Business

Master of Science in Management and Organization Development

The Master of Science in Management and Organization Development is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in management, organisational development, change management, and leadership. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in management, organisational development, change management, and leadership consulting.

Core areas include management, organisational development, change management, organisational behaviour, leadership, strategic management, organisational design, human resource management, organisational culture, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical management and organisational development applications.

The programme is offered by Moi University, Chuka University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, with USIU as a college. USIU offers MSc in Management and Organizational Development for middle and senior managers. Chuka offers postgraduate programmes at KES 65,000-75,000 per semester.

Students develop competencies in management, organisational development, change management, leadership, organisational design, and research. The programme includes coursework, case studies, projects, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time and part-time study modes. USIU fees are KES 139,532 per semester for Kenyans. Chuka fees are KES 65,000-75,000 per semester. USIU requires GPA 2.5+ and work experience. Chuka requires Upper Second or Lower with 2 years experience.

Graduates pursue careers as management consultants, organisational development specialists, change managers, HR managers, and lecturers in corporate organisations, consulting firms, government, NGOs, and universities.

Skills Required

Management and Strategic Planning
Organisational Development and Design
Change Management and Implementation
Leadership and Team Development
Organisational Behaviour and Culture
Human Resource Management and Development
Strategic Management and Competitive Strategy
Organisational Diagnosis and Intervention
Performance Management and Improvement
Management and OD Research Methods

Key Subjects

Management
Organisational Development
Change Management
Organisational Behaviour
Leadership
Strategic Management
Organisational Design
Human Resource Management
Organisational Culture
Management Research Methods

Certifications

KIM Management Certification
ODN Organizational Development Certification

Specializations

Organisational Development

Focuses on organisational development, OD interventions, organisational diagnosis, OD process, organisational effectiveness, and designing and implementing OD interventions.

Change Management

Examines change management, change processes, change models, resistance to change, change leadership, and managing and implementing organisational change.

Leadership Development

Covers leadership, leadership styles, leadership development, transformational leadership, team leadership, and developing and leading teams and organisations.

Strategic Management

Focuses on strategic management, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, competitive strategy, strategic planning, and formulating and implementing strategy.

Organisational Behaviour

Examines organisational behaviour, motivation, group dynamics, organisational culture, power and politics, and understanding behaviour in organisations.

Human Resource Management

Covers HR management, talent management, performance management, employee development, HR strategy, and managing and developing human resources.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 150,000
Private, up to: Ksh 319,500
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Management
Organisational Development
Change Management
Organisational Behaviour
Leadership
Strategic Management
Organisational Design
Human Resource Management
Organisational Culture
Management Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Management Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines management principles, management theory, planning, organising, leading, controlling, management functions, and understanding and applying management in organisations.
Organisational Development and Interventions
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers OD principles, OD interventions, organisational diagnosis, OD process, action research, organisational effectiveness, and designing and implementing OD interventions.
Change Management and Implementation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines change management, change models, Lewin's model, Kotter's model, resistance to change, change leadership, and managing and implementing organisational change.
Organisational Behaviour and Dynamics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers motivation, group dynamics, team behaviour, communication, conflict, power, politics, organisational culture, and understanding behaviour in organisations.
Leadership and Team Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines leadership theories, leadership styles, transformational leadership, servant leadership, team leadership, leadership development, and developing and leading teams.
Strategic Management and Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers strategy formulation, strategy implementation, competitive strategy, strategic analysis, strategic planning, balanced scorecard, and formulating and implementing strategy.
Organisational Design and Structure
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines organisational structure, organisational design, organisational architecture, structural configurations, Mintzberg's configurations, and designing organisations.
Human Resource Management and Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers talent management, performance management, employee development, HR strategy, employee engagement, reward management, and managing and developing human resources.
Organisational Culture and Transformation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines organisational culture, cultural change, cultural assessment, values, cultural transformation, and understanding and managing organisational culture.
Management and OD Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for management and OD, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, action research, data analysis, and conducting management research, preparing students for their thesis.
Management Consulting and Practice
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines management consulting, consulting process, client engagement, consulting skills, project management, and applying management and OD consulting in practice.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a management and organisation development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and management and OD knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Organisational Development
Focuses on organisational development, OD interventions, organisational diagnosis, OD process, organisational effectiveness, and designing and implementing OD interventions.
Change Management
Examines change management, change processes, change models, resistance to change, change leadership, and managing and implementing organisational change.
Leadership Development
Covers leadership, leadership styles, leadership development, transformational leadership, team leadership, and developing and leading teams and organisations.
Strategic Management
Focuses on strategic management, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, competitive strategy, strategic planning, and formulating and implementing strategy.
Organisational Behaviour
Examines organisational behaviour, motivation, group dynamics, organisational culture, power and politics, and understanding behaviour in organisations.
Human Resource Management
Covers HR management, talent management, performance management, employee development, HR strategy, and managing and developing human resources.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Management and Organization Development programme begins with morning or evening lectures, as the programme accommodates working professionals. Students engage in theoretical discussions on management, organisational behaviour, and change. Management sessions cover management principles, management theory, planning, organising, leading, controlling, and understanding and applying management. Organisational development sessions examine OD principles, OD interventions, organisational diagnosis, OD process, action research, and designing and implementing OD interventions. Change management sessions cover change management, change models, Lewin's model, Kotter's model, resistance to change, change leadership, and managing and implementing change. Organisational behaviour sessions examine motivation, group dynamics, team behaviour, communication, conflict, power, politics, and understanding behaviour in organisations. Leadership sessions cover leadership theories, leadership styles, transformational leadership, servant leadership, team leadership, and developing and leading teams. Strategic management sessions examine strategy formulation, strategy implementation, competitive strategy, strategic analysis, strategic planning, and formulating and implementing strategy. Organisational design sessions cover organisational structure, organisational design, organisational architecture, structural configurations, and designing organisations. HR management sessions examine talent management, performance management, employee development, HR strategy, employee engagement, and managing and developing human resources. Organisational culture sessions cover organisational culture, cultural change, cultural assessment, values, and understanding and managing organisational culture. Case studies provide hands-on experience in analysing management situations, diagnosing organisational issues, and developing interventions. Projects provide hands-on experience in OD interventions, change management plans, and management consulting. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering management research methods, qualitative methods, and data analysis. Guest lectures from KIM fellows, OD consultants, industry leaders, and management scholars provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's growing corporate sector, organisational transformation needs, change management requirements, and leadership development create high demand for qualified management and OD professionals.
Programme accepts graduates from any discipline with work experience, making it accessible to professionals from all fields.
USIU offers established MSc in Management and Organizational Development designed for middle and senior managers.
Career opportunities with corporate organisations, consulting firms, government, NGOs, KIM, and international organisations.

Against it

USIU fees at KES 139,532 per semester (~KES 279,064/year) are relatively expensive compared to public universities.
Programme requires work experience, which may exclude recent graduates.
Management and OD is a competitive field with many MBA holders competing for similar positions.
Programme quality and focus may vary significantly between USIU (private, specialised) and public universities offering related programmes.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public130k to 150k

130k at Chuka University150k at Moi University

Private238k to 320k

238k at KCA University320k at United States International University Africa

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Chuka 130K/yr (Chuka MSc PDF). USIU 319.5K/yr (USIU fee schedule). Moi, KCA unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KIM supports management professional development. USIU offers financial aid for eligible students. AMI supports management development in Africa. ODN supports OD professional development. The programme's management and OD focus attracts professional body and industry funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KIM Professional Development Funding
USIU Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate management and OD studies at recognised universities.
KIM Professional Development Funding
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
KIM supports management professional development, providing funding for training and certification in Kenya.
USIU Financial Aid
GrantKsh 300,000Kenyan
USIU-Africa offers financial aid for eligible students demonstrating academic merit and financial need.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from any discipline with work experience. USIU requires GPA 2.5+ and work experience, designed for middle and senior managers. Chuka requires Upper Second or Lower with 2 years experience. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes. USIU fees KES 139,532/semester. Chuka fees KES 65,000-75,000/semester.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, OD analysis projects, change management plans, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering management, OD, change management, organisational behaviour, and leadership, conducted at end of each semester.
Projects and Presentations
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of projects, OD interventions, change management plans, consulting projects, and project presentations.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a management and organisation development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and management knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). USIU-Africa offers MSc in Management and Organizational Development for middle and senior managers. Moi University, Chuka University, and JOOUST offer related management programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate management and organisational development training. KIM supports management professionals in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. USIU-Africa offers MSc in Management and Organizational Development for middle and senior managers. Moi University, Chuka University, and JOOUST offer related management programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate management and OD training.
Kenya Institute of Management (KIM)
Professional accreditation
KIM supports management professionals in Kenya. Graduates may benefit from KIM professional certification and networking for career advancement in management.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Management Consultant
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Provides management consulting, advising organisations on management, OD, change, and supporting organisational improvement and development.
Organisational Development Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages OD initiatives, overseeing OD interventions, organisational diagnosis, change management, and supporting organisational development.
Change Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages organisational change, overseeing change processes, change implementation, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring successful change.
HR Manager
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages human resources, overseeing talent management, performance, employee development, and supporting HR strategy and development.
Leadership Development Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages leadership development, overseeing leadership programmes, coaching, succession planning, and developing leaders in organisations.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches management and organisational development in universities, conducting research and training future management professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as management consultants, organisational development specialists, and change managers in corporate organisations, consulting firms, and government.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for management and OD research data analysis, survey analysis, and statistical modelling in management research.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for management and OD research, qualitative analysis, case study research, and organisational analysis.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for management data analysis, performance metrics, OD assessment data, and management reporting.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Software
Presentation software for management presentations, OD proposals, change management presentations, and consulting presentations.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Management and organisational development is just common sense.
The programme involves management theory, OD interventions, change management, organisational behaviour, leadership, and research, covering comprehensive management and OD science.
This programme is only for business graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from any discipline with work experience, as management and OD skills are applicable across all sectors.
There is limited demand for OD professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's growing corporate sector, organisational transformation needs, change management requirements, and leadership development create high demand for qualified management and OD professionals.
Organisational development is just about team building.
OD involves organisational diagnosis, interventions, change management, culture change, process improvement, and strategic alignment, not just team building.
A master's in management and OD is redundant after an MBA.
While related, this programme focuses specifically on organisational development and change management, providing specialised skills not typically covered in depth in MBA programmes.
Management and OD is only relevant for large corporations.
Management and OD principles apply to organisations of all sizes including SMEs, NGOs, government, and startups, as all organisations need effective management and development.