Organisational development (OD) used to belong to the world of I/O psychology. However in the last few years many HR and Learning & Development professionals have moved into OD roles. Here at Elephant we talked to many OD people and found that there was a lack of qualifications, training and support in this field. Following our first OD (re) Design Conference in 2018, we are pleased to now have two tiers of OD Certification.
Programme Overview
Our Certificate in Organisational Development (OD) Fundamentals is an 8 month programme for anyone wanting to work in OD, or new to an OD role, who wants to build their core skills and grow their knowledge of OD models, tools and techniques.
Over the programme, you have learning resources including workshops, videos and articles to build your knowledge. You then complete an assignment and get personal coaching and feedback from our team.
The programme also involves assessing your achievement level from the start to the finish.
Who should attend?
You’ll benefit most from the Certificate if you are working in an HR or operations role heading to work in OD, or have some OD responsibilities in your role (e.g. an OD Advisor). You’ll enjoy completing self paced online learning that focuses on practical tools and techniques, rather than just theory.
What will you finish with?
The Certificate in OD Fundamentals is different from tertiary study as we cover real life, rather than just covering theory. It’s full of practical suggestions and ideas to use. You’ll work through each module, with real case studies and assessments to test you are applying what we’ve covered. Once you’ve completed your final assessment you will be awarded your certificate.
Elephant Certificates are now recognised globally, in New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, the US and United Kingdom.
You can register and start whenever you choose.
The Certificate is AUD$1200 , NZ$1350, 595GBP, Singapore$995. If you are another location, let us know and we can invoice in your currency.
Core Modules
These modules must be completed. If you have advanced training or experience in one of these areas, then you can apply to have this module exchanged for an optional module.
Approaches to OD & your own skills
To start we cover the different approaches organisations take to OD, the skills needed (with a skills assessment for you), and understanding different communication styles so you can adapt effectively.
OD Models and Tools
You’ll learn key organisational development models and tools that are essential for OD professionals to use these in capability and development, leadership or culture initiatives.
OD Psychology
There are a number of Industrial Organisational (IO) Psychology principles that are useful for anyone working in OD to understand. Using key methodology and practises mean you can put in place solutions that address the root cause of issues.
Training Needs Analysis
Many OD Advisor roles help with Learning and Development. This module covers ways you can conduct a Training Needs Analysis, to identify what capability levels employees have, and how to feed this into a full learning or OD framework.
Effective Policies and Procedures
OD Advisors may advise on policies, and also help make policies or processes more effective. This module covers different methods to use to engage your business with your advice & policies.
Developing and Using Competencies
OD can help their business use competencies in a variety of ways. This module covers how to design, develop and use competency models for different OD functions.
OD Metrics and Analytics
Many managers and CEO’s do not understand what an OD function can deliver, as there is a lack of metrics or analytics delivered to the business. Find out how to use metrics effectively.
Wonderful Wellness
Mental health and wellness are more important than ever before. In an OD role you may be responsible for developing and delivering wellness and mental health programmes.
What recent graduates say:
Midway through the completion of my OD Certificate with Elephant Group I was promoted to a Business Partner. My manager has said she has really seen me grow through the OD Cert programme, which is why she knew I was ready for the promotion. I was also nominated for an award. I know that working through the OD Certificate with Elephant Group has played a big part in helping me achieve both the promotion and external recognition in industry over the past 12 months. As a direct result of the OD Certificate, I have grown in confidence in my role, and feel better equipped to try out new concepts, practices, and frameworks I have learnt from the assignments and apply them directly to my day job which has helped tremendously with my professional growth.
Carmen, L&D Business Partner, Construction company
The biggest learning for me has been the scope of the OD role. I moved into the OD space from a typical HR Advisory role just prior to starting the certificate, and this is a new area for the organisation, so it was enlightening to see just how many facets of OD there are. I did have some level of involvement across many of the aspects, but not enough to have a full understanding of the scope. Generally, I learned from the feedback that I often need to provide more context or detail to a point when writing it as a business case or to prompt action. I will continue referring to the learnings as our OD journey evolves.
Helen, Employee Experience Advisor, Local Government Sector
There has been something new that I have learnt from each paper, that I have been able to apply in the past 12 months to various work that I am leading. I’ve even been able to contribute to stakeholders’ projects with some ideas. It helped me become a bit more creative in the way I think and communicate. I’m proud I never gave up when I felt like it many times. But I was really interested in the topic, and I know my team thinks it was super awesome that I prioritised my own development and so they also did the same. I loved the feedback. It helped me to think deeper into my responses rather than high level with minimal detail. I then understood the models and tools better from the questions asked and deeper thinking.
Marika, Workforce Development Manager, NFP Sector
Aside from managing a hectic workload and multiple assignments, this experience has impacted my professional development. I have applied the concepts and theories I’ve learned to everyday work. This has allowed me to develop a deeper and better understanding of OD, enabling me to approach challenges with a more strategic and informed perspective. As a result, I have gained increased confidence in my role, as I now feel better equipped to contribute to projects I am involved and better navigate more complex issues. It has enhanced my skills and my strategic thinking, which is what I was hoping to achieve! I enjoyed receiving the feedback throughout this process. It offered a fresh perspective and presented alternative approaches that I hadn’t previously considered. The insights gained have broadened my understanding and provided me with new ideas and strategies that I can draw upon in the future. The primary goal of pursuing this certificate was to enhance my strategic thinking and deepen my knowledge of OD. The feedback has been instrumental helping me to think more critically and creatively. I now feel better prepared to apply these insights to my role and feel I have developed in my role and skills as result. Heather, Senior HR Advisor, National Charitable Trust
Register to start
Register to start the Certificate today, or choose your own start date.
The Certificate is scheduled over 8 months however you can defer completion by a further 6 months due to work or other circumstances.
Please do let us know if you have any questions. Unfortunately we cannot issue refunds once you have started your study.
Details
The Certificate is scheduled over 8 months however you can defer completion by a further 6 months due to work or other circumstances.
How do the modules work?
The Certificate is hosted on our learning platform. Once you’ve registered and your intake is to begin, you’ll be able to access the programme. Each month a new module will open up. You’ll then be able to access the video’s, articles, learning resources and your assignment. This is due back at the end of each month.
And the assignments?
The assignments consist of case studies with different questions to answer or asking you to review of your own processes. The pass mark is 70%. Our team will assess whether you have passed and have demonstrated good thinking around each answer. If not, they will come back to you with some coaching and feedback. You can then resubmit. The aim is to help you develop your skills in each area so you can deliver excellence to your business.
How long does each module take?
You have a month to complete each module and it will take you 4 – 6 hours to complete depending on if you have any experience or knowledge in the area already. Along with watching the webinar and reading any articles, you then need to work through and answer the assignment. If you do need more time, we can extend the deadlines.
What if I need more time?
While we schedule your Certificate over an 8 month period, however you can ask for an extension on assignments if you have a busy workload, or are travelling or have any other issue that means you need more time. In total you can extend your Certificate up to 6 months
Can I fail the Certificate?
Yes if you don’t complete your assignments, then you cannot pass the Certificate! If you complete an assignment but haven’t demonstrated the knowledge to pass the topic, our team will provide you with feedback and coaching and give you a chance to review and resubmit your assignment.
What if I’m stuck?
If you do get stuck on an answer, then you can email our team and get some further suggestions or coaching to help you gain the knowledge needed to answer.
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