Western Governors University

E021: Leading a Technology Transformation

A study guide to WGU's graduate capstone-style course on needs assessment, technology roadmaps and change management for a digital transformation.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

E021 is a three-unit graduate course in WGU's Master of Science, Information Technology. WGU lists no prerequisite, and describes the course as functioning as a cumulative capstone for the program while also adding new content on large-scale digital transformation.

In the guidebook's words, the student acts as a technology leader helping an organization through a digital transformation. You assess its technology needs, roadmap its change and develop a change management strategy, considering cloud, cybersecurity, data and AI needs or gaps together.

The challenge is integration. Earlier courses treat each topic separately; here one coherent plan has to hold them all together and stay realistic about people.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityWestern Governors University (WGU)
CourseE021, Leading a Technology Transformation
Competency units3
LevelGraduate
ProgramMS Information Technology
Role in programCumulative capstone (per the guidebook)

What E021 Covers

Competency (WGU wording, summarized)What it asks of you
Conduct a needs assessment based on current infrastructure and business goalsCompare where the organization is with where it wants to be
Propose a technology roadmap for the organization's futureSequence the changes over time
Develop a change management implementation plan based on the roadmapPlan how people and processes will adopt the change

Key Concepts Explained

Needs Assessment

A needs assessment compares the current state with business goals and records the gaps in cloud, cybersecurity, data and AI. Evidence from the scenario should support each gap.

Roadmap

A roadmap orders initiatives by priority, dependency and effort. Some changes must come first, such as identity management before wider cloud access, or data clean-up before an AI pilot.

Illustration: A regional health network has aging servers, scattered records and rising phishing attempts. The assessment finds gaps in all four areas. The roadmap begins with security basics and data consolidation, moves workloads to the cloud in waves, and only then pilots an AI scheduling tool, because that tool depends on clean, consolidated data.

Change Management

Technology fails when people do not adopt it. The plan should cover stakeholders, communication, training, resistance and how success will be measured after launch.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Task elementWhat it testsHow to approach it
Needs assessmentDiagnosisCover all four technology areas and link each gap to a business goal
Technology roadmapSequencingShow phases, dependencies and reasons for the order
Change management planPeople focusName stakeholders, actions, timing and measures

Keeping the Three Parts Connected

Many weak submissions treat the assessment, roadmap and change plan as three separate essays. Link them with a running thread. Every gap in the assessment should reappear as an initiative in the roadmap, and every roadmap phase should appear in the change plan with its audience and timing.

PartWhat must appearWhere it reappears
Needs assessmentRanked gaps with evidenceRoadmap initiatives
RoadmapPhases, owners, dependenciesChange plan timing
Change planStakeholders, training, measuresSuccess criteria for each phase

A Study Approach for Each Competency

For the needs assessment, create a simple grid with the four technology areas down the side and three columns: current state, desired state and gap. Fill it from the scenario and keep a note of the business goal each gap affects.

For the roadmap, group the gaps into phases and look for dependencies. For the change management plan, list the stakeholder groups, what each stands to gain or lose, and the actions that will help them adopt the change. A good plan also covers how leaders will listen to concerns and adjust the approach.

Final Review Before You Submit

Because this course draws on the whole program, a last check is worth the time. Read the plan once as the organization's chief executive would. Is the case for change clear, are the priorities believable, and does the change plan say how staff will actually be helped?

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for E021

How We Help with E021

Send the scenario, task instructions and rubric. A writer can prepare a model transformation plan, explain how to sequence a roadmap, or review your draft for gaps. The work is study support; submit your own work under WGU's academic integrity policy.

GradeEssays is independent of Western Governors University. Orders are written from scratch, include free revisions within the scope of your original request, and are refunded in full if late. See also our MBA assignment help guide.

Get Your Transformation Plan in Order

Share the case, your draft and feedback. We explain how to link assessment, roadmap and change management.

Start My E021 Help

Free revisions · Full refund if late · Written from scratch for your order

Frequently Asked Questions

Does E021 have prerequisites?

The guidebook states there is no prerequisite.

How many competency units is E021?

The guidebook lists 3.

Is E021 the final course?

The guidebook describes it as functioning as a cumulative capstone for the program.

Which technology areas are covered?

Cloud, cybersecurity, data and AI needs or gaps are considered together.

Do I need to implement anything?

The task is planning: assessment, roadmap and change management strategy.

Can you review my roadmap?

Yes. We check sequencing, links between sections and rubric match, and explain what to change.