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Professor Jaco Lok
How do you lead your organisation when today’s work environment is so competitive and complex? When you become responsible for leading an organisation, your most important leadership challenge will be enabling your organisation to deliver on its strategy while ensuring it remains sufficiently agile. This course will prepare you to tackle this challenge. You will examine what organisational culture is, the primary organisational structures, and what we mean by ‘systems’, before building on your foundational knowledge and taking a more strategic perspective. The structured learning activities that complement this course (video lectures, quizzes, discussion prompts and written assessments) will not only prepare you to take your organisation forward in a more strategic direction, but to make better decisions along the way.
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What's inside
Syllabus
Organisational alignment
Welcome to your first week of the Know your organisation course. Have you ever wondered what it means to be more strategic as a leader? What differentiates a leader from a strategic leader? Of course, this label can mean all sorts of things; some people seem to have started using it simply because it sounds good! But when it comes to leading an organisation, being "strategic" does have a specific meaning. It is about ensuring that your organisation is fully focused on executing its business strategy. What does this involve exactly? How do you make sure that your organisation can deliver on the business strategy? This week you learn to understand the organisation as consisting of a number of elements: people, structure, culture, and systems. Each of these elements will be covered in depth in weeks 2-5 of the course. In this first week, you will take a broader perspective across them as a basis for understanding the importance of aligning them in such a way that they can enable the execution of the business strategy. This focus on alignment brings us to the central concept for this week: key capabilities. This week you will learn what key capabilities are, why they are so important for strategically focusing your organisation, and how you can identify them. If you learn to master the ability to clearly define a set of key capabilities for any given strategy, and are able to align your organisation to these, you will become a truly effective leader, worthy of the term "strategic".
Read more
Syllabus
Organisational alignment
Welcome to your first week of the Know your organisation course. Have you ever wondered what it means to be more strategic as a leader? What differentiates a leader from a strategic leader? Of course, this label can mean all sorts of things; some people seem to have started using it simply because it sounds good! But when it comes to leading an organisation, being "strategic" does have a specific meaning. It is about ensuring that your organisation is fully focused on executing its business strategy. What does this involve exactly? How do you make sure that your organisation can deliver on the business strategy? This week you learn to understand the organisation as consisting of a number of elements: people, structure, culture, and systems. Each of these elements will be covered in depth in weeks 2-5 of the course. In this first week, you will take a broader perspective across them as a basis for understanding the importance of aligning them in such a way that they can enable the execution of the business strategy. This focus on alignment brings us to the central concept for this week: key capabilities. This week you will learn what key capabilities are, why they are so important for strategically focusing your organisation, and how you can identify them. If you learn to master the ability to clearly define a set of key capabilities for any given strategy, and are able to align your organisation to these, you will become a truly effective leader, worthy of the term "strategic".
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Examines systems and how they work to control performance and risk
Covers a range of topics fundamental to organizational management: culture, structure, human resources, and systems
Taught by Jaco Lok, a respected professor in this field
Provides a framework for diagnosing organizational issues and developing solutions
Analyzes organizational culture and its impact on strategic execution
May require learners to have some foundational knowledge in organizational management
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Reviews summary
Strategic organizational design foundations
According to students, this course offers a solid foundation and a strategic perspective on organisational design. Many found the frameworks and tools provided to be practical and applicable to their professional roles, particularly for understanding how elements like structure, culture, and systems align with business strategy. While the course is generally well-received and considered insightful, some learners felt it could be too basic for experienced professionals or lacked depth in certain areas, suggesting it serves better as an introduction or refresher. The syllabus is well-structured, guiding learners through key concepts week by week.
Logical flow through key OD areas.
"The course is well-structured, building week upon week from alignment to culture, structure, systems, and HRM."
"I appreciated the logical progression of topics, making it easy to follow the concepts."
"The syllabus clearly lays out the journey from diagnosis to solutions development."
Offers a solid introduction to OD concepts.
"This course provided me with a strong foundation in organisational design principles."
"I gained a solid foundation from completing this course; it covers the essential elements."
"It's a great starting point for anyone new to thinking about organisational strategy and design."
Provides a valuable strategic viewpoint.
"This course really helped me think more strategically about how different parts of the organisation fit together."
"It shifted my perspective on leading an organisation, focusing on strategic alignment."
"Understanding key capabilities and aligning the organisation to them was a key takeaway."
Offers applicable tools and frameworks.
"The frameworks provided, such as the 4-step process for structure, were incredibly useful and applicable."
"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."
"The diagnostic tool for identifying culture type was a highlight for me; very insightful."
Could be too basic for experienced learners.
"While good for beginners, experienced practitioners might find some parts too theoretical or high-level."
"I was hoping for more in-depth case studies or advanced concepts, but it stayed fairly foundational."
"Some topics felt briefly covered; I needed to seek external resources for deeper understanding."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Organisational design: Know your organisation with these
activities:
Review principles of organizational behavior
Show steps
Strengthen your understanding of human behavior in organizations to better lead and manage your team.
Browse courses on
Organizational Behavior
Show steps
-
Review key concepts of organizational behavior, such as motivation, communication, and conflict management.
-
Reflect on how these concepts apply to your own experiences in organizations.
-
Identify areas where you can enhance your leadership and management skills based on your understanding of organizational behavior.
Conduct a SWOT analysis of your organization
Show steps
Develop a thorough understanding of your organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Browse courses on
SWOT Analysis
Show steps
-
Identify the internal and external factors that affect your organization.
-
Analyze the factors to identify the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
-
Develop recommendations for leveraging the strengths, addressing the weaknesses, capitalizing on the opportunities, and mitigating the threats.
Review 'Corporate Culture and Performance'
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of the impact of organizational culture on performance and strategic alignment.
View
Corporate Culture and Performance
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read and summarize the key concepts presented in the book.
-
Identify the key takeaways that are most relevant to your organization's culture.
-
Develop a plan for implementing changes to your organization's culture to improve performance.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Explore case studies on effective organizational restructuring
Show steps
Gain insights from real-world examples of successful organizational restructuring to inform your own decision-making.
Show steps
-
Identify case studies of companies that have undergone successful organizational restructuring.
-
Analyze the case studies to understand the key factors that contributed to the success of the restructuring.
-
Apply the lessons learned to your own organization's restructuring plans.
Develop a presentation on best practices in strategic leadership
Show steps
Enhance your leadership skills by researching and presenting on effective strategic leadership practices.
Browse courses on
Strategic Leadership
Show steps
-
Research best practices in strategic leadership.
-
Identify the key principles and frameworks that underpin effective strategic leadership.
-
Develop a presentation that clearly communicates these principles and frameworks.
-
Present your findings to a group of peers or colleagues.
Develop a strategic plan for your organization
Show steps
Apply the concepts learned in the course to create a comprehensive strategic plan for your organization.
Browse courses on
Strategic Planning
Show steps
-
Define the organization's mission, vision, and values.
-
Conduct an environmental scan to identify opportunities and threats.
-
Develop a set of strategic goals and objectives.
-
Identify the resources and capabilities needed to achieve the strategic goals.
-
Develop an implementation plan and timeline.
Participate in a non-profit organization related to organizational development
Show steps
Gain practical experience in applying organizational development principles to real-world challenges.
Browse courses on
Organizational Development
Show steps
-
Identify a non-profit organization that focuses on organizational development.
-
Contact the organization and express your interest in volunteering.
-
Participate in projects and initiatives that support the organization's mission.
-
Reflect on your experiences and identify the lessons learned that can be applied to your own leadership and management roles.
Review principles of organizational behavior
Show steps
Strengthen your understanding of human behavior in organizations to better lead and manage your team.
Browse courses on
Organizational Behavior
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review key concepts of organizational behavior, such as motivation, communication, and conflict management.
- Reflect on how these concepts apply to your own experiences in organizations.
- Identify areas where you can enhance your leadership and management skills based on your understanding of organizational behavior.
Conduct a SWOT analysis of your organization
Show steps
Develop a thorough understanding of your organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Browse courses on
SWOT Analysis
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify the internal and external factors that affect your organization.
- Analyze the factors to identify the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
- Develop recommendations for leveraging the strengths, addressing the weaknesses, capitalizing on the opportunities, and mitigating the threats.
Review 'Corporate Culture and Performance'
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of the impact of organizational culture on performance and strategic alignment.
View
Corporate Culture and Performance
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read and summarize the key concepts presented in the book.
- Identify the key takeaways that are most relevant to your organization's culture.
- Develop a plan for implementing changes to your organization's culture to improve performance.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Explore case studies on effective organizational restructuring
Show steps
Gain insights from real-world examples of successful organizational restructuring to inform your own decision-making.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify case studies of companies that have undergone successful organizational restructuring.
- Analyze the case studies to understand the key factors that contributed to the success of the restructuring.
- Apply the lessons learned to your own organization's restructuring plans.
Develop a presentation on best practices in strategic leadership
Show steps
Enhance your leadership skills by researching and presenting on effective strategic leadership practices.
Browse courses on
Strategic Leadership
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research best practices in strategic leadership.
- Identify the key principles and frameworks that underpin effective strategic leadership.
- Develop a presentation that clearly communicates these principles and frameworks.
- Present your findings to a group of peers or colleagues.
Develop a strategic plan for your organization
Show steps
Apply the concepts learned in the course to create a comprehensive strategic plan for your organization.
Browse courses on
Strategic Planning
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Define the organization's mission, vision, and values.
- Conduct an environmental scan to identify opportunities and threats.
- Develop a set of strategic goals and objectives.
- Identify the resources and capabilities needed to achieve the strategic goals.
- Develop an implementation plan and timeline.
Participate in a non-profit organization related to organizational development
Show steps
Gain practical experience in applying organizational development principles to real-world challenges.
Browse courses on
Organizational Development
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a non-profit organization that focuses on organizational development.
- Contact the organization and express your interest in volunteering.
- Participate in projects and initiatives that support the organization's mission.
- Reflect on your experiences and identify the lessons learned that can be applied to your own leadership and management roles.
Career center
Learners who complete Organisational design: Know your organisation will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Organizational Development Consultant
Organizational Development Consultant
As an Organizational Development Consultant, you will work to improve the effectiveness of organizations by studying and improving organizational structures and processes. Organizational design is a vital part of organizational development, and this course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to excel as an Organizational Development Consultant. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve strategic goals. You will also learn how to diagnose organizational problems and develop solutions to improve performance.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Manager
As a Human Resources Manager, you will be responsible for managing the human resources of an organization. This includes recruiting, hiring, training, and developing employees, as well as administering benefits and compensation programs. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization's workforce. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve strategic goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement HR policies and procedures that support the organization's mission and values.
Management Consultant
Management Consultant
As a Management Consultant, you will help organizations improve their performance by providing advice and guidance on a variety of topics, including organizational design and strategy. This course will give you the knowledge and skills you need to excel as a Management Consultant. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve strategic goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement organizational change initiatives.
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
As a Business Analyst, you will work with organizations to analyze their business processes and systems and identify opportunities for improvement. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve strategic goals. You will also learn how to use data analysis techniques to identify and solve business problems.
Project Manager
Project Manager
As a Project Manager, you will be responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This includes developing project plans, managing budgets, and timelines, and communicating with stakeholders. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of a project team. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve project goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement project management plans and budgets.
Operations Manager
Operations Manager
As an Operations Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of an organization. This includes managing staff, processes, and budgets. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve operational goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement operational plans and budgets.
Change Manager
Change Manager
As a Change Manager, you will work with organizations to implement change initiatives. This includes developing change plans, managing stakeholder resistance, and communicating change to employees. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization undergoing change. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve change goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement change management plans and strategies.
Training and Development Manager
Training and Development Manager
As a Training and Development Manager, you will be responsible for developing and delivering training programs for employees. This includes assessing training needs, developing curriculum, and evaluating training effectiveness. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization's workforce. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve training and development goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement training and development plans and programs.
Organizational Psychologist
Organizational Psychologist
As an Organizational Psychologist, you will work with organizations to improve employee performance and well-being. This includes conducting research on organizational behavior, developing and implementing interventions, and providing consultation to managers. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization's workforce. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve organizational psychology goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement organizational psychology interventions and programs.
Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
As an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, you will work with organizations to improve employee performance and well-being. This includes conducting research on organizational behavior, developing and implementing interventions, and providing consultation to managers. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization's workforce. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve industrial-organizational psychology goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement industrial-organizational psychology interventions and programs.
Workforce Planner
Workforce Planner
As a Workforce Planner, you will work with organizations to develop and implement workforce plans. This includes forecasting labor demand, developing recruitment and retention strategies, and managing workforce costs. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization's workforce. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve workforce planning goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement workforce plans and strategies.
Compensation and Benefits Manager
Compensation and Benefits Manager
As a Compensation and Benefits Manager, you will be responsible for developing and administering compensation and benefits programs for employees. This includes conducting salary surveys, designing compensation plans, and managing employee benefits. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization's workforce. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve compensation and benefits goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement compensation and benefits plans and programs.
Recruiter
Recruiter
As a Recruiter, you will be responsible for attracting, screening, and hiring new employees. This includes developing recruitment strategies, posting job openings, and conducting interviews. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization's workforce. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve recruitment goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement recruitment strategies and plans.
Talent Manager
Talent Manager
As a Talent Manager, you will be responsible for developing and managing the talent pool of an organization. This includes identifying and attracting top talent, developing employee training and development programs, and managing employee performance. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization's workforce. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve talent management goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement talent management strategies and plans.
Performance Manager
Performance Manager
As a Performance Manager, you will be responsible for developing and implementing performance management systems for employees. This includes setting performance goals, conducting performance reviews, and providing feedback to employees. This course will help you build a strong foundation in organizational design, which is essential for understanding the needs and challenges of an organization's workforce. You will learn about different organizational structures, cultures, and systems, and how to align them to achieve performance management goals. You will also learn how to develop and implement performance management systems and plans.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/0kv4ty/organisational
Reading list
We've selected 26 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Organisational design: Know your organisation.
Provides a comprehensive overview of organizational culture and its impact on leadership. It classic work in the field and is highly recommended for anyone interested in understanding how culture shapes organizational behavior.
Provides a more in-depth look at the challenges of disruptive innovation, and offers a framework for overcoming them.
Provides a framework for developing and using a human resource (HR) scorecard to align HR practices with business strategy. It valuable resource for HR professionals and business leaders who want to improve the effectiveness of their HR function.
Provides a framework for understanding cultural differences and their impact on business. It valuable resource for anyone who works in a global environment.
Provides a practical guide to using lean principles to develop and launch new products.
Provides a framework for understanding cultural differences in the workplace. It valuable resource for business leaders who want to improve their cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills.
Challenges traditional management practices and offers a more agile and innovative approach to organizational design.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the process of starting and growing a successful startup.
Provides a comprehensive overview of organizational structure and its impact on performance. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in understanding how to design an effective organizational structure.
Provides a practical guide to using systems thinking to solve complex problems. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in understanding how to lead change in organizations.
Save
Classic in the field of organizational learning. It provides a framework for creating organizations that are able to continuously learn and adapt.
Provides an in-depth look at the Toyota Production System (TPS). TPS set of principles and practices that have helped Toyota become one of the most successful manufacturers in the world.
Provides a simple and effective framework for understanding and overcoming the challenges of teamwork.
Provides a comprehensive overview of strategic human resource management and its impact on organizational performance. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in understanding how to manage people effectively.
Save
Provides a framework for developing good strategy. It valuable resource for leaders who want to improve their strategic planning skills.
Provides a framework for understanding why large organizations often fail to innovate. It valuable resource for leaders who want to create more innovative organizations.
Save
Provides a fascinating look at the science of habit formation, and offers practical advice on how to change our habits for the better.
Provides a framework for developing and testing new products and services. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs and innovators who want to increase their chances of success.
Provides a framework for building successful startups. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who want to create new products and services that change the world.
Save
Provides a new understanding of what motivates people, and offers practical advice on how to create a more motivating workplace.
Save
Provides a framework for acquiring customers for new businesses. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses quickly and efficiently.
Provides a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of building a successful startup. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who want to learn from the mistakes of others.
Provides a timeless framework for personal and professional effectiveness.
Provides a framework for marketing and selling technology products to mainstream customers. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs and marketers who want to reach a larger audience.
Provides a framework for developing and selling disruptive technologies. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs and innovators who want to create new products and services that change the world.
Save
Provides a framework for creating a more agile and responsive organization. It valuable resource for leaders who want to improve the performance of their organizations in a rapidly changing world.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/0kv4ty/organisational
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Effort
6 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
Macquarie University
Instructor
Professor Jaco Lok
Language
English
Transcripts
Español
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آذربایجان دیلی
This course belongs to a
collection
called
Leading: Human Resource Management and Leadership. It's comprised of four courses:
- Adapt your leadership style
- Organisational design: Know your organisation (viewing)
- Organisational behaviour: Know your people
- Visionary leadership, identity & motivation: Become a meaning maker
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