Graduate Certificate in Organizational Culture Transformation

The world of work has changed. Cross-cultural skill sets are needed in all aspects of our collective lives - personally, locally and globally. This course examines complex topics such as inclusion, diversity and intergenerational opportunities within the areas of cross-cultural competencies and ethics. This course explores cross-cultural awareness in organizations through a combined examination of organizational models and multicultural principles and approaches. It explores models that provide practical tools to bridge the differences that create conflict and that divide people and organized systems. Students apply theories to practice, discover personal leadership abilities, develop cultural competencies and integrate learning within their own areas of interest.

This course provides a framework to view the dynamics of group development through practical experience in group dynamics and in managing groups and teams. Students learn to identify different group types, establish group norms, understand the evolution of a typical group, and become familiar with ethical issues in leading and managing groups. One essential component of managing diverse high-impact teams is the ability to observe how people interact and to know how or when to intervene within an emergent group situation. Students explore the various implications that an organization, culture, society and/or community have on group development.

Leading organizational culture transformation is complex. This course explores the central question of how to create a more just and equitable organizational culture and provides critical thinking, analytical skills and tools to examine this question. This course takes a deep look into the systemic inequalities and policies that mitigate against successful organizational cultural transformation. Students explore the deep-seated causes of systemic inequalities that are rooted in history, organizational theory and the dominant leadership assumptions of command and control to provide insight into how these inequalities persist, evolve and grow. The course helps students develop the skills needed to critically assess organizational and public policies, discern and evaluate the effectiveness of policies developed to address these issues, and learn to inquire about the ethical dilemmas associated with implementing reasonable policy initiatives.

Leading system-wide change and transformation is a constant challenge in an era of continuous flux. Visionary, interdisciplinary thinking is needed to facilitate human and planetary change and to enhance interdependent cooperative action. This course provides an overview of the skills needed to lead and manage people through change and transformation. It examines several methods and tools through which leaders and managers affect change in organizations, engage people through communication processes and build capacities for sustaining change. It explores the unique characteristics of change and transformation dynamics: How individuals often respond to change, how to build trust and how to assess the impact of change on organizational culture, group behavior, interpersonal influences and organizational design and innovation. Students improve their skills in areas such as process consultation, leading and managing change, team building, and measuring organizational readiness and effectiveness. Students apply course material to real world issues, situations and workplace challenges through a collaborative project.