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Unit details

  • Specialist unit
  • Level 7
  • 12 credits

Organisation design is about shaping an organisation to maximise its effectiveness, aiming for flexibility in delivery of its services. Through breaking down departmental barriers, seeking improved supply efficiencies, teamwork and collaboration and working towards better customer management and retention, organisations can enhance their performance and ensure that organisational goals and targets are achieved. Organisation design activities therefore focus on finding the most appropriate structures, relationships between departments and sections, and allocation of work activities, including definition of duties and role responsibilities. It has a clear link to performance management in that effective delivery of work and output will be measured and managed.

The module also focuses on how an organisation’s culture, values and environment support and enhance organisational performance and adaptability. Organisation development is defined by CIPD as a ‘planned and systematic approach to enabling sustained organisation performance through the involvement of its people’. This might include how organisational members acquire new skills, knowledge and behaviours, and do things differently, often as part of the application of continuous improvement strategies. The concept of the ‘learning organisation’ as one of a number of organisation development strategies that might be adopted as part organisational change activities is also explored.

The importance of cultural awareness in managing outcomes of design and development strategies, the practical applications of organisation design and organisation development concepts and the implications for the effective management of organisations and professional practice are considered.  The module requires critical reflection on theory and practice from an ethical and professional standpoint and provides opportunities for applied learning and continuous professional development.

 This module is suitable for persons who:

  • have responsibility for human resource (HR) decision making within an organisation at either operational, tactical or more strategic level

  • are HR professionals in a team or HR functional management role who are seeking to enhance and develop their career

  • have responsibilities for the HR function and activities within an organisation without a specialist function

  • are independent or employed consultants who support organisations in meeting their goals

  • have HR career and CIPD professional membership aspirations.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, learners will be able to understand, analyse and critically evaluate:

  • The historical and theoretical basis of organisation design and development and their context in terms of value and contribution to organisational life.

  • Available design options regarding organisational structures and relationships.

  • Processes and systems that need to be in place to maintain such structures and relationships, and evaluation of same.

  • Methods and procedures of organisation development and review their strategic impact.

  • Change management strategies and activities through the application of organisation development strategies, which might support organisation design and realignment outcomes.

  • Organisation culture, norms and behaviours.

  • The importance of the HR role in advising on these design and development choices and supporting their implementation.

How is This Course Delivered?

You will work directly with one of our advisers as they support your development with one-to-one guidance tailored to your individual learning needs. Candidates will also have access to materials and resources on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

How is This Course Assessed?

We are also flexible in the way we assess you. You can either complete an assignment or use one of work-based evidence templates.

Course no longer available

Please click below for details about a suitable alternative.

See current qualifications