Organizations are complex and can be difficult to manage well. So managers need tools to help them better understand and deal with the many complexities and challenges associated with organizational life. In this course, you will learn theories, principles, and frameworks that will help you to design more effective organizations. We will view organizations from different perspectives that we will use as lenses to help us bring common organizational challenges, and solutions to those challenges, into focus. Some of these common challenges include clarifying the organization’s purpose, setting up effective governance systems, measuring organizational effectiveness, choosing an appropriate organizational structure, dealing with growing pains, and responding to changes outside the organization. As you learn and apply the principles from this course, you will be better prepared to effectively navigate the challenges that you face in your own organization.
This course is part of the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization
Offered By
Strategic Leadership and Management SpecializationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignAbout this Course
Learner Career Outcomes
50%
25%
14%
Skills you will gain
Learner Career Outcomes
50%
25%
14%
Offered by
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.
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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Course Orientation
You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.
MODULE 1: PURPOSE AND GOVERNANCE
This module explores the purpose of a business and shows how can managers infuse a sense of purpose into their organizations. It also examines different perspectives on corporate governance.
MODULE 2: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
This module explores various organizational structures and provides a framework for knowing when to choose a particular structure.
MODULE 3: GROWTH AND ORGANIZATIONAL LIFE CYCLES
This module explores several of the organizational design implications that managers need to recognize as they grow and move through various stages of the organizational life cycle.
Module 4: EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
In this module, we examine ways in which organizations can be designed to effectively respond to changes in the external environment.
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM DESIGNING THE ORGANIZATION
It was the hardest, but best course so far. Surely, it will be very useful to apply in any context. It gives one satisfaction to better understand leaders, organizations, and what could be better.
The course is nice but the wording of the course is heavy and is confusing most of the time. You've to put a lot of effort in trying to understand what the instructor means or want to say/ask.
Good course, but I had a lot of trouble interacting with the app. It would not let me post comments or questions which was a bit frustrating. Going off the app and through the website now!
I thoroughly enjoyed this course, as it helped me understand the corporate world better and how organizations are designed. I found it explained the company I work for very well.
About the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
- The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
- The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
