What work do you hope to do with OD? What career goals, if any, do you have for OD? I am truly back at school and pursing this Master’s Program as I have a strong love of learning and during much of my career, I have been part of teams that provide OD support, especially around Change Management. During the summer, I actually became quite frustrated with how some changes were being handled and little methodology and practice was being used around the change process. It was in that moment that I committed to learning more about credentialing myself in the field of OD.
From your completion of the Self-Assessment Tool for OD Competencies by Worley, Rothwell, and Sullivan, what developmental needs may be met through participation in this course and this program? After completion of the OD Self-Assessment Tool, I was pleasantly surprised that I did not rate myself as having any very great needs for professional development. The highest level I had was a 3. With 16+ years of experience, I have learned so much in the workplace and through being a part of many OD practices and change within my company. Where I want to focus my deeper learning is around the best ways to capture data, utilize data and research methods. Additionally, going deeper with frameworks and learning from others experiences. I am also intrigued with timeframes. In my experience, many change experiences are not given enough time for solid preparation and success. How does one work within that environment to deliver well, when time is never enough.
What do you want to do at the end of this course? This is my first semester of the program and I am taking 3 classes this semester. It will take me about 3 years to complete the full Master’s Program. I am taking each assignment to heart and trying to learn and apply something to my workplace. I have created a weekly moment with my team called Lynda’s Learnings and I am sharing a new nugget or story from what I am learning and how it might help them in their role. My biggest desire from this class and the program is greatly about application. I want to learn from others, hear more about how other companies handle change management and OD topics. The more storytelling, the better.
Do you plan to be in the online MPS in Organization Development and Change (MPS in ODC) degree program? I believe that is the program I was accepted into late this summer, unless there is a different program that I was not aware of – I was accepted into the The Penn State World Campus Master’s in Org Devt and Change.