ADMPS 3137
Organization Development in Higher Education
School of Education
Spring 2016
Thursday- 4:30-7:10 p.m.
5400 Posvar Hall
FOCUS:
Whether leading a department of 50 people or a division of 500, leaders need to understand the concepts and tools that lead to a strong culture. This course explores many facets of organizational life in universities with special emphasis on improvement opportunities such as culture, values, innovation, process improvement and alignment of human resources systems such as faculty and staff development, performance management and career development.
INSTUCTORS:
Dr. B. Jean Ferketish
Associate Professor Phone: 412-648-7177
School of Education
4309 Posvar Hall
Office Hours: By appointment
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Schein, Edgar H., Organizational Culture and Leadership, Fourth Edition, Copyright 2010, Jossey-Bass, Inc., Publisher.
Bergquist, William H. and Pawlak, Kenneth, Engaging the Six Cultures of the Academy, Copyright 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Publisher. (Book must be completely read by January 21).
COURSE GOALS:
1. To develop a working knowledge of the concepts, language and methods used in Organization Improvement.
2. To understand the culture of an organization and plan for its systematic development.
3. To be able to apply the most commonly used tools for organizational assessment, change and improvement.
4. To draw comparisons among several institutions by conducting a benchmarking study.
1. January 7, 2016 – Introduction and Course Overview
§ Syllabus/assignments review
§ Class logistics and student introductions
§ Overview of history, major theories and thought leaders
§ Links to strategic planning
§ Introduction to benchmarking assignment
Due in class: Bring completed Student Profile to class.
Bring hard copies of PowerPoints to class if you want to
take notes on them.
“Organization Development: Basic terms and Concepts.”
On Website. Print and bring to class.
Benchmarking information – On Website. Print and bring to class.
Readings due: Bergquist, William H. and Pawlak, Kenneth, Engaging the Six Cultures of the Academy, Copyright 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Publisher. (Book must be completely read by January 21).
2. January 14, 2016 – Defining Organization Development and Culture
§ Understanding Organization Culture
§ Understanding Organization Development
§ Review concepts and theories from reading
§ Select Universities for use in assignment #2 on page 9 of syllabus.
§ Discuss benchmarking study and make topic assignments
§ Benchmarking team start-up meeting
Readings due: Schein, Edgar H., Organizational Culture and Leadership, Fourth Edition, Copyright 2010, Jossey-Bass, Inc., Publisher. Chapters 1 through 4.
Bergquist, William H. and Pawlak, Kenneth, Engaging the Six Cultures of the Academy, Copyright 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Publisher. (Book must be completely read by January 21).
Benchmarking information – On Website. Print and bring to class.
Assignment due: Identify Universities for use in assignment #2 on page 9 of syllabus
3. January 21, 2016 – Academic Cultures
§ Review concepts and theories from reading
- The Collegial Culture
- The Managerial Culture
- The Developmental Culture
- The Advocacy Culture
- The Virtual Culture
- The Tangible Culture
§ In class, students will work in teams to create a 5-10 minute presentation/activity that reviews the main concept of one culture.
§ Assignments for interviews and inventory to complete for the next class.
§ Overview of benchmarking and expectations for study (Assignment #4)
§ Coaching on Benchmarking Project and team meeting
Readings due: Bergquist, William H. and Pawlak, Kenneth, Engaging the Six Cultures of the Academy, Copyright 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Publisher. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Class materials on website for this week – quick reference description of each culture print and bring to class
Reading on Benchmark topic.
4. January 28, 2016 – Academic Cultures
§ Apply concepts and theories from reading
- The Collegial Culture
- The Managerial Culture
- The Developmental Culture
- The Advocacy Culture
- The Virtual Culture
- The Tangible Culture
- Appendix I: Academic Culture Inventory
§ In class, and working with the same team as in Session #3, students will create a 5-10 minute presentation in which they predict how one of the cultures will react to a major issue in higher education. Interviews and inventory with people in that culture must be completed before the class.
§ Set up teams for next session and assign reading.
§ Coaching on Benchmarking Project and team meeting
Readings due: Bergquist, William H. and Pawlak, Kenneth, Engaging the Six Cultures of the Academy, Copyright 2008, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Publisher. Chapters 7 and appendix.
Reading on Benchmark topic
Assignment due: Interviews and inventory with people in that culture must be completed before the class. Work for classes #3 and #4 fulfill assignment #1 on page 9 of the syllabus
5. February 4, 2016 – Understanding Assumptions in Culture
§ Assumptions about
- Chapter 5 - External adaptation issues
- Chapter 6 - Managing internal integration
- Chapter 7 - Reality and truth
- Chapter 8 - Nature of time and space
- Chapter 9 - Human nature activity and relationships
§ In class, each team will focus on one category of assumptions as listed above and described in Schein. Each team will identify one or two assumptions underlying each of the 6 academic cultures and describe how those assumptions play out in values and artifacts
§ Coaching on Benchmarking Project and team meeting – finalize work plan
Readings due: Schein, Edgar H., Organizational Culture and Leadership, Fourth Edition, Copyright 2010, Jossey-Bass, Inc., Publisher. Read only chapter assigned: Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Class Materials on website for this week– quick summary of each assumption; print and bring to class
Reading on Benchmark topic
Assignment due: Hand in Assignment #2 from page 9 of the syllabus.
6. February 11, 2016 – Models for Analysis and Assessment
§ Cultural typologies
§ Deciphering culture
§ Bridging the gaps in academia
§ Benchmarking Topic Review; feedback on work plan
§ Coaching on Benchmarking Project and team meeting
Readings due: Schein, Edgar H., Organizational Culture and Leadership, Fourth Edition, Copyright 2010, Jossey-Bass, Inc., Publisher. Chapters 10, 11 and 18
Schuh, John H. and Upcraft, M. Lee, “Assessment Politics,” About Campus, September-October 2000: 14-21.
Assignment due: Topic review and work plan for benchmarking study.
Submit written “State of the Issue” Review for Benchmarking project. Developmental feedback will be provided.
7. February 18, 2016 – Culture, Leadership and Change
§ Drivers of change
§ How leaders begin culture creation
§ How leaders embed and transmit culture
§ What leaders need to know about how cultures change
§ A conceptual model for managed culture change
§ Coaching on Benchmarking Project and team meeting
Readings due: Schein, Edgar H., Organizational Culture and Leadership, Fourth Edition, Copyright 2010, Jossey-Bass, Inc., Publisher. Chapters 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17.
8. February 25, 2016 – Innovation as a Cultural Value
§ Defining your culture
§ Creativity vs. Innovation
§ A brief history of the search for innovation in organizations
§ Seeing your organization as a system: barriers and enablers
§ Don’t be afraid of methods and techniques
§ Introduction to Systems Alignment: people, process, technology
§ Coaching on Benchmarking Project and team meeting
Readings due: Readings will be assigned
9. March 3, 2016 – Developing People
§ Performance = expectations + skills + coaching + evaluation
§ Competency-Based Performance Management
§ Faculty development
§ Staff development
§ Management development
§ Leadership development
§ Professional development
§ In class, develop a competency model for your benchmarking team
§ Benchmarking team meeting
Readings due: Readings will be assigned
.
Assignment due: Hand in Assignment #3 from page 9 of syllabus
MARCH 10, 2016 – SPRING BREAK
10. March 17, 2016 – Innovation + Strategy Implementation = Change
§ Examples of Organizational Culture from Assignment #3
§ Culture and Work Process
§ What is a process – work and human
§ Organization structure: barrier or enabler
§ Job design: barrier or enabler
§ Use of teams, task force, committees
§ Coaching on Benchmarking Project and team meeting
Readings due: Butterfield, Barbara S., (1998) Process and Organizational ReDesign, Chapters 1 and 2.
Wenger, Etienne C. and Snyder, William M., “Communities of Practice: The Organizational Frontier”, Harvard Business Review, January-February 2000.
An additional reading will be assigned
11. March 24, 2016 – Innovation and Change for Impact
§ Case study presentation with guest speaker
§ Diffusion of Innovation
§ Measurement – the balanced scorecard
§ Building Social capital
§ Project Management
§ Coaching on Benchmarking Project and Team Meeting
Readings due: Richman, Naomi and Fitzgerald, Susan, “A Primer on Strategic Financial Assessments”, Trusteeship, September/October 2003.
Schaffer, Robert H. and Thomson, Harvey A., “Successful Change Programs Begin with Results,” Harvard Business Review, January-February, 1992: 80-89.
An additional reading will be assigned
12. March 31, 2016 – New roles for Leadership
§ Future trends in higher education
§ Organizational communications
§ The change agent – the learning culture and learning leader
§ Assign articles for next class
§ Coaching on Benchmarking Project and tem Meeting
Readings due: Schein, Edgar H., Organizational Culture and Leadership, Fourth Edition, Copyright 2010, Jossey-Bass, Inc., Publisher. Chapters 20 and 21.
13. April 7, 2016 – Future trends in Higher Education
.
§ In class, students will work in teams to create a 5-10 minute presentation that reviews the main concept of the article they were assigned.
§ Benchmarking team meeting
Readings due: as assigned in previous class
Assignment due: Benchmarking Study Report turned in.
14. April 14, 2016 - Benchmarking Study Presentation
§ Presentations of two Benchmarking Studies
§ Special topics of interest which all emerge during the term
Assignment due: 20 minute presentation for each of the two Benchmarking Study Reports assigned to this day.
15. April 21, 2016 - Benchmarking Study Presentation
§ Presentations of two Benchmarking Studies
§ Career conversations
Assignment due: 20 minute presentation for each of the two Benchmarking Study Reports assigned to this day.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Class Participation-20%
This class relies on applying theory to real life. Reflections on, and discussion about, organization cultures create the laboratory experience for this class. Active participation in class is extremely important. Feedback on team participation will be solicited by instructors throughout the course.
Assignment #1 - 10% - In class preparation and discussion for sessions #3, #4 and #5
Over three class sessions, students work in teams to review, explore and apply concepts with regard to organizational culture. Details will be provided in class.
Assignment #2 – 10% - Due February 4, 2015 – Session #5
Select two universities from two different “types” (i.e., small liberal art vs. land-grant). After examining the artifacts on the website, compare the cultures as you perceive them via the website. Paper is evaluated based on use of concepts from the class and examples from the website. Expected length is 3-5 pages.
Assignment #3 - 20% - Due March 3, 2015 – Session #9
Each learner will identify a department in a university or college and write a 3-5 page presentation outline describing its culture. The purpose of the outline is to guide the student in holding a presentation/discussion in which s/he applies the concepts of the course to a “living and dynamic organization”. In essence, deciphers the culture. Organizational examples can be collected through observation and conversations. Examples should focus on artifacts, values, assumptions, academic cultures, vision, strategic performance management and organizational design. The outline will be evaluated on quantity and quality of use of class readings, quality and examples from the organization. A peer rating system will also be part of the evaluation. Expected length 3 -5 pages. The outline will be used in session #10 for conducting discussion during class.
Assignment #4- 40% - Due April 7, 2015
Benchmark Study Presentation and Report – Teams will be assigned an organization development initiative as the focus for a benchmarking study. The study will include a brief literature review (7-10 articles); development of study questions and interviews with 7-10 institutions. The reports summary will specifically depict the key strategies and tactics required for successful implementation. Report is organized as follows: issue review; goal of study; participating institution overview matrices; institutional case studies; comparison matrices; key findings; appendices. A professional study report will be provided to the client and to each participating organization. Continual consulting with the instructor is expected to assure that quality standards are met; a work plan and issue review needs to be submitted to instructor in Session #6. Expected length is 30-40 pages.
Paper due on April 7, 2015 Presentation due on April 14 or 20, 2015
This class is a Learning Community
As a member of this Learning Community, all students are encouraged to opening brainstorm and discuss approaches to the various assignments and readings. This helps assure that the multiple learnings style in the class are served in the best possible manner. Collaboration within team and across teams is authorized. See the Academic Integrity section of this syllabus for more information.
Style for Papers
References should be formatted according to the MLA Manual of Style or the APA Manual of Style which can be accessed through the Hillman Library Website:www.library.pitt.edu/research/citing/
Seeking Help
Depending on the Benchmarking Topics, some teams may be set up for this assignment. In rare instances, teams experience difficulties in working together. “Working it out” is part of the class experience and provides rich learning. Feel free to seek coaching from the instructor to help with group dynamics issues.
Grading Policy
School of Education’s grading policy is based on the premise that work at the graduate level is fundamentally different from that at undergraduate institutions. In general, grading will be stricter and expectations regarding student performance will be higher. Specifically grades in the “B” range will be considered as representing entirely satisfactory graduate-level performance. Grades in the “A” range will be reserved for students who perform exceptionally well in all components of the course. Grades in the “C” range is an indication of below satisfactory performance, with marks of “C-“and below not counted toward a student’s degree requirements. Students receiving grades of “C+” or lower on assignments are urged to meet with the instructor at the earliest opportunity to identify potential problems and develop strategies for improvement.
According to University policy, a “G” grade is to be given only for the following exceptional cases: 1) extended absence for physical reasons or where extenuating circumstances warrant the temporary award of a “G” grade; and, 2) temporary absence of the instructor during the period reserved for examination and the reporting of grades under University rules.
Disability Statement