ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR A DIVERSE 21^ST CENTURY WORKPLACE

DATES:

            Thursday, April 2, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
            Friday, April 3, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
            Saturday, April 4, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

INSTRUCTOR:  
           Alicia Lewis, Ph.D.
           Personal Office Phone:
           E-mail: lewis_alicia@msn.com

1 CREDIT: SOC 403

CATALOG LISTING:  SOC 403 WS: SOC 403 WS: Organizational Development & Strategic Planning for a Diverse 21^st Century Workplace 

CRN: 57160

LOCATION:  AD 336

DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this workshop is to provide participants with 15 contract hours of instructions in both theoretical and applied frameworks of cultural competency though the practices of organizational development and the strategic planning process for the workplace. Participants will engage in hands-on experiences designed to explore and challenge their intercultural competence as well as their understanding of fundamental development and change in the workplace.

Now more than ever, the workplace is highly sophisticated and requires employees to be more aware, strategically communicative, and culturally competent. Organizations participate in strategic planning processes which require a great deal of preparation, organization, and descriptive feedback from internal organization participants and external partners, collaborators, and stakeholders. When the strategic planning process is engaged honestly, with full participation and support from team members, and rigorously guided by an experienced facilitator, the organization has the potential to obtain:

• Stronger communication processes both inside and outside the organization.

• Enhanced efficiencies in overall organizational development.

• Greater focus and precision in executing goals and objectives.

• Organizational and professional development and clarity about what needs to be accomplished and how an organizational goes about achieving such accomplishments.

The strategic planning process anchors and supports a vision, mission, goals, and objectives as a part of “the big picture.” Inevitably, these guiding principles obtained through a “meeting of the minds” assist the harmonious fluidity, innovation, and creativity of the day-to-day activities and tasks completed by an organizational unit. At the same time, a strategic plan is not tightly preferred. Strategic planning is a process whose natural byproduct is organizational development. One of the more favorable outcomes of this process then, is to create and sustain an accommodating framework to guide optimal functioning for an organizational unit, complete with professionals who hold high cultural competence and advanced communication strategies. When an organizational system, structure, strategies, goals, and values are not properly aligned, communication strategies are aversive and poor, and cultural competency is low, performance processes and outcomes will likely suffer.

This workshop will explore total systems change by examining organizational diversity and intercultural communication as an essential element to worker efficiency and healthier organizational function. Participants will engage in a strategic planning process and explore both organizational climate and culture through interaction of aversive attitudes and behaviors—all of which directly contribute and support continuous improvement of interculturally competent professionals in today’s workplace.

REQUIREMENTS:

Full attendance during all sessions is required. Further course and evaluation procedures and requirements will be discussed during the first day of workshop activities.

To earn one credit towards the certificate, students must register for the workshop credit PRIOR to attending and complete all requirements as explained by the instructor.  Students must receive permission for the workshop credit from John Mihelich.  He can be contacted via email: jmihelic@uidaho.edu

 
© John Mihelich, Debbie Storrs