At the beginning of the semester I questioned whether I have ever experienced the goal of change which is to improve my organization and my workplace by altering how work is done and/or possibly positively disrupting how my work is done so that we, the organization can reach a positive outcome. During my four month journey I’ve come to better understand and learn about the foundations of OD.
Multiple times I wrote notes in the column of my text book and included a post-it note for quick reference because I knew I could use this idea in my workplace. Some of the ideas included:
- Competencies for success (at work) and how to create a conceptual framework. After reviewing the steps and examples I quickly saw gaps in my own.
- Many resources and links that I want to follow up personally, professionally and ones to shae with my self-employed husband on National Trade and Professional Associations so that he could seek additional work. He is a graphic facilitator [www.colibrifacilitation.com]
- Levels of evaluation. This is an area that I also see gaps at work. We spend much more time planning and doing and do not spend enough time in the results, return and then next phase of necessary intervention.
- Change management performance and looking at how much value was received from the initiative / intervention organizationally, individually and overall performance of change management.
- Coaching teams for behavioral change: this is a big part of my current work. There are multiple pages with notes and a big handwritten star.
- Again in the team category, examining the team leader & creating a safe space for others to innovate is an area I can put into immediate action.
- Whole System Strategic Planning and the planning process agenda reminding me to look at the whole system and in breaking it down following a process
This is the first online class I have taken. I did my masters in a cohort group of 17 that met three days a month for classes and partnered in person for all group work. Although being in different time zones, even just 1 – 3 hours different while working long and very full days proved trying. In the end I learned and am learning a lot from my group. I often take the lead when I am part of a group and with missing the first case study found myself in a group that had started to figure out how to partner. I decided I would integrate and be a good team member. Everyone is highly competent and respectful. I am grateful that they understand APA which created a roadblock of time for me during the assignments. I now have a much better feel for APA and partnering at this level. Timing of my own availability continues to be my challenge with the group and homework in general.
I enjoyed Bill’s summaries at the end of each lesson which helped me pull the information together and/or repeated concepts allowing me to further absorb the content. I am a people person, so having a visual was really helpful. Unfortunately the extra credit webinars took place during my work day and I do not have a web camera, they are not allowed so I watched the screen and listened in to three of them. FYI…the last two video summaries show errors (for me) and would not play so I read the transcripts. There were a couple other videos that wouldn’t play that I also read the transcripts. I also found it confusing at times to understand if we were doing work in a group or solo. It would be helpful for first timers entering the program or individuals with ESL, to fully spell out on each assignment: independent assignment or team assignment.
I am ending this course, feeling full of ideas and concepts. I will continue to digest, use and integrate my learning. After taking the summer off I look forward to my next class in the certificate program.