Master in Management
Electives
Seven Perspectives on Organizational Culture
Our Search for Meaning (and Money) in Our Organizational Lives
Spring 2007
MM 540
"Our traditional organizations are designed to provide for the first three levels of Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human needs- food, shelter, and belonging. Since these are now widely available to members of industrial society, these organizations do not provide anything particularly unique to command the loyalty and commitment of people. The ferment in management today will continue until organizations begin to address the higher order needs: self respect and self actualization." From the Intro to the 5th Discipline Fieldbook
Course Overview
Using the expansive leadership perspective that "the first person we lead is ourselves," in this class you'll explore your relationship to organizational leadership from seven different perspectives: performance, communication, learning, culture, community, spirituality and the hero's journey.
By reflecting on our past organizational experiences and future aspirations through these seven lenses, you'll consider how you can further your growth and development as leaders. Using an original workbook and customized course reader developed by the course instructor, the class is taught in a workshop style with an emphasis on experiential learning. There will also be a variety of special guest speakers that will co-facilitate and enhance the evening discussions around a number of the perspectives.
Course Format
There will be three primary components of the course upon each of which a third of your grade will be based:
- In class roundtable discussion / Experiential Exercises - Using a series of selected readings to stimulate new thinking and reflection, the instructor will facilitate a roundtable discussion around a different perspective each class. Participants will be expected to read the assigned material, complete a brief writing assignment, and come to class prepared to offer their observations on how the material might relate to their own career goals as well as their past and/or present organizational experiences. The instructor will also introduce experiential exercises and/or team exercises during class that are related to the week's perspective and roundtable discussion.
- Facilitated Bb online discussion - During the week between each class there will be a facilitated Bb online discussion around one of the seven perspectives. Each participant will be expected to participate in the online discussion offering their own current and/or past organizational experiences as a basis for discussion. As a general guideline, each participant will be expected to "check-in" at least twice per week and contribute to the discussion in some substantive way. The instructor will also ask at least one student to CO-facilitate the online discussion each week based on their respective interests. Further guidelines and suggestions will be discussed during the first class.
- Final Paper based on Area of Emphasis - Each student will be responsible for preparing a final paper based on their experience in the class. Further details and guidelines will be discussed in class.
Required Text/Materials
- Schein, S. (2005) The Seven Perspectives Workbook - A Leadership Development Guide to Your Business Journey
- The Seven Perspectives Course Reader which includes excerpts from the following books:
The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr (Performance)
The Human Element by Will Schutz (Communication)
The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook by Peter Senge (Learning)
The Corporate Culture Survival Guide by Edgar Schein (Culture)
Servant Leadership by Robert Greenleaf (Community)
Money and the Meaning of Life by Jacob Needlemen (Spirituality)
The Path of the Everyday Hero by Michael Ray (Hero's Journey)
Course Schedule
The course will meet on consecutive Thursday evenings from 6-9PM in Room 4 at the Job Council in Medford starting on Thursday, April 5th and ending on Thursday, June 7th. A schedule of assignments from the course reader will be provided on the first night of class.
