Organisation Development PGCert

Program Overview

The Postgraduate Certificate in Organisation Development program aims to enhance participants' understanding of the role of Organization Development in improving organizational performance. The program focuses on applying knowledge to workplace practices, providing recognition for professionals in the field. Completion may also offer pathways to further education at the postgraduate diploma and master's degree levels.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Postgraduate Certificate in Organisation Development program aims to help participants understand the role of Organization Development in enhancing organizational performance.

Objectives:

• Explore the role of Organisation Development in enhancing the effectiveness of organisational performance.
• Provide professional recognition for those involved in the practice of Organisation Development.
• Apply knowledge and skills into one's own workplace practice.

Program Description:

• Draws on knowledge from disciplines of organization cultures, values and behaviors, organization change and improvement science, leadership and management, and systems thinking.
• Focuses on providing opportunities to apply knowledge and skills into your own workplace practice.
• Progression routes to Postgraduate Diploma and Master's Degree are available via the Professional Practice route.

Outline:

Course Structure:

• You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
• Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core Modules:

• Personal Learning and Development:
• Overview:
Mandatory module to raise self-awareness about your strengths, development needs, and the skills and knowledge you need to for your personal and professional development. This enables you to negotiate a programme of study that best fits your personal and professional development needs, with the support of a learning mentor.
• Duration, Attendance, and Delivery: The module course usually lasts 12 months and runs alongside your taught courses.
There is a face-to-face workshop at the start of the module and then the module learning consists of online self-study, online group mentoring, personal mentoring, reflection activities, and completion of a learning portfolio.
• Assessment: You will be assessed at the end of the module through submission of a learning portfolio that represents the progress of your learning from the beginning to the end of this module.
• Entry requirements: You will need to be in work (paid or unpaid) in a role which enables you to meet the requirements of the Postgraduate Certificate.
• Start dates: January, April, September
• Understanding Organisation Development:
• Topics: What is Organisation Development, history, perspectives, definitions; Theory and practice of Organisation Development; Organisation Development and its links to Business Strategy, HR Strategy, Systems thinking, Organisation learning; Models for understanding your own organisation; Developing organisation practice; The role of Organisation Development Practitioner - limits and possibilities
• Duration, Attendance, and Delivery:
The course usually lasts approximately 10 weeks. The delivery of this module is through our online+model for distance learning consisting of online learning, self-study, reflection, discussion and sharing learning with and from others, application of learning to your organisational context and the completion of assessment tasks. There is also the opportunity for students who value face-to-face workshops to attend optional themed workshops.
• Assessment: At the end of the course, you will undertake an assessment.
This is an applied work-based assessment rather than a theory-based essay.
• Entry requirements: This is a core course for students who are enrolled on the Postgraduate Certificate in Organisation Development.
• Dates: November, March
• Work-based Improvement and Innovation Project:
• Overview:
The project syllabus will be largely determined by the focus and nature of your project and will be agreed between you and your mentor-facilitator.
• Learning: Knowledge creation - identifying potential enquiry approaches suitable for work-based projects that deliver impact; Developing critical cognitive skills for questioning and challenging existing organisational ideas and practices; Developing clarity and consistency in communicating with a range of organisational and academic audiences; Exploring social and ethical challenges in changing organisational contexts

Optional Modules:

• Collaborative and Team Working:
This course will develop your critical understanding of the features of ‘high-performing teams’ and your skills working as a team leader or member.
• Topics: Key concepts, models and theories of team roles and dynamics; Frameworks for assessing and developing team performance; Impact of leadership on the performance and development of teams; Leadership skills and strategies; Collective leadership; Challenges of working with inter-agency and inter-professional teams
• Duration, Attendance, and Delivery:
The course usually lasts approximately 10 weeks. The delivery of this module is through our online+model for distance learning consisting of online learning, self-study, reflection, discussion and sharing learning with and from others, application of learning to your organisational context and the completion of assessment tasks. There is also the opportunity for students who value face-to-face workshops to attend optional themed workshops.
• Assessment: At the end of the course, you will undertake an assessment.
This is an applied work-based assessment rather than a theory-based essay.
• Entry requirements: You will need to be in a work role (paid or unpaid), which allows you the scope to put the concepts learned into practice.
• Start dates: November, May
• Creative Thinking and Problem Solving:
• Overview:
Creative thinking is the ability to imagine or invent something new and is a powerful skill in the work context spanning the spectrum of 'brilliant ideas' to 'better ways of doing things'. It can be closely linked to problem-solving. This course will help you develop your abilities and support you to develop a creative, innovative culture in your team.
• Topics: Concepts and models used to stimulate creative thinking; Frameworks for problem-solving; Work of experts such as Edward de Bono; Ideas such as ‘left and right brain thinking’, ‘six thinking hats’ and a ‘solution focus rather than a problem focus’
• Duration, Attendance, and Delivery:
The course usually lasts approximately 10 weeks. The delivery of this module is through our online+model for distance learning consisting of online learning, self-study, reflection, discussion and sharing learning with and from others, application of learning to your organisational context and the completion of assessment tasks. There is also the opportunity for students who value face-to-face workshops to attend optional themed workshops.
• Assessment: At the end of the course, you will undertake an assessment.
This is an applied work-based assessment rather than a theory-based essay.
• Entry requirements: You will need to be in a work role (paid or unpaid), which allows you the scope to put the concepts learned into practice.
• Start dates: February, November
• Leading and Managing People:
• Duration, Attendance, and Delivery: The course usually lasts approximately 10 weeks.
The delivery of this module is through our online+model for distance learning consisting of online learning, self-study, reflection, discussion and sharing learning with and from others, application of learning to your organisational context and the completion of assessment tasks. There is also the opportunity for students who value face-to-face workshops to attend optional themed workshops.
• Assessment: At the end of the course, you will undertake an assessment.
This is an applied work-based assessment rather than a theory-based essay.
• Entry requirements: You will need to be in a work role (paid or unpaid), which allows you the scope to put the concepts learned into practice.
• Start dates: June, November
• Models for Planning Change:
• Overview:
Develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of strategies through which work-based change may be achieved; Enhance your ability to select and apply work-based change models to suit your own organisation context; Explore factors affecting the adoption of change in organisations including power, ethics, culture and resourcing implications; Designing and planning a change project
• Duration, Attendance, and Delivery:
The course usually lasts approximately 10 weeks. The delivery of this module is through our online+model for distance learning consisting of online learning, self-study, reflection, discussion and sharing learning with and from others, application of learning to your organisational context and the completion of assessment tasks. There is also the opportunity for students who value face-to-face workshops to attend optional themed workshops.
• Assessment: At the end of the course, you will undertake an assessment.
This is an applied work-based assessment rather than a theory-based essay.
• Entry requirements: You will need to be in a work role (paid or unpaid) which allows you the scope to put the concepts learned into practice.
• Start dates: February, September, June

Assessment:

• Assessment methods are primarily based on applied work-based assessments, such as reflective accounts, project reports, presentations, or portfolios of evidence, all being the equivalent of 2000 words in length.

Teaching: