Organizational Diagnosis: Diagnostic Strengths for Effectiveness

Catalog description

This seminar introduces participants to approaches to diagnosing organizations to understand the complex ways issues show up and how to work through them. When organizations find themselves in trouble, i.e., rumblings about lack of leadership, cultural challenges, diminished productivity, low morale, etc., they tend to frame the problem(s) simplistically or locate blame in specific individuals or groups. On closer examination, problematic issues are often symptomatic of systemic or cultural issues within the organization. Effective change begins with a thorough, evidence-based assessment. Through systems thinking, cultural analysis, and group dynamics, students will learn to identify and frame problem areas, collect and analyze data, and deliver actionable feedback to client systems. The course emphasizes hands-on learning through case simulations, real-world examples, enactments, and diagnostic project work. Participants will gain practical skills to connect diagnosis with meaningful organizational action. Non-Dynamics students: please include a brief job description in your Permissions Request.