Online Course | Facilitating Organizational Change with the Cycles of Inquiry Model

Part 1: September 4, 2019 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Part 2: September 11, 2019 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET
Part 3: September 18, 2019 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET

Overview

College leaders and staff often come under pressure to innovate, improve outcomes, or remain on the cutting edge on short timelines. While decision-making under conditions of ambiguity and limited information is an important skill set, jumping to solutions can often be counterproductive. Sometimes a series of quick fixes comes with unintended negative consequences. Or plenty of fanfare and resources are expended on training but outcomes remained unchanged. Why is it so challenging to implement lasting change that makes a difference?

In this interactive course, we will investigate how the use of a structured process of inquiry avoids quick fixes, facilitates learning, and leads to ongoing continuous improvement; explore the inquiry cycle stages through examples, readings, and discussion; engage in hands-on practice with different tools and techniques for framing problems of practice and measuring results; and design an inquiry cycle for a problem of practice in your setting.

Learning Outcomes:

As a result of participation in this course, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize the pivotal importance of a deep understanding of a problem
  • Plan for a sustainable improvement process
  • Gain the tools to know if an initiative made a difference and what to do when it doesn’t
  • Communicate intended and actual outcomes of change initiatives to stakeholders

NOTE: Between course segments, you will be asked to complete assignments that support the learning objectives stated below, and you will receive feedback and constructive critique from course facilitators on how to improve and shape your work.

Facilitator

Alyce LeBlanc Alyce LeBlanc, Academic Coordinator, Capella University

Alyce LeBlanc is current academic coordinator for the Educational Leadership and Management EdD, the Instructional Design for Online Learning MS and PhD, and the Training and Performance Improvement MS and former School of Education assistant dean and faculty chair of research at Capella University.

Alyce LeBlanc’s focus is on building competency-based programs that develop learner skills and confidence in applied research while fostering rigor and scholarly integrity. She is currently engaged in a project to address the limitations of traditional research courses by embedding research and statistical reasoning concepts across the doctoral curriculum.