HIGH PERFORMANCE WORK TEAMS.
Today’s business environment frequently requires groups of individuals to work together as a team, but usually without the training to understand what this really means. This course focuses on the skills needed to develop a business work group in a High Performance Team. It details the definition and requirements for good team development and concentrates on facilitation and negotiation techniques for team meetings; as well as on the communication and conflict resolution between team members. Since the purpose of most teams is to resolve problems, a scientific approach to problem-solving is also introduced. This is a highly interactive course which actively involves the students, encouraging the sharing of practical ideas and techniques. The course has sufficient flexibility to allow for the exploration and analysis of many typical team situations that are of interest to the students: what is discussed during class can be applied the next day at work.
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LAW AND THE WORKPLACE.
This course will examine the relationships between our economy, business and the practice of law. It will also examine contemporary legal issues in the world of work. Students will examine the structures of the legal community and the impact it has on how business is conducted, and on the economic system in which we live and work. Through readings, discussion, and guest experts, students will investigate the interfaces of law and business as well as current issues which have evolved as the practice of law has become a big business itself. Students will develop and evaluate plans individually or through group interaction for applying new insights to affecting change in their own working environments.
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CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN THE WORKPLACE.
Innovation and creativity enhance the processes of problem-solving and opportunity development. This course is a survey, review and analysis of the various creative/innovative problem-solving techniques and approaches which could be used in a variety of settings: corporate, small business, daily endeavors, etc. Principles will be developed to support imaginative solutions for managing problems and opportunities. Students will focus on individually defined topics and situations and apply a range of techniques for responsive idea generation. Small group dynamics sessions will provide experience in collective problem-solving. Simulations and readings will support the development of individual skills.
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ASSESSMENT AND COUNSELING: SKILLS FOR THE HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONAL.
A rapidly-developing area of responsibility for Human Resource professionals is employee assistance programs (EAPs). Managing and implementing EAPs requires that human resource professionals have additional skills in assessment and counseling. In this course, students will learn counseling theory and assess their own personal interactional and counseling potential for possible careers in EAP counseling. Discussion topics include intervention, enabling, alcoholism and other chemical dependencies, relapse prevention, denial, constructive confrontation and case management.
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MANAGING IN A CROSS-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT.
This course will address dilemmas and opportunities that individuals may encounter as they work or study in multicultural and global environments. The purpose of this course is to increase the effectiveness of individuals in identifying, understanding and managing cultural differences in the workplace as well as outside it. A variety of learning methods will be used, including lectures, readings, case studies, videotapes, critical incidents, and in-depth discussions. Guest speakers will be invited to share their experiences with the class. You will be asked to: 1) read the assigned readings for each class and locate additional material on your own; 2) participate in class discussions; 3) contribute to you team’s discussions and presentations; 4) submit two short written assignments; 5) submit a final written report and do an individual presentation; 6) write a self-assessment of your learning and assess the contributions of your team members to the learning of your team and to the class.
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Individual Focus Area
