Brenda Barker Scott | Queen's University IRC

Queen's University IRC

Queen's University

Brenda Barker Scott is a groundbreaker with a passion for creating workplaces that inspire, connect and grow people. Over her twenty-year career in teaching and consulting, Brenda has led ambitious renewal efforts aimed at enhancing innovation and collaboration with provincial governments and agencies, school boards, not-for-profits and private firms.

When working with leadership teams, she combines strong theoretical knowledge with practical methodologies to ensure that the right people are engaged in the right conversations to design robust and workable strategies.

Brenda is co-author of Building Smart Teams: A Roadmap to High Performance (Sage 2004), and is currently undertaking field research exploring the design features of collaborative and high performance in organizations. A graduate of the Queen’s Masters of Industrial Relations, Brenda is also a PhD Candidate with Fielding Graduate University. 

Brenda is an instructor on a number of Queen’s IRC programs including Designing Collaborative Workplaces, Organizational Design and Organization Development Foundations.

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2015 Workplace in Motion Summit

New
2015!

The world is changing… are you?

The 2015 Workplace in Motion Summit took place on April 16, 2015 in Toronto. Please see the  Queen's University IRC 2015 Workplace in Motion Summit Proceedings for the findings from the Summit. You can also read the following article for a general recap and pictures from the event: Getting Ahead of the Shift: Summit Inspires Thoughtful Conversations About the Changing World of Work.

Join your colleagues for invigorating conversations about how we can reinvent our organizations to accelerate talent development, amplify learning and thrive in the future economy.

The Queen’s IRC 2015 Workplace in Motion Summit will explore key trends in technology, global competition, generational flux and the knowledge economy. The day will include valuable opportunities to network with colleagues, discover what pioneering organizations are doing to connect and leverage talent, and learn what you can do to thrive in the new world at work.

Workplace in Motion Summit

Tour of the Program

The era of centralized governing systems and hierarchies is over.  Frameworks that worked in the past no longer serve us. To remain relevant and sustainable, a new set of organizational fundamentals is emerging – promoting connectivity, innovation and adaptability.

Imagine an organization where:

  • Teams easily connect and collaborate across boundaries
  • People contribute to projects that truly excite them
  • Success is measured by the ability to learn and innovate

The Summit is ideal for leaders who want to get ahead of the shift.  Bring colleagues from OD, HR, LR, as well as current and future leaders to learn and explore together. Your team will leave inspired and ready to lead change together based on this foundational experience.  Your team will leave with new ideas and important questions to help shape your organization’s future.

Summit Hosts and Leaders:

The Summit Hosts and Leaders are Paul Juniper, Brenda Barker Scott, Françoise Morissette, Diane Locke and Anne Grant. Their bios can be found in the “Facilitators and Speakers” tab below.

Guest Speakers include:

  • Brittany Forsyth, Vice President of Human Relations, Shopify
  • Bryan Acker, Culture Change Ambassador, TELUS Communications Inc.
  • Christine Greco, Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, Samsung
  • Courtney Jolliffe, Resource and Logistics Co-ordinator, We Day, Free the Children
  • Hugh Ritchie, Director, Government Relations Program, Office of the President, OpenText
  • James Prince, Manager of We Day Retail Distribution and Sales, Consumer Engagement, Me to We

Summit Attendees:

We have attendees from the Government of Ontario, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Sleep Country Canada, Canadian Mental Health Association, CIBC and more. Many of these organizations have taken advantage of group pricing and have registered their teams. Registration numbers are growing daily and new companies are being added regularly.

Learning Outcomes

We’ll explore:

  • Key trends in technology, global competition, generational flux and the knowledge economy
  • How pioneering organizations are embracing strategies that access, connect and leverage talent
  • Implications for shaping new organizational, HR and LR strategies
  • What you can do today to get ahead of the shift

Benefits

Takeaways:

  • An inspired team with a shared foundational experience to build a new workplace strategy
  • The ability to identify gaps in capabilities, tools & technologies, mindsets, and strategies
  • Online resources and forum to continue the conversations
  • A new network of professional colleagues 

Who Should Attend

The Workplace in Motion Summit is geared towards human resources, labour relations and organizational development professionals, as well as leaders at all levels in the organization.

Our pricing model makes it easy for you bring a team that can use this foundational experience to reshape your workplace for the future. Your Organizational Team may include colleagues from OD, HR, LR, and leaders at all levels in the organization, from seasoned managers to new recruits. Your team will leave inspired and ready to lead change together based on this foundational experience.  

Facilitators and Speakers

*The roster of speakers is subject to change.

Venues and Accommodations

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for the Summit?

If you are registering one person, you can register online. To take advantage of the special Queen’s IRC alumni price (only $775 - limited spaces available, book early!) or the team pricing (2-4 people - $895/person, bring 5 or more and pay half price – $595/person), please contact us directly at 1-888-858-7838, or email at irc@queensu.ca. Once you register, we will send you a confirmation by email.

How do I pay for the Summit?

If you are registering online, you may pay by Visa or MasterCard.  You may also choose to be invoiced first, and pay by cheque (payable to Queen's IRC) or credit card. You may also wish to call us with your credit card number to make the payment.

If your organization is tax exempt, we will require a copy of your tax exemption certificate.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes. If you have taken a Queen’s IRC program in the past, you are eligible for the alumni discount (cost is $775/person).  Bring your team and SAVE: 2-4 people ($895/person), 5 or more ($595/person). You must register together to receive the discounted pricing.

What is included in the registration fee?

Program fees include materials for the day, snacks and lunch. You are responsible for transportation and accommodation, if required.

Once I register for the Summit, may I cancel without penalty?

Substitutions are permitted with no penalty. Cancellations are permitted with no penalty up to 15 days prior to the Summit. Cancellations 14 days or less from the Summit will be subject to a 100% charge of the fee.

Where does the program take place?

The 2015 Workplaces in Motion Summit will be held at the Allstream Centre, at 105 Princes’ Blvd. in Toronto, Ontario. The Allstream Centre is located in downtown Toronto at Exhibition Place, on the shores of Lake Ontario. Please visit the Allstream Centre’s website for directions: http://www.allstreamcentre.com/visiting/index.php

I would like to make my travel plans.  What are the start and end times for the Summit?

Registration will begin at 7:30 am. The Summit will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Does this Summit count for credit towards a Queen’s IRC certificate?

No, the Summit is not eligible for credit towards Queen’s IRC certificates.

If I have other questions, who may I speak with personally?

Please feel free to call us at 1-888-858-7838 or 613-533-6628, or email us at irc@queensu.ca. To reach the Director and staff members, please consult our online directory.

Designing Collaborative Workplaces

HR 201
3 Credits

Advancing Your High Performance Teams and Creating a New Workplace Culture

(Formerly Building Smart Teams)

Teamwork is essential to organizational success – but today, the speed of change and innovation is driving a new team structure. Leaders are now bringing together employees from across an organization to contribute to projects, and regrouping them into new teams as opportunities arise. It’s all about collaboration – not just a good practice, but a core organizational competence.

Organizations can reap the benefits of a collaborative advantage by transitioning to managing a team of teams, a work culture that evolves and shifts fluidly to meet project demands and schedules, while aligning to corporate strategy and goals. Our Designing Collaborative Workplaces program gives you the knowledge and tools you need to create that framework; building trust and enabling individuals to maximize their contribution in a high performance environment.

Tour of the Program

Creating Collaborative Advantage

Collaboration has emerged as a core organizational competency and is critical for success in today’s workplace. Our Designing Collaborative Workplaces program takes a deep dive into the why, what and how of collaboration, giving you key insights into the essential conditions for building high performance teams, enabling collaborative workplaces, and creating engaging work spaces for collective learning.

a) Team Fundamentals for High Performance

We begin with an introduction to what makes teams high performing. Our research based model identifies the core skills and processes teams need to effectively learn, innovate, and execute together.

You will learn:

  • Team management practices to help members organize for success and get up to speed quickly
  • Approaches and tools for innovative problem solving, including idea generation, prototype development, and solution generation
  • How to engage team members and inspire trust, while at the same time honouring diversity and managing the inevitable conflicts inherent in collaborative work

b) The Why of Collaboration: Exploring the Competitive Landscape

We will explore how the effects of globalization, technology, demographics and the knowledge economy are driving the need for collaborative work and workplaces.

You will:

  • Learn about trends and issues that are changing the way we work
  • Explore a continuum of collaborative work and workplace relationships from cooperation, to coordination, to co-creation
  • Explore the essential conditions for collaborative work, including how values, principles, and practices build trust and promote sharing
  • Identify barriers to collective learning in your organization

c) Beyond Fundamentals: Collaborative Learning and Innovating

Traditionally team tasks have focused on product and service improvements and relied on techniques designed for planning and executing. As workplace challenges become more complex and the problem space more volatile, new approaches to working, favouring learning and innovation over execution, are required.

You will learn:

  • The art of framing your team challenge for learning and innovation
  • The mindsets, skills and behaviours collaborators require to learn together; seeking, integrating and adapting to improve
  • How experimentation and active learning as you go, is replacing traditional problem solving methods
  • Essential techniques and tools for leveraging and building on the diverse talents, insights, and experiences of team members
  • The importance of reflection and after action reviews for assessing results, uncovering new ideas, and continuous adjustments
  • The essential role of trust and psychological safety in promoting team learning and how you can create it

d) A New Framework for a Team of Teams

Transitioning to a collaborative workplace culture requires a thoughtful approach that includes a supportive environment for flexible teams and shifting roles. We will show you how to create a solid platform that embeds collaborative practices into your organization and creates highly engaging work spaces for your teams to excel.

You will:

  • Learn the value of shaping work as a collaborative effort instead of a solo task
  • Learn the art of forming co-evolving teams and scoping who should be involved and how
  • Create a platform of supportive practices, tools, principles and technologies to help teams quickly become productive
  • Explore the role of leadership in setting the outcomes, pace and tempo of collaborative work, as well as coaching collaborative performance
  • Expand your toolbox of techniques to foster creativity and learning amongst team members

An Interactive Approach

Learn by doing. Our experiential learning approach gives you real-world experience in a collaborative environment, allowing you to test theories and understand a new workplace from a range of perspectives. As a member of our collaborative community, you will interact with colleagues in various configurations, playing different roles in each and learn about the value of each contribution.

You will:

  • Gain first-hand experience in a collaborative setting in a range of roles
  • Explore the iterative learning process
  • Learn about technology and tools that can facilitate collaboration
  • Understand why space matters – and how to create an engaging space for your team of teams

Learning Outcomes

Transforming Knowledge into Action

Learn how to:

  • Recognize the essential behaviours that drive team success
  • Develop core team skills and processes for innovating, partnering and executing
  • Populate your teams with the right skills, talents and resources
  • Support your teams as they form and become productive
  • Develop a framework that empowers your teams yet keeps them focused and aligned with other efforts
  • Identify the DNA and logic of a truly collaborative workplace and how to promote it

Benefits

Organizational Benefits:

  • Tools and resources for creating a high performance culture through teamwork
  • Capabilities to foster innovation and continuous learning through teamwork
  • Transformational learning to align your organization’s capabilities with the knowledge economy
  • Evidence-based knowledge with real-world application to your workplace
  • Transition planning toolkits to guide back-home planning

Takeaway Tools:

  • Workbook
  • Tools and templates
  • Resources for building and optimizing your organization’s collaborative platform

Who Should Attend

  • Strategic HR business partners
  • HR leaders, managers and professionals who are developing organizational platforms for collaboration and innovation
  • Team leaders and members who are searching for best practice approaches
  • Teams of multidisciplinary colleagues – make the learning real and return to your organization with a solid plan

Facilitators and Speakers

*The roster of speakers is subject to change.

Venues and Accommodations

April 27-29, 2021 - Kingston

The program venue has not been finalized. Queen's IRC programs are usually held at a hotel. Please check back at a later date or contact Queen's IRC at 1-888-858-7838 for additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for a program?

You can register online, call us toll-free at 1-888-858-7838, or email us at irc@queensu.ca. Once you register, we will send you a confirmation by email. Information about the program location, check-in time, and the agenda will follow.

How do I pay for the program?

If you are registering online, you may pay by Visa or MasterCard.  You may also choose to be invoiced first, and pay by cheque (payable to Queen's University) or credit card. You may also wish to call us with your credit card number to make the payment.

If your organization is tax exempt, we will require a copy of your tax exemption certificate.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes. We offer an Early-Bird discount.  If you register 60 days before the start of a program, you will save $300 on the tuition of four- and five-day programs, and $150 on two- and three-day programs.

If you register three people from the same organization in the same program at the same time, you will receive a 10% discount on program fees. If you register five or more people in the same program at the same time, you will receive a 20% discount.

If you know you will be pursuing a Queen's Certificate and would like to remit tuition in one payment before your first program, we offer a special fee with a considerable saving. Contact us at irc@queensu.ca for more information.

Please note that only one discount may be applied.

What is included in the registration fee?

Program fees include tuition, workbook materials, lunches, and some dinners. You are responsible for transportation, accommodation, and some meals.

Once I enroll in a program, may I cancel without penalty?

Substitutions are permitted with no penalty 8 days or more from the program start date.
Substitutions 7 days or less before the program start date will be subject to a $500 charge.
Transfers and cancellations are permitted with no penalty up to 15 days prior to the program start date.
Transfers and cancellations 14 days or less from the program start date will be subject to a 100% charge of the program fee.

Where does the program take place?

Our programs typically take place at a hotel. This information can be found in the tab above, called Venue and Accommodations.

I would like to make my travel plans.  What are the start and end times for the program?

Designing Collaborative Workplaces starts at 8:30 a.m. (Registration runs from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.)

The program finishes by 3:30 p.m. on the last day.

If I am working towards a Queen's IRC Certificate, which course should I take first?

You may take the programs in any order that reflects your learning needs at the time. Our certificates feature a core program or programs that introduce you to what we consider the core competencies of the field. The remaining programs offer a deeper exploration of each area. For this reason, we find that participants in the certificate stream benefit most by taking the foundational program first.

My level of expertise is above the foundational program for the certificate I am working on. Do I still need to take that program to earn a certificate?

Queen's IRC offers participants maximum flexibility to customize their individual training needs. Upon request, participants with advanced expertise may skip the foundational program, and choose another program from our entire program lineup, for credit towards a certificate. Participants must earn 12 credits to earn a certificate.

How long do I have to complete a certificate?

We attach no timeline for achieving your certificate. Once you have earned a credit, you have earned the credit. We do recommend, however, that participants complete their certificate within one to six years. Most people earn their certificates within three years.

What if I want to take one of your programs but do not want to pursue a certificate?

That's fine. All of our programs may be taken individually, and you can mix and match the courses in labour relations, human resources and organization development, depending on your learning needs. At the conclusion of each program, you are given a certificate of completion.

I have taken a custom program with the IRC.  Will this count towards a certificate?

Yes. Participants who take an IRC custom program may also use their training days as credits towards a certificate.

If I have other questions, who may I speak with personally?

For a program registration query, please feel free to call us at 1-888-858-7838 or 613-533-6628. To reach the Director and staff members, consult our online directory. To reach one of our facilitators, please contact Stephanie Noel at 613-533-6000 ext. 77088 or stephanie.noel@queensu.ca.

OD Foundations

AHR 300
4 Credits

Diagnosing Challenges in Your Organization, and Designing and Implementing Robust, Workable Solutions

OD is the art and science of transforming systems and culture so organizations can remain fit for purpose and responsive to contemporary challenges and opportunities. 

Transforming systems can occur at every level: team, unit, division, or organization. System transformation is not easy, and only takes place when people are aligned to purpose and strategy, and mobilized for the change. It requires inspiring leaders to drive the effort, purposeful interaction between people and teams to tap into aspirational goals, thoughtful facilitation to foster understanding of context and challenges ahead, and systems tools to design and implement robust and sustainable strategies.  

Organization Development Foundationsis designed to enable you to fulfill the OD facilitator role, partnering with leaders, and guiding transformational change.

Tour of the Program

a) Setting the Stage

What are your roles as a practitioner of organization development (OD)?

What exactly is OD? While there is no comprehensive, widely accepted definition of OD, we will use analogies to create a working definition that will guide you as an OD practitioner back in your organization.

The focus will be on classic OD principles: collaboration; the group as the unit of change; action learning; and whole systems perspective.

b) Understanding Where OD Came From

To know where we are going it helps to know where we have been. This section provides the historical perspective you need to ground future practice.

You will examine:

  • Major theorists who influenced the evolution of OD from scientific management to systems theory, with a view to understanding contemporary practices such as large-scale interventions
  • How OD theory and practice have shaped our perspectives of the effective workplace
  • How environmental factors influence our definition of the ideal organization

c) Defining the Well-Designed Workplace

Organization development means creating an enabling workplace where people can work effectively toward strategic goals. What defines functional, high-performance workplaces? The answer lies in the Queen's IRC OD diagnostic model, the Blueprint for Organizational Effectiveness. Explore challenges your organization is experiencing for each area of the Blueprint by using the Gap Analyser.

d) Exploring the Action Research Model

Go deep into the action research consulting process, in which practitioners partner with their clients to collect and analyze data and create interventions to accomplish the client's goals.

You will learn:

  • How data are collected through interviews, focus groups, surveys, observations, review of historical material, and other methods
  • How data are analyzed and presented to the client group so that a shared diagnosis and interventions can be developed

e) Viewing the Organization From a Systems Perspective

OD is a change process that looks at the overall dynamics of people systems, and how changes in one area affect the other parts. You will work through a series of thought-provoking, experiential activities designed to highlight the importance of systems thinking.

You will learn:

  • Tools for mapping systems
  • Barriers that block innovation and create misalignments

f) The OD Blueprint and OD Consulting Process

This is your chance to start working with the theory and skills you have been learning. Using the OD Blueprint as the diagnostic template and the action research consulting model, you will work through a case scenario. Your small group will:

  • Diagnose the problem or challenge
  • Assess relevant data
  • Define the change agenda
  • Discuss possible interventions
  • Share the valuable information generated with the entire group

g) Self as Instrument

Taking stock of all that you have learned this week and the challenges that await you on the return to work, how prepared are you for the various roles that you will play as an OD practitioner?

In this closing module, we will ask you to turn the lens on yourself and answer the following questions:

  • What talents do I bring to my role as an OD practitioner?
  • What drivers- values, goals, needs, wants - motivate me to do my best work?
  • What deep knowledge do I possess based on life experiences and observations?
  • What must I do to continue my personal development?

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the week, you will be better positioned to:

  • Use systems tools, like the IRC’s Blueprint for Organizational Effectiveness and the 4-D process to assess systems coherence and health 
  • Diagnose organizational challenges using the Queen’s IRC Blueprint 
  • Engage stakeholders in the 4-D action learning process to tap into collective knowledge and know how, in order to gain a full understanding of the challenge at hand, and design workable solutions that people are energized to implement because they were involved from the start 
  • Put in practice OD principles: systems thinking, action learning, client partnering, and stakeholder engagement to foster holistic and creative thinking, widespread collaboration, and the iterative development of robust options for moving forward 
  • Apply OD theories and practices to one of your organizational challenges, and create a plan for moving forward

 

Benefits

Organizational Benefits

  • People management systems aligned to the organization's north star
  • Ability to move toward culture-level change with lasting effect
  • Shared ownership of complex challenges
  • Better understanding of bottlenecks blocking greater effectiveness

Takeaway Tools

  • Participant Case Study Workbook
  • Blueprint for Organizational Effectiveness
  • Organizational Effectiveness Gap Analysis

Who Should Attend

Human resources and organizational development practitioners, team leaders, external and internal consultants, planners, and implementers of change who want to learn a leading-edge methodology for understanding and achieving optimal organization development

Facilitators and Speakers

*The roster of speakers is subject to change.

Venues and Accommodations

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for a program?

You can register online, call us toll-free at 1-888-858-7838, or email us at irc@queensu.ca. Once you register, we will send you a confirmation by email. Information about the program location, check-in time, and the agenda will follow.

How do I pay for the program?

If you are registering online, you may pay by Visa or MasterCard.  You may also choose to be invoiced first, and pay by cheque (payable to Queen's University) or credit card. You may also wish to call us with your credit card number to make the payment.

If your organization is tax exempt, we will require a copy of your tax exemption certificate.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes. We offer an Early-Bird discount.  If you register 60 days before the start of a program, you will save $300 on the tuition of four- and five-day programs, and $150 on two- and three-day programs.

If you register three people from the same organization in the same program at the same time, you will receive a 10% discount on program fees. If you register five or more people in the same program at the same time, you will receive a 20% discount.

If you know you will be pursuing a Queen's Certificate and would like to remit tuition in one payment before your first program, we offer a special fee with a considerable saving. Contact us at irc@queensu.ca for more information.

Please note that only one discount may be applied.

What is included in the registration fee?

Program fees include tuition, workbook materials, lunches, and some dinners. You are responsible for transportation, accommodation, and some meals.

Once I enroll in a program, may I cancel without penalty?

Substitutions are permitted with no penalty at any time. Transfers and cancellations are permitted with no penalty up to 3 weeks prior to the program start date. There will be a $500 fee charged for cancellations, transfers, and no-shows within 3 weeks of the program start date.

Where does the program take place?

Our programs typically take place at a hotel. This information can be found in the tab above, called Venue and Accommodations.

I would like to make my travel plans.  What are the start and end times for the program?

The OD Foundations program starts at 8:30 a.m. on the first day. (Registration runs from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.)

The program finishes at 4:00 p.m. on the last day.

If I am working towards a Queen's IRC Certificate, which course should I take first?

You may take the programs in any order that reflects your learning needs at the time. Our certificates feature a core program or programs that introduce you to what we consider the core competencies of the field. The remaining programs offer a deeper exploration of each area. For this reason, we find that participants in the certificate stream benefit most by taking the foundational program first.

My level of expertise is above the foundational program for the certificate I am working on. Do I still need to take that program to earn a certificate?

Queen's IRC offers participants maximum flexibility to customize their individual training needs. Upon request, participants with advanced expertise may skip the foundational program, and choose another program from our entire program lineup, for credit towards a certificate. Participants must earn 12 credits to earn a certificate.

How long do I have to complete a certificate?

We attach no timeline for achieving your certificate. Once you have earned a credit, you have earned the credit. We do recommend, however, that participants complete their certificate within one to six years. Most people earn their certificates within three years.

What if I want to take one of your programs but do not want to pursue a certificate?

That's fine. All of our programs may be taken individually, and you can mix and match the courses in labour relations, human resources and organization development, depending on your learning needs. At the conclusion of each program, you are given a certificate of completion.

I have taken a custom program with the IRC.  Will this count towards a certificate?

Yes. Participants who take an IRC custom program may also use their training days as credits towards a certificate.

If I have other questions, who may I speak with personally?

For a program registration query, please feel free to call us at 1-888-858-7838 or 613-533-6628. To reach the Director and staff members, consult our online directory. To reach one of our facilitators, please contact Stephanie Noel at 613-533-6000 ext. 77088 or stephanie.noel@queensu.ca.

HR Decision Making

AHR 402
2 Credits

Using Collective Thinking to Develop an Effective Approach to Decision Making

There are currently no scheduled instances of this program. Please contact Queen’s IRC at 1-888-858-7838 for more information.

What are the characteristics of an effective and robust approach to decision making? Successful decision makers uncover and compensate for hidden biases and assumptions. They view decision making as a process that includes identifying desired results, exploring creative options, and realistically estimating benefits and risks. At the root of the process is the practice of generative thinking, to move away from ‘either – or’ thinking to embrace the creative integration of ideas.

Tour of the Program

a) Introduction to Decision Making

Surprising but true, approximately half of the decisions made in organizations fail. So found Professor Paul Nutt (2010) in his detailed exploration of hundreds of strategic decisions made in private and public sector organizations throughout North America and Europe. Why such a high failure rate? Failure prone decision makers are victimized by two interrelated blunders: unconscious thinking traps and failure-prone practices. Together these blunders cause decision makers to jump to premature conclusions. They over estimate the clarity of the issue, the reliability of the data, the effectiveness of the options, and the commitment of the implementers. Failed decisions spiral into additional problems, waste time and energy, and engender feelings of frustration and resentment.

In this opening module, learn about:

  • What decision making is and is not
  • Factors that contribute to flawed decisions; perceptual, cognitive and social
  • 3 types of decisions; quick, significant and strategic
  • 8 criteria for high quality decisions

b) The Key Ingredients for Effective Decision Making

How do we help decision makers breakaway from convention, embrace fresh ideas, and work across boundaries? Effective decision makers frame the right questions, and then engage in a process of learning by involving the right people, collecting and analyzing relevant data and generating options that can be tested and refined. They also encourage innovation, realistically estimate benefits and risks, and voice ethical questions. The idea is to approach decision making like a designer, first uncovering the core ‘needs’ related to your dilemma, before generating and testing options, to arrive at decisions that merge desires, actions and outcomes.

In this module, learn about:

  • A process that knits together thinking tools and techniques to arrive at high quality decisions
  • Approaches for engaging system stakeholders so that relevant perspectives and expertise are tapped, and implementers are meaningful involved and energized for action

c) Data Analytics and Visualization Techniques

More and more, strategic decisions are being made from a base of data analytics. Executive level decision makers want data driven analysis and insights to understand optional solutions and to offer guidance on the best actions to take. We’ve invited a data analytics guru to share insights on how you can leverage analytics to inform your strategic dilemmas.

In this module, learn about:

  • The power of data analytics, with real life examples related to HR decision making
  • Identifying outcomes and indicators for your strategic decision making needs
  • Working with your IT and analytics colleagues to acquire the analytics you need
  • Useful tools for visualizing the data and culling insights from the data
  • The art of influencing, and making the case for optimal solutions

Learning Outcomes

Learn how to:

  • Use the 8 criteria of high quality decisions to assess the effectiveness of your decisions
  • Diagnose the factors that sabotage thinking and lead to failed decisions
  • Assess the complexity of strategic decisions, given factors such as urgency, impact, uncertainty and ambiguity
  • Use a decision making approach that best fits the decision dynamics
  • Use the decision making cycle to overcome decision biases and enhance the quality of decisions
  • Engage stakeholders in a robust process to enhance ‘thinking together’ for generative results and aligned action

Benefits

Organizational Benefits

  • Enhanced capability to break away from convention, embrace fresh ideas, and work across boundaries
  • Greater knowledge of decision making as a process that includes: identifying desired results, searching widely, encouraging innovation, and realistically estimating the benefits and risks
  • Well-designed, workable solutions that key stakeholders are energized to implement

Takeaway Tools

  • Decision Quality Analysis Tool
  • The Critical Decision Making Cycle
  • The 4-D Decision Making Process
  • Decision Making Workbook

Who Should Attend

HR and OD practitioners, project leaders, and managers who have responsibility for strategic decision making

Facilitators and Speakers

*The roster of speakers is subject to change.

Venues and Accommodations

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for a program?

You can register online, call us toll-free at 1-888-858-7838, or email us at irc@queensu.ca. Once you register, we will send you a confirmation by email. Information about the program location, check-in time, and the agenda will follow.

How do I pay for the program?

If you are registering online, you may pay by Visa or MasterCard.  You may also choose to be invoiced first, and pay by cheque (payable to Queen's University) or credit card. You may also wish to call us with your credit card number to make the payment.

If your organization is tax exempt, we will require a copy of your tax exemption certificate.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes. We offer an Early-Bird discount.  If you register 60 days before the start of a program, you will save $300 on the tuition of four- and five-day programs, and $150 on two- and three-day programs.

If you register three people from the same organization in the same program at the same time, you will receive a 10% discount on program fees. If you register five or more people in the same program at the same time, you will receive a 20% discount.

If you know you will be pursuing a Queen's Certificate and would like to remit tuition in one payment before your first program, we offer a special fee with a considerable saving. Contact us at irc@queensu.ca for more information.

Please note that only one discount may be applied.

What is included in the registration fee?

Program fees include tuition, workbook materials, lunches, and some dinners. You are responsible for transportation, accommodation, and some meals.

Once I enroll in a program, may I cancel without penalty?

Substitutions are permitted with no penalty 8 days or more from the program start date.
Substitutions 7 days or less before the program start date will be subject to a $500 charge.
Transfers and cancellations are permitted with no penalty up to 15 days prior to the program start date.
Transfers and cancellations 14 days or less from the program start date will be subject to a 100% charge of the program fee.

Where does the program take place?

Our programs typically take place at a hotel. This information can be found in the tab above, called Venue and Accommodations.

I would like to make my travel plans.  What are the start and end times for the program?

Information coming soon.

If I am working towards a Queen's IRC Certificate, which course should I take first?

You may take the programs in any order that reflects your learning needs at the time. Our certificates feature a core program or programs that introduce you to what we consider the core competencies of the field. The remaining programs offer a deeper exploration of each area. For this reason, we find that participants in the certificate stream benefit most by taking the foundational program first.

My level of expertise is above the foundational program for the certificate I am working on. Do I still need to take that program to earn a certificate?

Queen's IRC offers participants maximum flexibility to customize their individual training needs. Upon request, participants with advanced expertise may skip the foundational program, and choose another program from our entire program lineup, for credit towards a certificate. Participants must earn 12 credits to earn a certificate.

How long do I have to complete a certificate?

We attach no timeline for achieving your certificate. Once you have earned a credit, you have earned the credit. We do recommend, however, that participants complete their certificate within one to six years. Most people earn their certificates within three years.

What if I want to take one of your programs but do not want to pursue a certificate?

That's fine. All of our programs may be taken individually, and you can mix and match the courses in labour relations, human resources and organization development, depending on your learning needs. At the conclusion of each program, you are given a certificate of completion.

I have taken a custom program with the IRC.  Will this count towards a certificate?

Yes. Participants who take an IRC custom program may also use their training days as credits towards a certificate.

If I have other questions, who may I speak with personally?

For a program registration query, please feel free to call us at 1-888-858-7838 or 613-533-6628. To reach the Director and staff members, consult our online directory. To reach one of our facilitators, please contact Stephanie Noel at 613-533-6000 ext. 77088 or stephanie.noel@queensu.ca.

Organizational Design

AHR 301
3 Credits

Learning a Robust Yet Practical Process to Guide Organizational Designers in Making Relevant Design Choices

Organizational design is becoming an essential competency for the OD practitioner. As organizations strive to manage constant change, designs with steep hierarchies, centralized authority, and narrowly defined jobs are hopelessly outdated. Participants will explore the building blocks of good design and learn a process to explore design issues, options and solutions from a fresh perspective.  

Tour of the Program

a) Introduction to Organizational Design

According to academics Goold and Campbell, a good way to understand organizational design is to think of the human body. The basic skeleton represents the formal structure that allocates responsibilities to groupings and establishes reporting relationships; the connective tissue represents key linkages through which the units relate to one another; and the circulatory system represents the people and culture that bring the skeleton and tissue to life. All these elements comprise a healthy and effective organization. Working on the body of an organization, therefore, is not an ad hoc process but one that involves collaboration and a whole-systems perspective.

In this opening module, learn about:

  • Gareth Morgan's six models of organizational structure
  • Differences between mechanistic and organic structures, and the design challenges that each presents
  • The relationship between environmental uncertainty and organizational structure

b) The Organization Design Workshop

A highly engaging half-day exercise will help you and your fellow participants get "real" about the pitfalls of poorly designed organizations and the challenges in determining the right fit for an enterprise's strategy. The workshop is designed to show how organizational structures enable or prevent information flow, responsiveness, and innovation.

You will play a role as top executive, middle manager, worker, or customer interacting in a fast-paced environment. Apply and discuss practical strategic frameworks, based on the work of Barry Oshry, that will help you connect the experience to your own organization.

c) Building a Model

Good design shapes the right behaviour, facilitates the right pattern of information processing, and achieves benefits of scale. Using the work of Nadler, Tushman, and Galbraith and a variety of case studies as a foundation, you will learn more about three key elements of design:

  • Groupings: Do you group functions, positions, and individuals by activity, output, customer, or a combination? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option?
  • Linkages: What are the formal and informal mechanisms that encourage information flow among disparate groups? What are the consequences of these linking mechanisms?
  • Processes and Systems: In what ways are groupings and linkages supported or undermined by an organization's strategic, business, and support management practices? Are they creating the necessary alignment of these practices?

d) Diagnosing the Issue

Even before you get down to the nitty gritty work, you will need to determine the extent of the design initiative, and how narrow or broad it must be. Looking at your own organization, is there a need to modify structural elements, such as reporting relationships and groupings, or can informal means—clarifying values or norms of conduct—achieve the same ends?

Learn Goold and Campbell's nine tests of good design to help you answer that question and identify the bedrock issues that must be addressed. Apply these tests to a case study of a company that underwent a radical redesign of operations to create a "spaghetti" organization.

e) Following a Design Roadmap

A core element of all of our organization effectiveness programs is grounding in proper process. During this program, learn the 4-D design process

  • Define: Determine the precipitating need, who must be involved, and the roadmap going forward
  • Discover: Determine design criteria and issues
  • Design: Establish groupings, linkages, processes; create and test straw models; decide on the right design
  • Do: Create the implementation teams and a roll-out schedule, and define who will do what work

You will see how the entire process works by exploring the life cycle of a major redesign initiative. To make the process easy to execute, you will be given tools such as a stakeholder map and involvement scale, a design criteria template, a guide showing how to link design to your organization's strategic focus, and job descriptions for design team members.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the week, you will be better positioned to:

  • Apply the theoretical building blocks of organizational design
  • Select your design team and develop the most efficient and effective approach to engaging stakeholders
  • Apply the ‘good design tests’ for a coherent approach to diagnosing design issues and developing design criteria
  • Develop design concepts that incorporate the principles of a high-performance culture: open communication; decentralized decision-making; collaborative relationships; diversity
  • Link design to your organization’s strategy and value discipline

Benefits

Organizational Benefits

  • Successful restructuring based on a proven process and rigorous tools
  • Wide-scale alignment of how organizational goals are aligned with capabilities, resources, relationships, leadership and people talents.
  • Significant savings by bringing the design creation process in-house

Takeaway Tools

  • Designing Organizations Workbook and Toolkit
  • The Good Design Tests
  • The Design Concept Template

Who Should Attend

Design team members including managers, HR/OD practitioners, and consultants.

Facilitators and Speakers

*The roster of speakers is subject to change.

Venues and Accommodations

Sep 22-24, 2020 - Toronto

The program venue has not been finalized. Queen's IRC programs are usually held at a hotel. Please check back at a later date or contact Queen's IRC at 1-888-858-7838 for additional information.

February 9-11, 2021 - Ottawa

The program venue has not been finalized. Queen's IRC programs are usually held at a hotel. Please check back at a later date or contact Queen's IRC at 1-888-858-7838 for additional information.

June 8-10, 2021 - Calgary

The program venue has not been finalized. Queen's IRC programs are usually held at a hotel. Please check back at a later date or contact Queen's IRC at 1-888-858-7838 for additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for a program?

You can register online, call us toll-free at 1-888-858-7838, or email us at irc@queensu.ca. Once you register, we will send you a confirmation by email. Information about the program location, check-in time, and the agenda will follow.

How do I pay for the program?

If you are registering online, you may pay by Visa or MasterCard.  You may also choose to be invoiced first, and pay by cheque (payable to Queen's University) or credit card. You may also wish to call us with your credit card number to make the payment.

If your organization is tax exempt, we will require a copy of your tax exemption certificate.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes. We offer an Early-Bird discount.  If you register 60 days before the start of a program, you will save $300 on the tuition of four- and five-day programs, and $150 on two- and three-day programs.

If you register three people from the same organization in the same program at the same time, you will receive a 10% discount on program fees. If you register five or more people in the same program at the same time, you will receive a 20% discount.

If you know you will be pursuing a Queen's Certificate and would like to remit tuition in one payment before your first program, we offer a special fee with a considerable saving. Contact us at irc@queensu.ca for more information.

Please note that only one discount may be applied.

What is included in the registration fee?

Program fees include tuition, workbook materials, lunches, and some dinners. You are responsible for transportation, accommodation, and some meals.

Once I enroll in a program, may I cancel without penalty?

Substitutions are permitted with no penalty 8 days or more from the program start date.
Substitutions 7 days or less before the program start date will be subject to a $500 charge.
Transfers and cancellations are permitted with no penalty up to 15 days prior to the program start date.
Transfers and cancellations 14 days or less from the program start date will be subject to a 100% charge of the program fee.

Where does the program take place?

Our programs typically take place at a hotel. This information can be found in the tab above, called Venue and Accommodations.

I would like to make my travel plans.  What are the start and end times for the program?

The Organizational Design program starts at 8:30 a.m. on the first day. (Registration runs from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.)

The program finishes at 3:30 p.m. on the last day.

If I am working towards a Queen's IRC Certificate, which course should I take first?

You may take the programs in any order that reflects your learning needs at the time. Our certificates feature a core program or programs that introduce you to what we consider the core competencies of the field. The remaining programs offer a deeper exploration of each area. For this reason, we find that participants in the certificate stream benefit most by taking the foundational program first.

My level of expertise is above the foundational program for the certificate I am working on. Do I still need to take that program to earn a certificate?

Queen's IRC offers participants maximum flexibility to customize their individual training needs. Upon request, participants with advanced expertise may skip the foundational program, and choose another program from our entire program lineup, for credit towards a certificate. Participants must earn 12 credits to earn a certificate.

How long do I have to complete a certificate?

We attach no timeline for achieving your certificate. Once you have earned a credit, you have earned the credit. We do recommend, however, that participants complete their certificate within one to six years. Most people earn their certificates within three years.

What if I want to take one of your programs but do not want to pursue a certificate?

That's fine. All of our programs may be taken individually, and you can mix and match the courses in labour relations, human resources and organization development, depending on your learning needs. At the conclusion of each program, you are given a certificate of completion.

I have taken a custom program with the IRC.  Will this count towards a certificate?

Yes. Participants who take an IRC custom program may also use their training days as credits towards a certificate.

If I have other questions, who may I speak with personally?

For a program registration query, please feel free to call us at 1-888-858-7838 or 613-533-6628. To reach the Director and staff members, consult our online directory. To reach one of our facilitators, please contact Stephanie Noel at 613-533-6000 ext. 77088 or stephanie.noel@queensu.ca.

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