Accountability and Employee Engagement from Coursera

Being a successful leader in complex technical organization requires being ultimately accountable for your team’s performance and meeting commitments to all your stakeholders. This second Leading Technical Organizations course, "Accountability and Employee Engagement", explores how organizational leaders use different decision-making processes for different situations and that they are ultimately accountable for all results. You will also learn how a company’s culture affects strategy, risk and meeting stakeholder commitments.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

What's inside

Syllabus

Personal Accountability, Team Accountability and Culture of Accountability

This module leads off the second course in the Leading Technical Organizations Specialization that is the third specialization in the University of Colorado’s (CU’s) Engineering Management Program (EMP) leadership progression. This module explorers personal accountability, team accountability and how those contribute to an overall culture of accountability. Learners will study how great leaders, who are truly personally accountable, not allow excuses to veil their accountability for their results.

Strategic Decisions and Big Picture Business Risks

This module examines the processes of making decisions both big and small. It will look at the biases that every individual has and explorer ways to detect biases and minimize their impact on your decisions. We will explorer a couple different models for making classifying different types of decisions and following a structured process for making strategic decisions. With big decisions comes risk, you will learn how to evaluate the likelihood versus consequences to enable informed risk management choices.

Leading Change and the Power of Culture

There is nothing more powerful in the workplace that its culture and changing culture can be one of the most difficult missions for leaders to undertake. In this module, Guest Speaker Brynn Watson will share her knowledge of Leading Change & the Power of Culture. Brynn retired in April of 2022 as Vice President of Enterprise Innovation & Digital Transformation for Lockheed Martin Corporation. We will then delve into strategies for changing culture by looking at a couple of ways to model and evaluate culture and culture change.

Mediation, Negotiation and Dealing with Challenging Situations

This module explores conflict in the workplace. Effectively resolving conflict and mediating solutions that find a middle ground is an extremely valuable leadership skill. Learners will be introduced to strategies for engaging in crucial conversations and will hear how empathy can build trust and lead to a better outcome to a challenging situation.

Being an Authentic Leader

In this final module of "Accountability and Employee Engagement", learners will delve into how being an authentic leader can greatly enhance trust with their team. Key to being an authentic leader is making ethical decisions. A guest speaker, T.J. Hasty, shares his views on ethical decision making in business that were shaped by years of military service followed by years of experience in corporate legal assignments. For learners taking the course for credit, the module ends with a culminating peer- reviewed paper.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Tailored for leaders and managers in technical organizations, focusing on accountability and employee engagement

Explores the relationship between personal accountability, team accountability, and organizational culture

Provides insights into strategic decision-making processes, risk management, leading change, and conflict resolution

Features guest speakers with expertise in culture change and ethical decision-making

Emphasizes the importance of authentic leadership and ethical behavior

Requires learners to engage with a peer-reviewed paper on ethical decision-making

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 Accountability and Employee Engagement with these activities:

Organize and Prepare Study Materials

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Enhance focus and retention by organizing notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams from the course.

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Gather and collect all relevant course materials.
Sort and categorize materials by topic or module.
Create a logical and structured system for organizing materials.
Review and consolidate materials regularly to strengthen understanding.

Delve into 'Decision-Making Strategies' Tutorials

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Enhance decision-making abilities by exploring tutorials on various frameworks and models for effective decision-making.

Browse courses on Decision-Making

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Identify reputable sources for decision-making tutorials.
Follow step-by-step guidance on specific frameworks and models.
Practice applying these models to real-life scenarios.
Evaluate the effectiveness of different decision-making approaches.

Explore 'Leading Change' by John P. Kotter

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Gain insights into effective change management strategies and develop skills for leading successful transformations.

View HBR's 10 Must Reads for Executive Teams on Amazon

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Read and analyze key chapters on change management principles and models.
Identify and apply concepts to real-world scenarios.
Summarize and present key takeaways to peers or colleagues.

Five other activities

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Engage in Discussion Forums on Course Content

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Foster collaboration and deepen understanding by actively participating in discussions, sharing perspectives, and engaging with peers.

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Actively participate in online discussion forums.
Contribute thoughtful questions, comments, and insights.
Engage with peers and respond to their contributions.
Seek clarification and share knowledge with others.

Develop a Risk Management Plan

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Apply course concepts to practical scenarios by creating a comprehensive risk management plan, identifying risks, and developing mitigation strategies.

Browse courses on Risk Management

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Identify potential risks and their likelihood and impact.
Develop and evaluate risk mitigation strategies.
Create a comprehensive risk management plan.
Present the plan and seek feedback from peers or industry professionals.

Share Knowledge as a Peer Mentor

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Enhance your understanding by guiding and supporting fellow learners, reinforcing concepts, and developing leadership skills.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify opportunities to mentor fellow students.
Provide guidance, support, and encouragement.
Share knowledge and insights from your own learning experience.
Facilitate discussions and encourage critical thinking.

Attend a Workshop on Conflict Resolution

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Develop essential skills for effectively managing conflicts, fostering collaboration, and maintaining positive relationships in the workplace.

Browse courses on Conflict Resolution

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Identify and register for a relevant workshop on conflict resolution.
Actively participate in the workshop and engage with facilitators.
Practice conflict resolution techniques and strategies.
Reflect on the workshop experience and apply learnings to real-world scenarios.

Participate in a Business Case Competition

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Test your abilities, collaborate with teammates, and gain practical experience by participating in a business case competition that simulates real-world challenges.

Browse courses on Problem Solving

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Identify and register for a suitable business case competition.
Form a team and assign roles and responsibilities.
Analyze the case, conduct research, and develop a comprehensive solution.
Present your solution and defend your recommendations to a panel of judges.
Reflect on the competition experience, identify areas for improvement, and transfer learnings to your professional development.

Career center

Learners who complete Accountability and Employee Engagement will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Engineering Director

Engineering Directors are responsible for leading teams of engineers in the development of technical products. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Engineering Directors develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Engineering Directors who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Director

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Data Scientists develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Data Scientists who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business problems and develop solutions. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Business Analysts develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Business Analysts who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Project Managers develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Project Managers who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Product Managers develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Product Managers who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of an organization. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Operations Managers develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Operations Managers who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Consultant

Consultants are hired to help organizations solve problems. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Consultants develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Consultants who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

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Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Entrepreneurs develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Entrepreneurs who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

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Program Manager

Program Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Program Managers develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Program Managers who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

CEO

CEOs are responsible for the overall success of an organization. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help CEOs develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for CEOs who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

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Chief Technology Officer

Chief Technology Officers are responsible for leading the technology strategy of an organization. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Chief Technology Officers develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Chief Technology Officers who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

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Technical Lead

Technical Leads are responsible for leading teams of engineers in the development of technical products. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Technical Leads develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Technical Leads who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

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Engineering Manager

Engineering Managers are responsible for overseeing the technical aspects of a team of engineers. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help Engineering Managers develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Engineering Managers who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Manager

General Manager

General Managers are responsible for the overall operation of an organization. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course can help General Managers develop the skills they need to be successful in their roles. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for General Managers who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design and develop software applications. They must be able to make decisions, manage risk, and lead change. This course may be useful for Software Engineers who want to move into a management or leadership role. The course covers topics such as personal accountability, team accountability, strategic decision-making, and leading change. These topics are all essential for Software Engineers who want to be able to lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer