The Power of Team Culture from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Behind the success and failure of teams lies team culture. But what exactly is culture? How and why does it contribute to success and failure? In this course, you learn how to recognize aspects of team culture of which most people are typically unaware. It is often these seemingly unimportant aspects that have the greatest effect on the outcomes of group tasks. Your recognition of them enables you to form, join and lead teams more effectively. You also come to appreciate the role of ritual and symbols in the daily operation of teams, as well as in situations of change and crisis. Knowledge of the ideas and information in this class enables you to be a better team player and a more effective team leader.

Why Culture Matters in Organizations

In this unit, we will begin by defining the "team" and then proceed to explore what enables teams to function, the role that culture plays in every team, and how "habitus" and "cultural fit" could affect our performance in specific teams.

Crossing Cultural Boundaries

Sometimes we must take a step back and view cultural differences from perspectives different from what we're used to. Cultural boundaries exist everywhere. Differences can be found within one culture as well. Have you ever considered that a smile isn't just a simple natural response? In this unit we delve deeper into culture and the differences amongst various cultures, including corporate culture.

Team Rituals and Symbols

Rituals and symbols can be found in every team. They can evoke affect, or feeling, as you will see. Speech, or stories have symbolic meaning too and can do wonders to motivate a group of individuals. In this unit we will examine a number of rituals and symbols, as they exist in their various forms, and discover the way in which they are utilized in teams.

Effecting Cultural Continuity and Change

In this unit, we will examine inertia, change, and metaculture, introduce interest as a force at work on the motion of culture as well as provide a conclusion to the concepts covered in this course.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the impact of team culture on success and failure, providing insights for effective team formation, leadership, and performance

Focuses on subtle and often overlooked aspects of team culture that can significantly influence outcomes

Emphasizes the role of rituals and symbols in shaping team dynamics and motivating individuals

Examines cultural boundaries and differences, providing insights for effective cross-cultural team collaboration

Reviews summary

Standard course content

Learners say this course may be most appropriate for students seeking learning outcomes that are more academic and theoretical. This course could benefit from more engaging content, though Dr. Urban is an excellent communicator and an expert in this field. While the area covered was comprehensive, much of what was shared is likely to become outdated quickly.

Exceptional communicator and expert in field.

"Dr. Urban is an excellent communicator, an expert in his field, and clearly loves his subject matter."

May be too academic and theoretical.

"I had hoped to come away with more business and interpersonal insights and fewer definitions which I fear I will soon forget due to lack of use."

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 The Power of Team Culture with these activities:

Review literature on team culture

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Review essential concepts of team culture to establish a baseline understanding before diving into the course content.

Browse courses on Team Culture

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Read assigned chapters from academic books on team culture.
Summarize key concepts and definitions of team culture.

Explore team culture frameworks

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Gain a deeper understanding of established team culture frameworks to grasp the structure and dynamics of team interactions.

Browse courses on Team Culture

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Identify and study different team culture frameworks (e.g., Denison, Schein, Hofstede).
Apply these frameworks to analyze real-world team scenarios.

Team culture simulations

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Engage in simulations to practice recognizing and responding to different team culture dynamics.

Browse courses on Team Dynamics

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Participate in online or in-person team simulations.
Analyze team interactions and identify cultural patterns.
Develop strategies for effective communication and collaboration.

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Career center

Learners who complete The Power of Team Culture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers plan, develop, and implement policies relating to employee relations and human resources. The Power of Team Culture may be useful for you if you want to go into this line of work because it can help you to resolve personnel problems and develop effective employee relations.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants analyze businesses and develop solutions to improve their performance. They may work on a variety of projects, such as developing new strategies, improving operational efficiency, and implementing new technologies. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand organizational culture and its impact on business outcomes.

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Organizational Psychologist

Organizational Psychologists study the behavior of individuals and groups in the workplace. They apply their knowledge to help organizations improve employee morale, productivity, and overall performance. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand group dynamics and team culture.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand the role of team culture in project success.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts study business processes and develop solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand the role of culture in shaping business processes.

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Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Diversity and Inclusion Managers develop and implement programs and policies that create an inclusive workplace for all employees. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand the role of culture in shaping an inclusive workplace.

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Organizational Development Manager

An Organizational Development Manager is a leader who helps organizations to improve by developing their human resources. These managers plan and oversee organization-wide training and development programs. Many professionals in this role also assist in communications, team-building, and conflict resolution. The course, The Power of Team Culture, may be useful to you if you want to go into this line of work because it can help you with team-building through understanding the aspects of team culture.

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Talent Acquisition Manager

Talent Acquisition Managers oversee all aspects of the hiring process for a company. This includes everything from recruiting and screening candidates to making offers and onboarding new hires. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand how to cultivate the right workplace culture for recruiting top talent.

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Team Leader

Team Leaders are responsible for leading and motivating a team of employees to achieve a common goal. They assign tasks, provide feedback, and resolve conflicts. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand team dynamics and group culture.

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Nonprofit Executive Director

Nonprofit Executive Directors oversee all aspects of nonprofit organizations, including managing staff, fundraising, and developing programs. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand the power and role of team culture in a nonprofit organization.

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Corporate Trainer

Corporate Trainers develop and deliver training programs to employees at all levels. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand the role of culture in the learning and development process.

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Chief Diversity Officer

The Chief Diversity Officer ensures that a company's diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies are effectively implemented. They establish and oversee programs and policies that create an inclusive workplace. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand the aspects of a workplace culture that contribute to success of failure.

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Program Director

Program Directors develop and oversee educational programs at colleges and universities. They may also manage the operations of a particular department or division. The Power of Team Culture may be useful for you if you want to go into this line of work because it can help you to manage and resolve conflicts in a team setting.

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Organizational Change Manager

Organizational Change Managers help organizations to implement change effectively. This course may be useful for someone in this role because it can help you understand the role of culture in the change management process.

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Corporate Culture Consultant

Culture Consultants help businesses to develop an inclusive workplace culture and to improve employee engagement. They assess an organization's culture to help companies retain employees, grow their business, and create a more productive work environment. This course may be useful for a Corporate Culture Consultant because it can help you recognize the aspects of a workplace culture that contribute to success or failure.

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