Time to Reorganize! Understand Organizations, Act, and Build a Meaningful World. from Coursera

We are in constant relationship with many organizations. Our world is submitted to regular changes as organizations evolve, come and go. Understanding your memberships and attachments to organizations will help you act on your world. You'll learn how to evaluate the influence of organizations around you and how to transform your relationships to reach a stronger coherence.

Do you feel sometime that the world around you is disorganized? Can you make sense of all the information at your reach and have an impact on this situation? Have you ever thought that this conundrum may be due to all the organizations that emerge, strive or wane, and disappear every day?

Organizations are ubiquitous, from clubs and associations to firms and public agencies. Organizations confer meaning to all of us, and our attachment and membership to organizations have a profound effect on all areas of our lives. But in our increasingly turbulent world, these organizations run the risk of disappearing or losing their legitimacy, steering a sense of pointlessness and absurdity.

This course develops an integrative approach to understanding organizations and their behaviors, termed ‘orgology’. It explains that organizations can act strategically to protect and renew the sense of membership and attachment of individuals. So doing, organizations that survive and thrive impose their logics of action onto society, thereby influencing what is legitimate or not.

In turn, individuals, you, all of us, must reinterpret our multiple associations with organizations and contribute to reinforce or inhibit social evolutions. This new way of understanding organizations’ relationships with society results in reconsidering management and the role of individuals in building their future.

There is no prerequisite to this course, you are all welcome ! Students and people interested in the fields of management, sociology, strategy, economics leadership etc… will benefit a lot from this course.

For the session of this course starting on January 11th, Professor Rodolphe Durand will actively be participating and interacting with learners. He will be offering "office hours" sessions through google hangouts and answering learner questions from the forums. We hope this direct interaction will add to your learner experience! Please enroll today!

What's inside

Syllabus

Our World is “Organizational”

We present and study how organizations influence our own identities and analyze the means by which we, as individuals, are taking part into this process.

When an Organizations-based World Gets Disorganized

Let's explore the public space that is where we meet organizations and where they interact. Organizations follow sets of rules and practices that are of prime concern to them, to us, and to society: the logics of actions.

Competition and Competitive Advantage

Competition among and between organizations leads to regular occurrences of disorganization. We’ll present and discuss the sources of competitive advantage, and the meaning of performance and competition.

Understanding Change: Time to Reorganize

How to define your attachments and memberships in this organizational world? What are the various paths of actions that are opened to you following different situations? What is and how to use management?

Final Article Quizzes and Final Exam

Description goes here

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the impact of organizations on our identities and how we participate in this process

Examines the public space where organizations interact and the rules they follow

Discusses the sources of competitive advantage and the meaning of performance and competition

Provides strategies for defining attachments and memberships in the organizational world

Develops an understanding of management and its role in shaping the future

Offers the opportunity to interact with the instructor through Google Hangouts and forums

Reviews summary

Challenging, but insightful course

According to students, this insightful course is challenging. Engaging assignments and resources are included, but the peer-review grading process could be improved.

Interesting and challenging assignments

"The course is highly technical and resourceful."

"Though tasking, but interesting and demanding."

Thought-provoking and engaging content

"very interesting"

"super MOOC !!!!!!"

"The course is highly technical and resourceful. Though tasking, but interesting and demanding."

Peer-review grading process could be improved

"The peer review grading should be accelerated just like the quiz sessions."

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 Time to Reorganize! Understand Organizations, Act, and Build a Meaningful World. with these activities:

Review concepts in organizational structures and behavior

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Prepare yourself for success by reviewing key concepts in organizational behavior to build a strong foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Organizational Structures

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Review your notes from previous courses in organizational behavior or management.
Read introductory chapters of the course textbook or other relevant resources.
Summarize the key concepts and theories related to organizational behavior.

Analyze and interpret organizational charts

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Practice analyzing organizational charts to understand the structure and hierarchy of organizations, a foundational skill for understanding organizational behavior.

Browse courses on Organizational Structures

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Obtain organizational charts from various organizations or online resources.
Identify and analyze the different levels and positions within the organization.
Interpret the relationships between different departments and units.

Discuss case studies on organizational change

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Enhance your understanding of organizational change by discussing real-world case studies with peers, fostering critical thinking and collaboration.

Browse courses on Organizational Change

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Form a study group with classmates or connect with peers online.
Select a case study on organizational change and read it thoroughly.
Meet with your group to discuss the case study, analyzing the causes, consequences, and implications of the change.
Prepare a brief presentation on your group's analysis to share with the class.

Five other activities

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Volunteer in an organization to gain practical experience

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Bridge the gap between theory and practice by volunteering in an organization, observing and participating in real-world organizational behavior.

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Identify an organization that aligns with your interests and career goals.
Research the organization and its mission to ensure a good fit.
Apply for a volunteer position and go through the necessary screening process.
Actively participate in the organization's activities and projects.
Reflect on your experiences and how they relate to the concepts covered in the course.

Develop a blog post on a current trend in organizational behavior

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Solidify your understanding by researching and writing about a current trend in organizational behavior, staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the field.

Browse courses on Future of Work

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Identify a current trend in organizational behavior through research and industry news.
Gather data and insights from credible sources.
Organize and write a well-structured blog post that presents your findings and analysis.
Share your blog post on relevant platforms or submit it for publication.

Design an organizational intervention plan

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Apply your understanding of organizational behavior to a real-world problem by designing an intervention plan to improve organizational performance or address challenges.

Browse courses on Organizational Development

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Identify an organizational problem or opportunity through research and observation.
Analyze the root causes of the problem and develop a comprehensive intervention plan.
Outline the implementation process, including timelines, resources, and roles and responsibilities.
Evaluate the potential impact and outcomes of your intervention.
Prepare a detailed report or presentation that outlines your intervention plan.

Launch a personal leadership development project

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Apply the principles of organizational behavior to your own personal growth by embarking on a leadership development project, setting goals and tracking progress.

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Set specific and achievable leadership development goals.
Identify areas for improvement and develop a plan for growth.
Seek feedback and support from mentors, peers, or coaches.
Regularly reflect on your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Present your project outcomes and share your learnings.

Mentor junior students in the field of organizational behavior

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Reinforce your understanding by sharing your knowledge and supporting the development of junior students in the field, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Reach out to junior students through university programs or online platforms.
Offer guidance and support on topics related to organizational behavior, career planning, and personal development.
Provide feedback on assignments, projects, or research papers.
Network and connect students with professionals in the field.

Career center

Learners who complete Time to Reorganize! Understand Organizations, Act, and Build a Meaningful World. will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Organizational Development Manager

Organizational Development Managers work to improve the functioning of organizations. This course may help Organizational Development Managers develop the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in their roles. The course provides a broad overview of organizations, including their logics of actions, how they compete, and how they can change. It will also help Organizational Development Managers understand how to use management effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Manager

Strategy Consultant

Strategy Consultants work to develop and implement strategies for organizations. This course may help Strategy Consultants develop the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in their roles. The course provides a broad overview of organizations, including their logics of actions, how they compete, and how they can change. It will also help Strategy Consultants understand how to use management effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Strategy Consultant

Sociologist

Sociologists study human societies and social behavior. This course may help Sociologists develop a deeper understanding of the role that organizations play in society. In particular, the course examines how organizations influence individual identities and how individuals, in turn, participate in the shaping of organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sociologist

Public Administrator

Public Administrators work to manage the operations of government agencies. This course may help Public Administrators understand how to best manage their agencies and achieve their goals. In particular, learning how to define attachments and memberships in the organizational world and the various paths of actions that are available in different situations could be very helpful for Public Administrators.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Administrator

Grant Writer

Grant Writers work to secure funding for organizations, often through grants from government agencies and foundations. This course may help Grant Writers understand how to write effective proposals and tailor them to the specific needs of the organizations they are seeking funding from. For example, learning about the competitive advantage of different organizations and their performance will be helpful for Grant Writers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

Fundraiser

Fundraisers work to procure financial support for organizations, often through major gifts, grants, and donations. This course may help Fundraisers understand how to best approach the organizations they seek support from. The course can help Fundraisers understand the logics of actions of organizations and how to use management to achieve their goals.

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Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers work to oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations. This course may help Nonprofit Managers understand how to best manage their organizations and achieve their goals. In particular, learning how to define attachments and memberships in the organizational world and the various paths of actions that are available in different situations could be very helpful for Nonprofit Managers.

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Community Outreach Specialist

Community Outreach Specialists work to reduce and prevent social problems by organizing various programs and activities. This course may help Community Outreach Specialists more deeply understand the organizations within their communities and how to best form partnerships to help their clients succeed. The influential role that the course discusses that organizations play within our society and the study of the means by which individuals can influence such an impact may be particularly useful for Community Outreach Specialists to learn about in order to improve their outreach efforts.

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Editor

Editors work to ensure that written content is factually correct, consistent with editorial style, and appropriate for the target audience. This course may help Editors understand and analyze the types of organizations that exist and their effect on the written content that is produced. For example, learning about how organizations compete and their sources of competitive advantage, as discussed in the course, can be very helpful for Editors.

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Program Manager

Program Managers work to oversee the implementation of programs and projects. This course may help Program Managers develop the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in their roles. The course provides a broad overview of organizations, including their logics of actions, how they compete, and how they can change. It will also help Program Managers understand how to use management effectively.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers work to oversee the human resources department of an organization. This course may help Human Resources Managers, as it will help them better understand the organizations they work for and how to best manage their employees in response to changes in the organization's logics of actions. The course also provides a survey of the public space that is where we meet organizations and where they interact.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts work to develop and evaluate public policies. This course may help Policy Analysts understand the impact that organizations have on public policy. The course also covers how to understand change and how to reorganize. This knowledge can be useful for Policy Analysts who are working to develop policies that will have a positive impact on organizations.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants work to provide advice and guidance to organizations on how to improve their performance. This course may help Management Consultants by providing them with a deeper understanding of how organizations work and how to help them achieve their goals. The course material on understanding change and how to reorganize, in particular, could be very valuable for Management Consultants.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers work to oversee the sales operations of organizations. This course may help Sales Managers understand how to best manage their sales teams and achieve their goals. The course material on competition and competitive advantage will be particularly valuable for Sales Managers.

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Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts work to collect and analyze data on organizations and their markets. This course may help Market Research Analysts understand how to identify and collect the most useful data on organizations and their activities. The course also covers competition and competitive advantage, which is very relevant to the work that Market Research Analysts do on a daily basis.

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