Postgraduate Certificate in the Psychology of Organisational Development and Change

The roots of organisational development are in human psychology and the notion of the psychology of potential, growth and development. This practically-based course will explore the concepts and practices of OD and its evolution into a values-based approach to systems change in organisations from a psychological perspective.

The theoretical concepts, workplace tools and practical experiences covered will help you help your organisations and the people within them to achieve greater effectiveness while building their own capacity to change.

On this programme you’ll study OD processes, using diagnostic models to identify underlying issues, explore the use of dialogue, data collection, analysis and feedback, and turn that knowledge into interventions that make a positive difference. You’ll also have plenty of opportunity to assess your own OD skills and practise them during the programme while networking with others in a similar position and learning how different organisations tackle similar challenges.

Workshop A

Day 1

• History and definition of OD
• A framework for the roots of OD practice – the theories upon which it is based
• Change management vs. organisation development
• The OD process:
  
  • Contracting – the initial step in the OD process, clarifying the issue, moving beyond the presenting problem; diagnosis – using diagnostic models to identify the underlying issues

Day 2

• Continuing the OD process:
  
  • Data collection and analysis – exploring the issue and collecting the evidence for action
  • Feeding back diagnostic information – designing a process that ensures ownership of the data
  • Designing interventions around organisational issues – examining different types of interventions
  • The individual and change – what goes on inside people when dealing with change, the factors that link to increased commitment
  • Evaluation – determining whether/how it worked
  • Guest speaker – discussing real-life case studies of blending psychological theory with organisational development interventions

Workshop B

Day 1

• The ethical practice of OD, examining the principles and values that underlie our own practice.
• Examining a selection of OD interventions in-depth.
  
  • Performance management, examining the performance management process as a system that aligns employee work behaviour and motivation with successful business strategy and employee engagement
  • Team effectiveness and building high-performing teams
  • Process consultation, understanding and using the principles of process consultation to work with groups

Day 2

• Organisational design and structure – Structuring an organisation around the work and the people to increase effectiveness while enhancing the quality of the human work experience.
• ‘Downsizing’ and the organisation development practitioner’s increasing role in this process.
• Organisational culture, the effect of cultural context on the OD process.
• Large group interventions, concepts and methods for working with whole systems and for using large group interventions to facilitate desired change towards shared goals.

Workshop C

Day 1

• Skill-building

Through carefully crafted exercises, participants will have an opportunity to develop their OD skills and put into practice the theories and knowledge they have gained over the course. You will leave with an action plan, knowledge, skills, and confidence to support your organisation.

The qualification is ideal for HR directors, learning and development managers and specialists, internal/external consultants or anyone with responsibility for or an interest in the OD function. Typically you will have a degree-level qualification and/or relevant work experience.