Strategic Organization Design from Coursera

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.

Manage Complexity and Interdependence

This module will integrate the elements laid out in the previous one. For an organization designer, it is crucial to realize that each of the elements will interact with others. For example, screening employees for their intrinsic motivation and subsequently leaving them little autonomy would lead to decreased performance. After laying out the general patterns of complementarity and substitutability, the module will proceed to outline the consequences for changing an organization’s design. Changes of a single design element will likely trigger further changes in other, related elements, and some organizational aspects like corporate culture or existing human capital may not be easy to change, if at all.

Understand your Surroundings

The design of an organization is also affected by the firm’s environment. Firms finding themselves in a competitive environment may have to compete for key resources, including employees, with other firms, which may affect the way they recruit, but it may also have repercussions for the type of employees, or other resources, the firm can acquire. Similarly, if firms strive to continuously innovate and seek out new market opportunities, they have to be designed in a way to support this goal. Thus, a firm’s strategy, its competitive environment and its organization design have to be aligned to help a firm achieve its objective.

Decide on a Corporate Office

This module will highlight the role of the corporate office in a number of ways. First, its importance in corporate decision-making is analyzed: On the one hand, the corporate office is best placed to take the firm’s overall objectives into account, so corporate choices may be more efficient if taken by the corporate office. On the other hand, lower ranks in the hierarchy often carry more detailed information about the immediate challenges and changes in the different activities of the firm. Second, this module looks at the scope of decisions the corporate office takes. While some corporate offices restrict themselves to providing an internal financial market, others will heavily control the specific actions of the lower-ranked units.

Design for Growth

This final module of the course will combine many of the aspects learned in the earlier modules. Imagine you are an entrepreneur with a strategic vision to enter a market with specific competitive conditions and a plan for growth. How will you set up an organization that is both effective in the environment it is currently facing so that it is successful in the short term, but also effective in managing and facilitating the growth needed to survive in the long term. The tension between efficiency (in the short run) and flexibility (in the long run) is crucial and this module will discuss options of how to manage it and what role an organization designer can play in this. The final module will therefore serve as a summary of the course content, but also as a practical guide to combine all the aspects above in the actual planning process from foundation to maturity of a firm.

Final Exam

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, 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

Reviews summary

Highly rated org design

Learners say that this course on Strategic Organization Design is highly rated with an overall sentiment of 96. Students remark that the course is well structured and engaging. The course is recommended for those with an interest in learning the basics of organizational design.

Engaging Instructor

"One of the best courses I have ever watched if not the best; the presenter was engaging and easy in his approach."

"Great course, and professor. Engaging and fun."

"Firstly I would like to thank my instructor Tobias Kretschmer for explaining everything in such a short and wonderful way."

Well presented

"Excellent course. I've learnt a lot pertaining designing an effective organization structure."

"The course was designed very well covering all aspects of Organization design."

"Thank you very much Tobias Kretcher for the creativity in the presentation of the material! The structuredness of the lecture greatly helped in a deeper analysis of the problems of development of organizations."

Very insightful

"Excellent insights. Great learning."

"I really enjoyed the course and it is very informative"

"This guy is pretty funny. He has an elephant from Star Wars always following him."

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.

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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

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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

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Watching video tutorials will provide you with additional perspectives on the course material and help you reinforce your understanding.

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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

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Joining a study group will allow you to discuss concepts with peers, ask questions, and deepen your understanding of the material.

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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

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Complete the practice exercises at the end of each module

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Completing the practice exercises will help you test your understanding of the material and identify areas where you need further review.

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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

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Creating an infographic will help you summarize and visualize the key concepts of each module, making them easier to remember.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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