Organization & Management Courses Spring 2006

Health Care Management
First Year Program
Second Year Program
Electives

Health Care Management

OMF 570
Healthcare Finance
Competency Area: Financial Management
Required of and restricted to Healthcare Management Certificate Students; others by written permission of program director attached to or on registration form.

Students acquire basic knowledge and skills for understanding finance in healthcare settings. Students will learn about the interface of unit and institutional financial controls including an explanation of the revenue cycle, billing, accounts receivable, and the difference between operating and capital budgets. Managed care, Medicare, and reimbursement practices will be discussed.

Section HC: Jack Dunigan
Time: Wednesdays, January 25, February 8,
March 1 & 22, April 12 & 19
(Make-up date, if needed - Wednesday, April 5),
5:30 - 8:00 pm
Maximum: 16
Credits: 1

OMH 586
Human Resource Management in Healthcare
Competency Area: Human Resource Development
Required of and restricted to Healthcare Management Certificate Students; others by written permission of program director attached to or on registration form.

Students explore the major responsibilities linked with human resources management: recruiting, interviewing, hiring, staffing, supervising job performance, staff development, performance evaluation, discipline and dismissal, and legal issues. Discussions also incorporate human resource issues particular to healthcare organizations such as recruiting ancillary and professional staff (particularly nurses and physicians), labor unions in hospital organizations, and the downsizing of hospital workforces.

Section HC: Beth Boynton
Time: Saturdays, February 25 & March 18,
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Maximum: 16
Credits: 1

OMS 518
Organizational Systems
Competency Area: Systems & Strategic Thinking
Required of and restricted to Healthcare Management Certificate Students; others by written permission of program director attached to or on registration form.

Understanding the interdependence of organizational systems is vital to managing and leading in today's healthcare setting. Skillful managers recognize that a change in one part of the organization can have both planned and unintended consequences in other areas. They also value creative thinking and strategy to diagnose problems and create viable solutions. This course explores the relationships of organizational tasks, processes, and the external environment utilizing concepts from organizational analysis, development, and formulating strategy.

Section HC: Tad Dwyer and Robbie Hertneky
Time: Saturdays, April 8 & 29
(Make-up date, if needed - Saturday, April 15),
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Maximum: 16
Credits: 1

OMD 673
Self as Leader
Competency Area: Self Development
Required of and restricted to Healthcare Management Certificate Students; others by written permission of program director attached to or on registration form.

This course focuses on the effective leadership and managerial skills that are most practical and relevant to the challenges facing healthcare managers today. Using various assessment instruments, participants gain an understanding and awareness of their current level of leadership competency. In addition, each student creates a personal development action plan and maps out selected areas of expertise they would like to further develop. Students may do additional readings and discussions, field or research projects, or case study analysis online.

Section HC: Steven Guerriero
Time: Saturdays, January 14 & February 4,
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Maximum: 16
Credits: 2

First Year Program

OMG 535
Group Dynamics & Leadership I
Competency Area: Collaboration & Group Dynamics (Required)

This course is designed specifically for first semester O&M students. It will focus on group development, group dynamics, and leadership. The course introduces students to elements of group dynamics and to a model that matches leadership styles to stages of group development. Students work in teams during the course and use course concepts to analyze their experience. Skills emphasized are group leadership and membership skills, group observation and feedback, conflict management, and managing diversity in groups. Students are expected to read The One Minute Manager Builds High Performing Teams by Blanchard, Carew and Parisi-Carew before the first class meeting. Students may do additional readings and discussions, field or research projects, or case study analysis on-line.

Section K: Peter Smith
Time: Friday, Saturday & Sunday,
January 27, 28, & 29,
8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 2

OMD 620
Leadership and Management Theory & Practice
Competency Area: Self Development (Required)

This course will explore and evaluate models of leadership and management. Using a theoretical and developmental approach, the primary learning objective is to construct personal models of leading and managing in complex environments. Through a variety of readings, experiential activities, self assessment tools and cases, students will have the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skill base and better determine the most effective ways to influence and sustain their organizations. Students should check the course conference on FirstClass for on-line assignments that will begin prior to the first class meeting.

Section K: Deborah Brown
Changed 01/18/06 to: Section K: Steve Guerriero
Time: Sundays, February 12 & April 2,
8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 1

OMR 618
Managing Knowledge and IT Resources
Competency Area: Research & Information Design (Required)
Prerequisite: Basic computer and Internet skills.

The Communications Revolution demands that contemporary managers embrace and exploit Internet technologies that will forever alter their roles and the very structure of organizations. Managers must learn to wed both technological and human skills to succeed in the organization of the future. They must also develop a working model of, and experience with, the fundamentals of knowledge management. In this way, they can better support the creation and sustainability of communities of practice, which enhance knowledge sharing and its application in local, regional, and global contexts. This course will address the issues of managing IT resources and knowledge management, and outline the critical capabilities necessary to operate in this volatile period of organizational change. Students will participate in online assignments, make oral and written presentations, engage in role-plays, and use the Internet as an information resource. Students should check the course conference on FirstClass for on-line reading assignments that begin prior to the first class meeting.

Section K: William Griffith
Time: Saturdays, January 14, March 11 and April 29, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 3

OMS 529
Perspectives on Organizational Theory & Behavior
Competency Area: Systems & Strategic Thinking (Required)

This course presents multiple perspectives of organizational systems and the influence these various theories have on our understanding of human behavior, leadership, organizational effectiveness and sustainability. The interdisciplinary models and theories used in the course will provide a framework to broaden our knowledge and skills in understanding the complexities of organizational life. Among the key perspectives we will consider are how structure, human systems, power, influence and culture all shape the nature of the organization. Perspective taking expands our ability to look beyond the predictable limitations of our experience to develop new personal theories of management and leadership. From this vantage point the course will help students build a greater awareness of the impact of their own behavior in organizational settings and to continually improve the quality of their professional practice. The class will utilize on-line resources and participation to augment the classroom experience. Students should check the FirstClass course folder three weeks before the initial class meeting for pre-course reading assignments.

Section K: Steve Guerriero
Time: Sunday, January 15, Saturday, February 11,
Sunday, March 12, Saturday, April 1 and
Sunday, April 30, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 3

OMD 661
Professional Seminar
Competency Area: Self Development (Required)

Professional Seminar provides a setting in which students and faculty offer consultation and support regarding issues students face in their educational, professional, and personal development. Students enrolled in Professional Seminar meet as a community, working together with faculty to develop a productive and inclusive learning group. Students will focus specific attention to issues concerning adult learning and development, through a process of assigned reading, reflective writing, dialogue and guided activities. Students may do additional readings and discussions, field or research projects, or case study analysis on-line.

Section K: Donna Mellen and Peter Smith
Time: Fridays, January 13, February 10,
March 10 & 31 and April 28,
6:30 - 9:00 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 1

OM 690
SIS: Supervised Independent Study

If you are planning an independent study, please register for an SIS on your registration form. However, an SIS contract must be submitted to the Registrar's Office by April 20, 2006, in order for it to appear on your schedule or transcript. Please be sure to specify on the contract if the SIS will be used to fulfill a competency area or serve as a required course substitute, or as an elective. Contracts received after the April 20th deadline will be returned to you for registration in a subsequent semester (additional costs may apply). Credits will not appear on your schedule until the SIS contract(s) has been submitted to the Registrar's Office, thus affecting your enrollment status and perhaps your financial aid eligibility.

Credits: variable

Second Year Program

OMH 582
Developing Human Resources
Competency Area: Human Resource Development (Required)

Human beings and the organizations they work in depend on one another. Effective managers know how to foster workplace culture, practices, and relationships that support learning, satisfaction, and strong performance among employees, who in turn commit their energy to the organization's success. This course engages students in examining their beliefs and values about the mutual responsibilities of organizations and employees and provides an overview of principles of effective human resource practice for managers. We then focus on specific aspects of that practice, including hiring, orientation, performance development, and dealing with unsatisfactory performance. We will discuss other human resource issues of interest to students. Students in the principal certification program will apply course learning to school settings. Students should check the course conference on FirstClass for on-line assignments that may begin prior to the first class meeting.

Section K: Donna Mellen
Time: Sundays, January 15, February 12 and
March 12, Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 30, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 3

OMD 675
Ethics & Social Responsibility
Competency Area: Self Development (Required)

As organizational and managerial decision-making becomes more complex, contemporary managers must develop more sophisticated working knowledge of the application of models of ethics and social responsibility. In this way, they can better support the creation and sustainability of fair and just organizations that profit a wide array of stakeholders in local, regional, and global contexts. This course will explore the role and responsibilities of managers as ethical thought leaders as they attempt to guide contemporary organizations in a turbulent environment. An overview of ethical theories will be provided to inform socially responsible decision making in a rapidly changing, diverse, global, and information-based world. Face to face and online discussion and experiential exercises will be used. Students will participate in online assignments, make oral and written presentations, engage in role-plays, and use the Internet as an information resource. This course will begin online the week of January 16.

Section K: William Griffith
Time: Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, April 2,
8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 1

OMC 679
Organizational Strategy and Decision Making
Competency Area: Purposeful Systemic Change (Required)

In this capstone course, students will draw on and apply knowledge and skills acquired to effectively diagnose challenges, determine options, and make decisions from the perspective of the Chief Executive or senior management team member. Effective organizational leadership requires a range of skills including a wide range of perspectives, experience, and skills to see and solve organization-wide challenges. These challenges will include responding to rapid changes and creating effective strategies. Students will draw on course work from the entire curriculum. Course goals include:

- More effectively diagnose challenges, create viable options and make good decisions from an organization-wide perspective.
- Learn to integrate multiple perspectives, experience(s), and course work to see issues and create viable solutions.
- See leadership as art as well as a science; appreciate what often seems like 'shades of gray' in decision-making.

Students will have the opportunity to learn through lecture, reading, discussion, small group work, case analysis, role-play, or simulation. We will also make use of FirstClass to communicate and the internet to conduct research.

Section K: Peter Smith
Time: Saturdays, January 14, March 11 and April 29, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 2

OMC 691
Practicum
Practicum Seminar
Competency Area: Purposeful Systemic Change (Required)
Restricted to matriculated O&M students.

Under faculty guidance, students doing practicum work will discuss their practicum projects, evaluate their experience and consult with other students. The seminar is designed to help solve problems confronting students as their projects unfold and to sharpen analytical and consulting skills.

Section K1: John Carr
Section K2: William Griffith
Section K3: Wendy Elliott
Time: Fridays, January 13, February 10,
March 10 & 31 and April 28,
6:30 - 9:00 pm
Maximum: 8 per section
Credits: variable

OM 690
SIS: Supervised Independent Study

Credits: variable

Electives

OMS 503
Board/Staff Relations
Competency Area: Systems & Strategic Thinking
Priority to 2nd year O&M students.

Volunteer governing boards are a critical source of influence in community and nonprofit organizations, and good leadership from both board and staff is essential to their success. The best executives and their boards can provide vision, synergy, and leadership - yet the board-staff relationship is often inefficient or counterproductive due to inexperience, blurred roles, frequent turnover, inconsistent volunteer energy, crisis management mentality, and poor leadership development. This course will introduce the Carver governance model, Chait's teamwork model, and the organizational life cycle model as frameworks for understanding and improving the work of nonprofit and community boards, and the relationship between board and staff. Participants will apply systems thinking, situational leadership, and partnership models to the board-staff relationship, and take home a variety of hands-on practical board and board-staff development techniques to address situations in their own community. While geared more for staff and volunteers working with nonprofit governing or working boards, this course is also appropriate for those working with advisory boards, school boards and town commissions, as well as those in the for-profit sector who may volunteer in their community. Students are required to do pre-course readings and a post-course learning paper, and may also continue discussions of board-staff issues or case examples on-line.

Section K: Lizann Peyton
Time: Saturday & Sunday, March 25 & 26,
8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 1

OMG 539
Conflict Resolution
Competency Area: Collaboration & Group Dynamics
Priority to 2nd year O&M students.

Whether formally or informally, personally or professionally, we negotiate, settle conflicts and disputes as part of our everyday interaction. Improving our understanding, knowledge and skills in conflict resolution are critical competencies needed to effectively lead and participate fully in the organizations and social groups we serve. This class is designed to help students understand the dynamics of conflict, learn methods for managing conflict and develop strategies for resolution. In learning these concepts and skills we are better prepared to transform the dysfunctional forces of conflict into creative, positive outcomes. The class is highly experiential allowing students to practice conflict resolution skills in simulated activities and through their own experience. The overall goal of the course is to provide both a theoretical/conceptual framework and practical application of conflict resolution strategies. Students should check the course conference on FirstClass for on-line assignments that may begin prior to the first class meeting.

Section K: Steve Guerriero
Time: Saturday & Sunday, February 25 & 26,
8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 24
Credits: 1

OMH 584
Designing & Conducting a Workshop
Competency Area: Human Resource Development
Priority to 2nd year O&M students.

The course is relevant to students who plan to use workshops as a vehicle for staff training and organization development work. Students will be introduced to adult learning theory, research on different learning styles, and strategies for assessing training needs. The course will also address key steps of instructional design and fundamental workshop facilitation skills. Students will develop a customized day workshop, a small segment of which they will present to the class for analysis and feedback during the final meeting. Class members will be expected to participate in online discussions with each other and the instructor, as assigned. Students should check the course conference on FirstClass for on-line assignments that begin prior to the first class meeting.

Section K: Sunny Bradford
Saturday & Sunday, March 4 & 5 and Saturday, April 8, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Maximum: 12
Credits: 2

OM 690
SIS: Supervised Independent Study

Credits: variable

OMF 568
Topics in Finance
Competency Area: Financial Management
Prerequisite: OMF 561 Financial Management I or written permission of the instructor attached to or on registration form.
Priority to 2nd year O&M students.

In this online course students will continue to develop the vocabulary necessary for communicating effectively in a financial environment. In addition, a variety of accounting and financial processes and tools for decision-making will be presented. The student will be introduced to such topics as break-even analysis, relevant costs for decision-making, and capital and operating budgeting decisions. Also additional financial topics presented by students can be explored. The majority of this course will be conducted using on-line technology through FirstClass. Problems and case studies will be presented on-line. The instructor may schedule some face-to-face meetings if needed.

Section K: James Dunphy
Time: Online course -
Face-to-face time to be scheduled if needed
Maximum: 18
Credits: 2