty, gender violence, disability studies, childhood studies, health and social care, urban studies history, human geography, economics, psychology, physical activity nutrition and health sciences, and family and child welfare, based within seven specialist research centres.

Our research examines policy areas that affect us all in day-to-day life, influences and challenges policies implemented by governments and institutions, and investigates the issues, factors and attitudes underlying the social concerns that make the headlines every day.

The school is an exciting environment for graduate studies; we welcome graduate students from the UK and around the world to join our diverse and highly-rated research team. We particularly welcome applications on topics with direct relevance to national and international policy concerns.

Accreditation by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) , working in partnership with University Archaeology UK (UAUK) , recognises academic programmes which provide students with appropriate workplace skills relevant to both a career in the historic environment and CIfA membership at Practitioner grade.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

What graduates are doing after 15 months

Current jobs, job in line with future plans, utilise skills from studies, work is meaningful, required skill level of job after 15 months, % skilled jobs, jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation).

Example below based on all graduates of Social Policy PhD at University of Bristol

Assessment Methods

Entry requirements / admissions, ucas tariff of accepted students for this course, requirements for international students / english requirements.

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

• Graduate Degrees
• Graduate Degrees Law, Econ, Medicine, English
• Undergraduate Degrees
• Undergraduate Degrees Law, Econ, Medicine, English

UCAS International Information

Tuition fees social policy phd, average student cost of living in the uk.

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of university of bristol in top uk and global rankings., rankings of university of bristol in related subject specific rankings., social studies & humanities, about university of bristol.

The University of Bristol is a traditional red brick research university located in Bristol, England. This university does not have a campus that it designates as its main campus, but instead has a group of buildings in the city centre which is referred to as the “University precinct”. With six different faculties and 29 distinct schools, there is sure to be something of interest for almost any student at Bristol.

List of 408 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Bristol - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Bristol

Where is this programme taught.

Similar courses

Ranking publishers, shanghairanking consultancy, gras global ranking of academic subjects - shanghairanking  (published: 27 october, 2023).

view methodology

NTU ranking

Ntu rankings by subject  (published: 11 july, 2023).

BSc Social Policy (L400)

2024 entry | view 2025 entry.

Social Policy (L400)

Course summary

Social Policy provides an exciting opportunity to critically analyse contemporary social issues related to human wellbeing, inequality, disadvantage and crime. You will explore real-world challenges in a global context, drawing on social, political, public policy and economic theories.

Social Policy at Bristol addresses some of the key questions of our time. What should we do about inequality? Why does poverty persist? Who should pay for care for the elderly? What can be done about the climate crisis? How can citizens engage with policy?

Our BSc Social Policy course is one of the longest-running social policy degrees in the country and it consistently scores high in university subject rankings.

Graduates of the course have gone on to achieve success in a wide range of careers in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Alternatively, the course provides a strong foundation for furthering your studies in public policy.

Course structure

The first year introduces key concepts and ideologies and familiarises you with theoretical, comparative and historical analyses. It also develops your research and critical thinking skills as a social scientist.

Years two and three allow you to explore your interests in greater depth through a wide range of optional units which focus on contemporary, real-world social and political issues. Students may also choose a work placement option in the second year, providing the opportunity to gain employment-related skills and experience in an organisation connected to your studies.

The final-year dissertation is an opportunity to choose a topic for in-depth investigation and independent work.

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

A-level standard offer

A-level contextual offer, international baccalaureate diploma, international baccalaureate diploma contextual offer, european baccalaureate, scottish qualifications authority, access to he diploma, welsh baccalaureate, cambridge pre-u, international qualifications, selection process.

• Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
• If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
• Full information about our selection processes for Social Policy can be found in the Admissions Statement: Admissions statement
• The admissions statement above relates to 2024 entry. The statement for 2025 entry will be available in summer 2024.

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Careers Service Blog

Helping you get to where you want to be when you graduate

Getting started with networking as a state school student

Some people have more experience of professional networking through personal contacts, but where do you start if you don’t have these existing connections.

Carlos is a second year Law student and Co-President of The 93% Club (UoB’s State School Society). In this blog, Carlos shares his experiences and advice for developing professional networks at university as a state school student. 

“It wasn’t until my second year at university and my role as co-president of The 93% Club that I truly grasped the importance of networking. For students like me, who don’t have family connections in high places, networking offers a crucial opportunity to connect with employers, learn about companies, and expand future career prospects. 

As a state-school student with a limited network before university, the idea of networking with employers seemed daunting. I vividly remember my first day of work experience at a commercial law firm during sixth form, feeling overwhelmed by corporate jargon and unsure of its significance for my career.   

Networking isn’t just important; it’s vital for launching your career post-graduation. Networking is an opportunity to put your foot in the door, placing yourself on the same level as your peers.

Beyond just making introductions, networking is your chance to dive deep into the companies that pique your interest. It’s a window into their culture, their people, and the work they do. Plus, it’s a prime opportunity to expand your professional circle, opening doors to future opportunities you might never have imagined.  

Networking isn’t just important; it’s vital for launching your career post-graduation.

Networking is an opportunity to put your foot in the door, placing yourself on the same level as your peers. Beyond just making introductions, networking is your chance to dive deep into the companies that pique your interest. It’s a window into their culture, their people, and the work they do . Plus, it’s a prime opportunity to expand your professional circle, opening doors to future opportunities you might never have imagined.  

Growing your network means you could have people to help guide you through your career journey from providing application feedback to interview tips, the connections you make today can be an opportunity tomorrow. In the longer run, networking could help you develop once you’ve already put your foot in the industry.

At a recent networking event I attended, I spoke to a lawyer who now works at Amazon. When I asked her about how she secured her role, she spoke about the network she had built and the relationships she had maintained throughout her career, and how it ultimately got her the role. So, think of networking as an investment in your future . Every conversation, every connection, is like compound interest, growing and multiplying throughout your working life.

My experience with networking has been a long learning curve.

As a 17 year old student, I remember being chucked in the deep end during a Zoom breakout room with a partner at a big commercial firm and scrambling through a set of questions to impress them. But what questions do I ask? What even is commercial law? Why are people talking about IPOs? What is an IPO?! Networking really just seemed like an opportunity to worsen my imposter syndrome.  As others asked insanely professional questions, I felt as though I was stuck thinking about the basics. This is a position many people find themselves in when they first start networking.

Here are a few things I learnt along the way.  

Firstly, remember that employees attending networking events are genuinely interested in helping students like you..

Approach conversations confidently, knowing that they were once in your shoes and understand your perspective. 

Do your research!

Before you go to any networking event, know who is attending and from where and make sure your questions are specific for those individuals.

This will not only make you stand out but will provide you with an even deeper level of understanding of a company than the information you had initially found online.

For example, instead of asking a law firm what their specialisms are (information you could find online), do your research and ask them about a specific client deal they had worked on recently and the challenges they faced.

This is just one example of how doing your research could ultimately make a huge difference! 

Finally, don’t be afraid to show your personality.

While discussing work-related topics is important, don’t hesitate to share your interests and experiences . Talking about application cycles and what a company does etc can be incredibly repetitive for employers, so sometimes moving away from those conversations may not always be a bad thing! For example, during a recent networking event, my co-president and I were speaking to some lawyers and slightly veered off the typical conversation path. We ended up discussing celebrities and funny encounters, which although was almost barely related to the legal industry, leaves a lasting impression on both the employees and us. 

Networking, therefore, is not a specific set of rules you need to follow. People network in different ways, and as state-schoolers the experiences you bring to the table can be just as important as the knowledge you have about a specific industry. Take networking as a chance to meet new friends, an opportunity to grant you endless possibilities just through speaking and you’re basically there! “

• Join The 93% Club at Bristol to connect with other state school students through social events, and benefit from networking events and mentoring opportunities.  
• Apply for Bristol Mentors before Friday 26 April . Successful applicants are matched to an alumni mentor to support with your career planning during the next academic year.  
• Use resources from the Careers Service on networking and support for under-represented students , including advice on building your personal and professional network at university .  
• Get Hired Careers Fair is an ideal opportunity to practise your networking skills. Join our intro session on campus on 25 April or online on 30 April    

• Graduate & Professional
• Learning and Organizational Change
• Knowledge Exchange Blog

More Human, More Tech: Takeaways from Midwest Change Conference

Here are three of my key takeaways related to using technology enable greater humanity and using humanity to drive greater impact through technology.

Treat AI as a tool (not a weapon) and a colleague (not a competitor).

Technology and Digital Transformation is a “Top Change on Horizon” according to Prosci research. No surprise there. More novel was how Prosci’s Tim Creasey and several other presenters shared specific ways artificial intelligence (AI), among other technologies, is enabling change managers to work with and through people. As Creasey shared, “AI is not an oracle you ask questions to, it’s an intern you give instructions to. The better the instructions, the better the work.” And in their session, Stephanie Douglas, Ph.D. & Dr. James E. Sutton III from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University talked about how AI can enhance our understanding and application of what people think and feel. In other words, AI is a great tool for sentiment analysis – let's get data from real people and have our AI colleague help us get to the crux of what those people need and want, thereby facilitating more informed decision-making. 

Co-create deeper connection and psychological safety by aligning technology with culture.

During the closing panel, Michelle Yanahan from ChangeFit 360 spoke of the importance of psychological safety and people’s need to know, do, and feel. Most often we focus our attention, and thus our tools and technologies, on the first two (knowing and doing). Psychological safety depends on having the space to feel and having our feelings understood. As with the sentiment analysis example above, technology is among several important tools for greater understanding and informed action. Yanahan also spoke of opportunities for co-creation across change management work, understanding as well as normalizing change resistance, and enabling people not just to buy in but drive change work forward. Yanahan’s fellow panelist Cameron Cammarata from Northwestern Mutual spoke about integrating tools and systems for connecting people, making connections and processes easier and better. From knowledge management to project management and many systems in between, we know that if we can deeply understand and align our culture, our humans, and our systems, we can drive both greater performance and greater satisfaction. 

Make change easier to chew on, swallow, and digest.

Panelist Hilary Lee from Centric Consulting stoked our appetites by encouraging us to enable a change culture through small moves. Changes that are “appetizer, tapas, or nugget-sized" can help us build change into our daily work without making our colleagues feel overstuffed or like the organization’s eyes are bigger than its stomach. Taking this philosophy to the people requires thoughtful use of technology that is responsive to the places and ways people are already working. As MSLOC alum Mark Henry, from Do Even Better, shared in his presentation, “When Change Management Adapts Like the Sales Team,” we must use multiple communication modes well to reach people, just like the best salespeople do. Henry advises to “write to be one-click forwarded,” bringing together these ideas of both finding people where they are and making it easy for them to consume and share.

I appreciated hearing each of these leaders and practitioners share specific examples of bringing technology to people, and people to technology, in real and complex ways that work. In our MSLOC courses and communities, we embrace this necessary complexity and work to equip ourselves and each other to integrate these skills and practices. Today's successful change managers must be ready to serve as knowledge managers, facilitators, leadership developers, coaches, designers, learning designers, project managers, and more. Doing so requires their deep understanding of how people work and the acuity with tools that make that work possible.