Culminating Project - Individual Assignment #1
Self Directed Learning Plan (SDLP)
Brian Mulliner – Cohort: Q3107
University of San Francisco
MSOD 682: Culminating Project in Organizational Development
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Identification of professional goal(s) (present to 5 years out):
Within the next five years, it is my goal to serve an organization through providing
Leadership and Management coaching and training, as well as and organizational change
knowledge, diagnosis and implementation leadership. It is also my goal to begin teaching
organizational development courses within an organization and/or community college program.
Finally, it is my goal to further research the topic of change leadership, eventually publishing
scholarly articles, and potentially achieving a doctorate degree within this specific business
focus.
Competencies relevant to my professional goal(s):
As an OD Practitioner, the MSOD program at USF has revealed the importance of the
following skills and abilities, if I am to become successful in achieving my professional goals.
First, I must develop my Intrapersonal skill and/or self management competence, as well as my
interpersonal skills and general consultation skills. Intrapersonal skills include the ability to
inquire into one self, the ability to know one’s own values, feelings, and having the integrity to
behave responsibly. Individuals with strong intrapersonal skills are active learners and have the
ability to find balance between their rational and emotional sides. Next, interpersonal skills
include the ability to create and maintain effective relationships with individuals and groups.
Finally, general consultation skills include the ability to manage the consulting process, carry out
an effective diagnosis, design an appropriate intervention, facilitate and process consultation,
develop client capability and evaluate organizational change (Cummings, Worley, 2005, Pg. 47 48).
Peter Block suggests that successful OD Practitioners must have the following basic skills
and abilities to be effective: technical skills (engineering, project management, planning,
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marketing, manufacturing, personnel, finance, and systems), interpersonal skills (assertiveness,
supportiveness, confrontation, listening, management and group process) and consulting skills
(contracting, discovery, feedback and decision), which is very similar to the research findings of
Cummings and Worley (Block, 1981, Pg. 6 - 9).
Competency strengths and opportunities for improvement:
The acquired skills, abilities, knowledge and experiences of an OD Consultant increase
their effectiveness and adaptability to work within diverse change processes. Within the USF
MSOD program we received training in organizational design, organizational research, system
dynamics, history of OD and change, organizational behavior, organizational psychology, group
dynamics, management and organization theory, research methods/statistics, cultural
perspectives and business. We also received training regarding managing the consulting
process, carrying out a diagnosis, designing an intervention, facilitating process consultation,
developing client capability, evaluating organizational change.
Subsequently, this program provided me with some introductory knowledge for many
organizational consultation focuses; yet, the greatest knowledge imparted pertained to ability
further research and collaborate. In regards to skills and abilities, while working at Wells Fargo,
I have begun to utilize and practice some of techniques and knowledge that I have acquired
within this program, yet have not mastered any to the point of considering them true skills and/or
abilities. Some of the self assessments tools that I have completed while in the program
indicate that I have strong technical and self-management skills. Reflecting upon my past
career achievements and tasks, I am able to identify times in which these two areas were
evident.
Conversely, the self assessment tools also indicated that problem diagnosis and
contracting are my greatest opportunities for improvement. Likewise, over the course of my
career, these have proven to be challenges. These opportunities for improvement have
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typically manifested themselves within my frequent tendency to take ownership for an entire
project, due to poor delegation skills, and my tendency to pursue a solution prior to finding the
true diagnosis.
Finally, I have a deep concern and passion for the development of others, which I have
found helpful when collaborating with a team, and/or serving in a leadership position.
Unfortunately, I have found that I have to balance this trait with business objectives and goals.
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References
Block, Peter (1981). Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting your Expertise Used (2nd Edition).
San Francisco, California: Pfeiffer Publishing
Cummings, Thomas G., and Worley, Christopher G. (2005). Organization Development and
Change (8th Edition). Mason, Ohio: South-Western, Thompson Publishing