MGT 6201 – Consultation Theory and Practice
Designed as a practicum experience that explores the role of consultants and leaders in bringing about organizational change. The course will describe and illustrate the three basic philosophies of consultation, as identified by Edgar Schein: Expert consultation, the physician model, and process consultation. The pros and cons of each approach will be examined, and students will apply course lessons in consulting with an actual client group and/or in case studies.
MGT 6220 – Designing Modern Change Interventions
Examines the issues that leaders and practitioners must consider when designing change initiatives and interventions. In particular, it will explore how postmodernism, social constructionism, and emergence have influenced modern organization development (OD) theory and practice. Design questions will consider both the size and complexity of organizations and other relevant contextural variables. Among the topics that will be covered are: organizational culture, systems theory, large group interventions, and idealized design.
MGT 6405 – Ethical Issues and Wholeness in Change Leadership
Explores the ethical responsibilities of organizational leaders and practitioners who design, guide, and implement change interventions or initiatives. It also considers the issue of practitioner wholeness and how living a divided life can contribute to ethical conflicts during times of rapid organizational change. Topics that will be covered include: Values, “use of self,” conscious vs. unconscious choice, ethical decision-making, and wholeness at the individual, group, and organizational levels.
MGT 6413 – Communication Across Cultural Boundaries
Examines the methods that leaders and change practitioners utilize in helping employees and client groups develop the awareness and skills necessary to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries. The course explores culture in its broadest sense, which includes cultural differences across/or within organizations, demographic categories, and nations. Particular attention will be paid to the roles of diversity and inclusivity in modern change initiatives and interventions.
MGT 6420 – Organizational Behavior
Explores the behavior of people within organizations in terms of the factors that most influence it. Those include factors related to individuals, groups, and the larger organization system. The course utilizes an experiential learning process that helps students understand their strengths and weaknesses as learners.
MGT 6430 – Organization Development
Serves as an introduction to the theory and practice of organization development (OD), also referred to as “planned change.” It emphasizes the historic evolution of OD, models of planned change, the dynamics of resistance to change, organizational culture, and the role of the OD consultant. The course also seeks to compare and contrast OD with other approaches to “change management” and to assess their relevance in organizations today.
MGT 6431 – Research Skills for Practitioners
Explores the research skills utilized by organization development practitioners and leaders who are responsible for organizational change. This course utilizes appropriate research methods to explore how often behaviors occur as well as why and how behaviors occur in our social world. It also prepares students to use writing as a means of engaging in critical thinking and high-level reasoning in presenting their research.
Joe Rembowicz
