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Tobias Kretschmer

Strategic Organization Design will introduce new topics and modules with even more real world examples and opportunities for student interaction than its predecessors Competitive Strategy (https://www.coursera.org/learn/competitive-strategy) and Advanced Competitive Strategy (https://www.coursera.org/learn/advanced-competitive-strategy).

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Strategic Organization Design will introduce new topics and modules with even more real world examples and opportunities for student interaction than its predecessors Competitive Strategy (https://www.coursera.org/learn/competitive-strategy) and Advanced Competitive Strategy (https://www.coursera.org/learn/advanced-competitive-strategy).

The final course in the Competitive Strategy and Organization Design specialization covers the internal workings of an organization and its interactions with the outside world. Where the first two courses mainly covered the way firms interact with the outside world, in particular competitors and complementors, the third course looks at the way a firm’s organization should be designed to compete effectively.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Structure Organizations
This module will introduce the fundamental dimensions of organization design. We will take a designer’s point of view and first introduce the “objective” elements of organization design, the organizational structure. This is reflected in the organization chart, the size and importance of the functional units, the organization by product lines, functions or geographical units. The second part of the module will cover other elements that govern the interaction between units and individuals, such as the degree of formalization and centralization, the reward system and the degree of task division.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores organization design principles, which are crucial for business management
Taught by Tobias Kretschmer, who is recognized for their expertise in strategic organization design
Examines organizational structure, complexity, surroundings, corporate office, and growth
Provides real-world examples and opportunities for interaction, making it engaging and practical
Develops skills in designing and managing organizations for effective competition

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Reviews summary

Strategic organization design fundamentals

According to learners, this course on Strategic Organization Design is highly valuable and overwhelmingly positive. Students find it well organized, clearly structured, and providing a good theoretical framework that offers practical insights and connects strategy with organization structure. Reviewers say the content is relevant to their jobs, helping them structure their thoughts, and the instructor is clear, explaining complex concepts simply with relatable examples. It is seen as a great summary course and excellent addition to the specialization, though some feel it could benefit from more practical application examples and deeper case studies.
Fits well within the specialization sequence.
"Great summary course to wrap up the specialization."
"Great addition to the specialization."
"It feels like a natural and valuable continuation of the previous courses in the series."
Instructor simplifies complex topics.
"Instructor is clear."
"The professor is very clear and explains complex things into simple words."
"Explained the concepts and strategies through relatable examples."
"I appreciated the clarity with which the key concepts were explained."
Effectively links organization design and strategy.
"how strategy is connected with the organization structure."
"Amazing course to build a foundation in strategy and organization design."
"Provides a good framework for thinking about organization design and the various parameters and their inter-dependencies."
"It was helpful to see how organizational design directly relates to strategic goals."
Provides useful and relevant real-world advice.
"Useful, practical advice."
"It goes very well with my current job where we are discussing and implementing organization design."
"Great insights, clear and concise, practical."
"Found the insights highly valuable and applicable to my professional work."
Course structure and presentation are clear.
"Well organized, well presented, and clear explanations."
"The course is very well organized and clearly structured."
"Great content, well structured and good assignments."
"It's great that the course content is so well structured and easy to follow."
Suggestions for deeper application examples.
"Could benefit from a bit more practical application examples."
"Would love to dig a bit deeper in case studies in real life."
"It provides the framework, but I was hoping for more real-world 'how-to' scenarios."

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 Strategic Organization Design with these activities:
Review the module notes of the previous course, Competitive Strategy.
Reviewing the module notes of the previous Competitive Strategy course will refresh your memory about the industry environment and help you connect to the new content in this course.
Browse courses on Competitive Strategy
Show steps
  • Locate the module notes from the previous course.
  • Read through the notes and make a note of any key concepts.
Watch video tutorials on the topics covered in the course
Watching video tutorials will provide you with additional perspectives on the course material and help you reinforce your understanding.
Show steps
  • Find video tutorials on the topics covered in the course.
  • Take notes while watching the tutorials.
Join a study group to discuss the course materials
Joining a study group will allow you to discuss concepts with peers, ask questions, and deepen your understanding of the material.
Show steps
  • Find a study group or create one with classmates.
  • Meet regularly to discuss the course material.
  • Take turns presenting concepts to the group.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Complete the practice exercises at the end of each module
Completing the practice exercises will help you test your understanding of the material and identify areas where you need further review.
Show steps
  • Complete the practice exercises at the end of each module.
  • Check your answers and identify areas where you need further review.
Develop an infographic that summarizes the key concepts of each module
Creating an infographic will help you summarize and visualize the key concepts of each module, making them easier to remember.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic for your infographic.
  • Gather data and information about your topic.
  • Design your infographic using a tool like Canva or Piktochart.
  • Share your infographic with others.
Contribute to an open-source project related to organizational design
Contributing to an open-source project will allow you to apply the concepts you learn in the course to a real-world project and build your portfolio.
Show steps
  • Find an open-source project related to organizational design.
  • Contribute to the project by fixing bugs or adding new features.
  • Submit your changes to the project repository.

Career center

Learners who complete Strategic Organization Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Organization Development Consultant
An Organization Development Consultant helps their clients improve the performance of their organizations by diagnosing problems and developing appropriate solutions. This course may be useful for aspiring Organization Development Consultants because it provides an overview of the fundamental dimensions of organization design, including structure, complexity, interdependence, and alignment with the external environment. The course also covers the role of the corporate office in decision-making and the importance of designing for growth. This knowledge can help Organization Development Consultants better understand the organizations they work with and develop more effective solutions.
Human Resources Manager
A Human Resources Manager is responsible for the overall management of human resources within an organization, including recruitment, training, and employee relations. This course may be useful for aspiring Human Resources Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of organization design, including structure, reward systems, and the role of the corporate office. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on organization design. This knowledge can help Human Resources Managers develop more effective HR policies and practices.
Change Management Consultant
A Change Management Consultant helps organizations manage change effectively by developing and implementing change management plans. This course may be useful for aspiring Change Management Consultants because it provides an overview of the different factors that can affect organizational change, including structure, complexity, and interdependence. The course also covers the role of the corporate office in managing change and the importance of designing for growth. This knowledge can help Change Management Consultants better understand the challenges and opportunities involved in organizational change and develop more effective change management plans.
Strategy Consultant
A Strategy Consultant helps organizations develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals. This course may be useful for aspiring Strategy Consultants because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of strategic management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on strategy. This knowledge can help Strategy Consultants develop more effective strategies that are aligned with the organization's goals and the external environment.
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst helps organizations improve their business processes by identifying and analyzing problems and developing solutions. This course may be useful for aspiring Business Analysts because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of business analysis, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on business processes. This knowledge can help Business Analysts develop more effective solutions that are aligned with the organization's goals and the external environment.
Project Manager
A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course may be useful for aspiring Project Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of project management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on projects. This knowledge can help Project Managers develop more effective project plans and manage projects more effectively.
Operations Manager
An Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of an organization. This course may be useful for aspiring Operations Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of operations management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on operations. This knowledge can help Operations Managers develop more effective operations plans and manage operations more effectively.
Marketing Manager
A Marketing Manager is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote an organization's products or services. This course may be useful for aspiring Marketing Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of marketing, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on marketing. This knowledge can help Marketing Managers develop more effective marketing strategies.
Sales Manager
A Sales Manager is responsible for leading and managing a sales team to achieve sales goals. This course may be useful for aspiring Sales Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of sales management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on sales. This knowledge can help Sales Managers develop more effective sales strategies and manage their teams more effectively.
Financial Manager
A Financial Manager is responsible for the financial health of an organization. This course may be useful for aspiring Financial Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of financial management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on finance. This knowledge can help Financial Managers develop more effective financial plans and manage the financial resources of an organization more effectively.
Information Technology Manager
An Information Technology Manager is responsible for the planning, implementation, and management of an organization's information technology systems. This course may be useful for aspiring Information Technology Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of information technology management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on information technology. This knowledge can help Information Technology Managers develop more effective information technology plans and manage information technology systems more effectively.
Supply Chain Manager
A Supply Chain Manager is responsible for the planning, implementation, and management of an organization's supply chain. This course may be useful for aspiring Supply Chain Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of supply chain management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on supply chains. This knowledge can help Supply Chain Managers develop more effective supply chain plans and manage supply chains more effectively.
Quality Manager
A Quality Manager is responsible for the planning, implementation, and management of an organization's quality management system. This course may be useful for aspiring Quality Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of quality management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on quality. This knowledge can help Quality Managers develop more effective quality plans and manage quality more effectively.
Risk Manager
A Risk Manager is responsible for the planning, implementation, and management of an organization's risk management program. This course may be useful for aspiring Risk Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of risk management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on risk. This knowledge can help Risk Managers develop more effective risk management plans and manage risk more effectively.
Compliance Manager
A Compliance Manager is responsible for the planning, implementation, and management of an organization's compliance program. This course may be useful for aspiring Compliance Managers because it provides a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of compliance management, including organization design. The course also covers the importance of understanding the external environment and its impact on compliance. This knowledge can help Compliance Managers develop more effective compliance plans and manage compliance more effectively.

Reading list

We've selected 14 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 Strategic Organization Design.
Provides a comprehensive overview of strategic organization design, covering topics such as organizational structure, culture, and leadership.
This classic work on competitive strategy provides a framework for understanding the competitive landscape and developing effective strategies.
Explores the challenges of innovation and provides insights into how organizations can overcome them.
Provides a framework for understanding the challenges of crossing the chasm from early adopters to mainstream customers.

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