Positive Organizational Development (MPOD)
MPOD 414B. Managing Organizational Change and Real-World Challenges. 2 Units.
This is a hands-on course designed to provide students with the direct experience of tackling specific challenges assigned by the instructor in one of four thematic areas of mastery: 1) Leadership (emotionally intelligent leadership, or coaching with compassion) 2) Inclusive Leadership (diversity, equity, and inclusion) 3) OD & Systemic Change (appreciative inquiry, BAWB, positive impact interventions) 4) Team Effectiveness (managing & facilitating teams effectively or building and managing high performance teams) This is part two of a two-part course. Offered as LEOC 414B and MPOD 414B. Prereq: MPOD 414A.
MPOD 416B. Leadership and Executive Assessment and Development. 1 Unit.
Leadership with emotional intelligence will be examined by studying a number of topics and applying them to two major case studies: 1) a CEO; and 2) yourself. This course will explore questions such as: Who are effective leaders? Are they different from effective managers? How do they think and act? What makes us want to follow them? How are leaders developed? What and how can people (you) help others develop their competencies to become more effective leaders? (Part two of three) Prereq: MPOD 416A.
MPOD 416C. Leadership, Executive Assessment and Development. 1 Unit.
Leadership with emotional intelligence will be examined by studying a number of topics and applying them to two major case studies: 1) a CEO; and 2) yourself. In this context, coaching the development of leadership will be a major topic throughout the course. This course will explore questions such as: Who are effective leaders? Are they different from effective managers? How do they think and act? What makes us want to follow them? How are leaders developed? What and how can people (you) help/coach others develop their competencies to become more effective leaders? (Part three of a three-section course.) Prereq: MPOD 416B.
MPOD 418. Flourishing Enterprise. 2 Units.
Global issues such as climate change and food security, as well as heightened expectations for personal health and well-being in the workplace, are introducing greater levels of complexity into business strategy and operations, with far-reaching implications for customer satisfaction and employee engagement. Effective handling of these issues can lead to new sources of revenue generation and cost efficiency, as well as reputational value, while failure to do so can lead to financial and competitive risk. Offered as LEOC 418 and MPOD 418. Prereq: Open to MPOD candidates only.
MPOD 431. Experiential Learning for Individuals, Teams, and Organizations. 3 Units.
This course focuses on the theory of experiential learning and its application at the individual, team, and organizational levels of analyses. This course offers the chance for students to gain insight into their individual learning and adaptive styles, and how such styles impact the way they interact and have consequence for team. The course also explores how teams and organizations learn, and the effect that cultural determinants have on learning and adaptability. In addition, the course examines how learning theory can be applied to focused institutional development projects and educational processes. The course uses presentations, lectures, research findings, interactive activities, and class discussion. The current topics of interest are for the Masters in Positive Organization and Change (MPOD) candidates. It is led by a faculty member of the Department of Organization Behavior. Reflective essays and integrative papers will enable participants to explore their learning styles and that of their organizations and teams to strengthen the practice of OD and human systems change and development. Prereq: MPOD students only.
MPOD 431B. Team Development and Dynamics. 1 Unit.
The objectives of this course are to: Develop the capacity to see and assess team development. Recognize and understand the characteristics of effective teams and groups. Practice observing, intervening, and using team skills. Facilitate integration of your unique perspective, skills, and talents in working with teams. Further prepare you to be an effective team leader, team facilitator, consultant to team leaders and team members. This is part two of a two-part course. Offered as LEOC 431B and MPOD 431B. Prereq: MPOD 431A.
MPOD 439. Individual Mastery Projects. 3 Units.
The objectives of this course are to: 1) demonstrate the ability to frame and design a clear cut action research project applied to a given organizational development challenge or improvement opportunity; 2) show the ability to engage and mobilize others in a collaborative effort toward a collective outcome; 3) employ a defined change process and use theory from the field of OD (e.g., AI, EI, Sustainability, Organization Design, Strategic Thinking, etc.) to inform practice; 4) evince the ability to sustain momentum during the course of a project, while navigating the complexities that one normally encounters in an effort to complete the action research cycle; 5) provide evidence that theorganization development change project has had a positive benefit or impact; and 6) reveal sufficient self-reflection and mindfulness in ways that further your own and others personal or professional development. These six objectives will fundamentally be the same competencies that I will look for in grading Part 1 and Part 2 of your assignment. Toward these ends, you are expected to plan and execute a significant organization development, and/or change project with an ongoing client or employer. Emphasis is placed on the craft of developing projects that are consistent with one's current skills, career plans, and developmental needs that can be combined with the needs, opportunities, readiness, and resources of the client organization. Offered as LEOC 439 and MPOD 439. Prereq: Open to MPOD candidates only.
MPOD 470B. Leading Change from a Complexity Perspective. 1 Unit.
In this course, we will continuously attempt to answer two questions: (1) What is the process of sustained, desirable change? and (2) What is the role of a leader? Concepts form complexity theory will be used, including understanding the multilevel nature of SDC at the individual, dyad , team, organization, community, country, and global levels. Intentional Change Theory (ICT) will be used as the organizing concept for the changes studied. In this context, coaching the development of leadership will be a major topic throughout the course. Prereq: MPOD candidates only.
MPOD 479. Organization Innovation. 3 Units.
This course focuses on the creative process and innovation journey at all levels -- individual, group, organization, and leadership. In this class we will explore creativity from several angles with a particular focus on the conditions that facilitate creativity and innovation. Offered as LEOC 479 and MPOD 479. Prereq: Open to MPOD candidates only.
MPOD 498. Global Citizenship and Multi-Cultural OD: International Study Tour. 3 Units.
This course will broaden perspectives and knowledge of how OD principles and technologies are generated and applied in contexts and cultures outside of North America. Selected literature representing global perspectives on the practice of OD and field experiences will provide support and background for personal experience and reflection on cross-cultural issues in organizing. The primary learning context will be an intense, 10-day study tour to some country outside of North America to provide the participants with opportunities for: 1) comparative studies of OD practices in different cultural settings; 2) in-depth experiences with OD practitioners and students in a different national, regional and cultural context; 3) co-inquiry with non-North American students also involved in developing OD knowledge and skills; and 4) on-site organization visits outside of North America to observe and learn about on-going dynamic change efforts. Prereq: Open to MPOD candidates only.