Free Management Library's
Online For-Profit Organization Development Program Module #1:
Preparation for Micro-eMBA (SM) Program
(includes recommendations to many free, online business resources)
Written by Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Copyright 1997-2008.(This module is in the organization development program. However, this module can also be used by anyone to improve their self-directed study habits and learn about free, online information for for-profit organizations.)
INTRODUCTION
This module helps you get ready for the program by providing guidelines to get the most out of the program, along with suggesting numerous free, online resources of which you might take advantage.As with any learning module in this program, you'll get the most if you read all materials, consider each question for discussion and reflection, discuss information and materials with others, complete suggested activities and apply assessments as appropriate. You should also regularly conduct action planning to record and monitor important actions (for yourself or your business organization) identified during the program, including what needs to be done, who needs to do it, by when and current status on the completion of the tasks.
Lastly, congratulations, on your own initiative and commitment to your learning!
MATERIALS FOR REVIEW
- The following materials will help you address each of the topics and learning activities in this module.
- Read the following materials according to directions in their titles, eg, "read paragraphs till come to next title")
Program Design and Format
of Learning Modules (read paragraphs till come to next title)
Basics for Learners
to Get Most from Training and Development (read paragraphs on
page)
Tips to Improve Reading Skills
(read articles in "Various Perspectives")
Tips to Study More
Effectively (read tips both for studying and concentrating)
Free,
Online Resources (scan "organizations", note "megalist",
consider "mentor" & "Circles")
SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
- Learners are strongly encouraged to discuss the following questions with peers, board members, management and employees, as appropriate.
- The following suggestions and activities are based on the readings from the above "Materials for Review".
1. You'll learn the most -- and develop needed systems for your organization -- by a) actually applying information and materials from this program and b) sharing feedback with others about these experiences. List at least two groups of people (peers, board members, management, employees, etc.) with whom you will share ongoing feedback during this program.
2. What do you do to deal with stress in your private and work life? This question is critical to the success of this program, and particularly to the success of your organization! List at least three support systems (friends, to-do lists, etc.) you will use to support you as you a) start your new organization and b) apply information and materials from the program?
3. List at least two useful tips for you to study more effectively? Concentrate more effectively?
4. Are there any other key questions that you should reflect
on and / or discuss with others to ensure the program remains
meaningful to you?
SUGGESTED LEARNING ACTIVITIES
- Learners are strongly encouraged to complete the following activities, and share and discuss results with peers, board members, management and employees, as appropriate.
- As you proceed through the following activities, be sure to note any incomplete actions in the Action Item Planning List.
1. Write down a schedule of when you plan to study information and materials in the program. Share the schedule with several people who can help you stay on track with your schedule, for example, peers, fellow board members, management, employees, consultants, friends, family, etc. Give them permission to pose supportive challenges to you to help you stay on track.
2. Write and distribute a one-page memo to whomever you plan to share feedback with (peers, board members, management and employees, etc.) indicating your plans to complete the program and that you plan to discuss information and materials with them (for example, in upcoming board meetings, staff meetings, etc). Suggest the program to them, as well.
3. Schedule regular meeting times (for example, in meetings with peers, board members, management, employees, etc.) to discuss information and materials from this program. Share the schedule with others.
4. Recruit fellow learners to go through the program with you.
You could, for example:
a.) Contact local service providers to get suggestions for other
learners -- or ask them if they would sponsor the program.
b.) Call several peers, for example, board members, chief executives,
managers, consultants, instructors, etc., and pose the program
to them.
5. Join the online discussion groups, HRNET or ODNET. These groups are attended by 1,000 of experts about business and organizations. As you proceed through the program, you can pose questions to the groups.
6. Are there other activities that would be more suitable for your needs and nature? Commit to undertaking these activities -- by undertaking, we mean other than thinking about or talking about, but starting and completing the activities. Write down your ideas and share them with whomever is going to support you as you progress through the program.
7. Lastly, spend an hour over the coming week in which you scan around inside the Free Management Library. There are a massive amount of links in the Library, including about 675 topics. Get a feel for how they are arranged. Get used to the fact, too, that among the 10,000 or so links in the Library, it's very likely that some of them will be "broken", that is, some links will be to other websites (outside of the Library) that have either deleted items from the site or changed their address. Unfortunately, it's extremely difficult to notice these changed links and keep them up-to-date in the Library. Thus, the learner will need some patience in benefiting from this massive resource.
8. OPTIONAL: The following three links are to a large amount
of free, online resources in regard to personal development,
productivity and wellness. If you have the time, you might glance
around inside the topics. If you find something that might benefit
you, consider identifying suitable actions to take. Write down
these planned actions and share them with others who can support
you as you take the actions.
Personal Development
Personal Productivity
Personal Wellness
OPTIONAL SELF-ASSESSMENTS
- OPTIONAL: The following self-assessments can help you identify areas where you'd like further self-development.
Behavioral Styles -- Take a look at the following matrix of behavioral styles. See where you fit in.
Personal Flexibility Assessment -- Are you ready for change?
Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses -- What the title indicates ...
Peak Performance Self-Evaluation -- To determine how effectively you are using your time, respond to these questions honestly
TRACKING OPEN ACTION ITEMS
1. One of the first indicators that an organization or a person is struggling is that open action items are not tracked and reviewed. (Open action items are required actions that have not yet been completed.) Instead, people only see and react to the latest "fires" in their workplaces or their lives. Whether open action items are critical to address now or not, they should not entirely be forgotten. Therefore, update and regularly review a list of open action items (identified while proceeding through this program) that includes listing each open action item, who is responsible to complete it, when it should be completed and any associated comments. When updating the list, consider action items as identified during discussions, learning activities and assessments in this module. Share and regularly review this action item list with the appropriate peers, board, management and employees in your organization. You can use the following Action Item Planning List.2. If you have questions, consider posing them in the national online discussion groups HRNET or ODNET which are attended by many human resource and organization development experts.
(Learners in the organization development program can return
to the home page of the organization development
program.)
For the Category of Personal Development:
Related Library Topics
Recommended Books
General Information
The following books are recommended because of their highly practical nature and often because they include a wide range of information about this Library topic. To get more information about each book, just hover your cursor over the image of the book. A "bubble" of information will be displayed. You can click on the title of the book in that bubble to get more information, too.
Also See
Career Development -- Recommended Books
Interpersonal Skills -- Recommended Books
Personal Productivity -- Recommended Books
Personal Wellness -- Recommended Books
