Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
WFED 585: Appraising Organization Change and Development and Consulting
(3 credits) This course familiarizes students with approaches to evaluating organization development (OD) and consulting services.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Course Reserves | Library Resources | Software | Technical Requirements | Expectations | Course Schedule | Grading | Assignments | Academic Integrity | Policies
Overview
The field of organization development (OD) is a deliberately planned, organization-wide effort that exists to increase an organization's effectiveness and/or efficiency for those who work for and benefit from it. OD practitioners put theory into practice by designing interventions to help organizations achieve their strategic objectives. But how do you know if these interventions are successful? When the OD practitioner understands and uses evaluation and business metrics effectively by placing evaluation at the center of the intervention process (the OD cycle) and builds evaluation into the fabric of the organization, they expand the positive value of OD and build a firm future for it.
This course familiarizes students with approaches to evaluating organization development (OD) and consulting services. Building on the basic concepts taught in WFED 572, this course helps students develop the specialized competencies essential to evaluating OD both internally and externally.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you should be able to
- define evaluating for OD and consulting;
- describe unique issues associated with evaluating OD and management consulting that distinguish OD evaluation from training evaluation;
- summarize key similarities and differences in evaluating OD from the standpoint of internal and external OD consultants;
- clarify core competencies of the OD consultant and pinpoint appropriate evaluation strategies for OD services;
- discuss key issues in establishing a strategic evaluation plan for OD, implementing it, and evaluating the evaluation strategy;
- demonstrate skills in separating presenting problems from root causes during initial meetings and contacts with prospective sponsors and clients;
- prepare evaluation reports on OD interventions;
- discuss current thinking and research on OD evaluation methods; and
- review ethical issues affecting OD evaluation.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library Reserves (Course Reserves)
This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in your course navigation, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and search for your instructor's last name.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Software
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Technology and Software page.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Expectations
- Weekly Individual Assignments
- Mandatory individual weekly assignments based on the required readings are designed to reinforce OD evaluation and appraisal concepts, help you master and apply them, and support your continuing development. There are individual assignments for each lesson in the course. Individual assignments include introductory activities at the beginning of the course (required and ungraded) and a variety of other activities, including a small-group presentation project due at the end of the course.
- Self-Regulated Learning
- You are expected to read the assigned readings, participate in discussions, finish assignments, and build up competency throughout this course. No late submissions or passive participation are expected, and communication with your instructor and team members is the key to success in this class.
- Individual Versus Group Assignments
- There are 1,000 points allotted for the course assignments, of which approximately 70% are based on individual submissions and 30% on group submissions. Of the 1,000 points, 20% account for research-based article abstracts, 30% for online discussions and blog reflections, 20% for individual critical incident interviews, and 30% for the small-group presentation project.
The section in the Course Syllabus on course grades specifies the corresponding point values for individual assignments. - Specific Learning Outcomes
- Specific learning outcomes are incorporated into the design of each lesson. However, the educational benefit of this course is to be gained through completion of assignments and reflection on OD evaluation and appraisal concepts and techniques, which may be applied to your work environment and career goals.
- Communication
- There are two primary communication tools in this course. General announcements to the entire class will be made through the course announcements, and assignment feedback will be sent by the instructor through the Canvas assignment or the Canvas course email system.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
Activities are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of each lesson week.
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
The World Campus follows the same grading system as the Penn State resident program. The grades of A, B, C, D, and F indicate the following qualities of academic performance:
- A (excellent) indicates exceptional achievement.
- B (good) indicates extensive achievement.
- C (satisfactory) indicates acceptable achievement.
- D (poor) indicates only minimal achievement.
| Activity | Points |
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| Introduction Video | 10 |
| Blog Application Assignments | 240 |
| Online Discussion and Participation | 150 |
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Interview Project: Interviewing an OD Change Agent
| 400 |
| Financial and Non-financial Performance Indicators Paper | 100 |
| Feeding Back Results Presentation | 100 |
| Course Total | 1,000 |
| Grade | % |
|---|---|
| A | 93–100 |
| A- | 90–92.9 |
| B+ | 88–89.9 |
| B | 82–87.9 |
| B- | 80–81.9 |
| C+ | 78–79.9 |
| C | 70–77.9 |
| D | 60–69.9 |
| F | < 60 |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Late Policy
Assignments submitted late will lose 10% of their point value per day. Students who cannot submit assignments on time because of emergency or extreme illness should contact the instructor as soon as possible via Canvas email. Your email must be received before the assignment due date in order to be considered for a late submission. If a late submission is approved, you will be notified via Canvas email.
Assignments
Important: Note that, in some lessons, you may come upon assignments located within the lesson commentary. Be sure to complete the assignments as you come upon them, rather than waiting until the end of the lesson. It's important to begin your lessons early in the week in order to support dialogue in the discussion forums. Be sure to check back to add comments and read your classmates' posts throughout the week.
Please see the details in the Course Requirements and Assignments page in the Lesson 1 module.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
University Policies
- Accommodating Disabilities:
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
- Counseling and Psychological Services:
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
- Additional Policies:
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
- Military Students:
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
- Privacy Notice:
Please note that course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. The course instructor and any teaching assistant(s), of course, have access to the course throughout the semester. Each course offered via the World Campus has several instructional design staff members assigned to assist in managing course content and delivery. These instructional design staff members have access to the course throughout the semester for this purpose. Also, World Campus technical staff may be given access in order to resolve technical support issues. In addition, mentor, department head, or program chair may be provided with course access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. Each of these individuals will keep confidential all student course and academic information.
- Student Responsibilities and Conduct:
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Principles
- Report Bias:
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this course syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.