Organization Development Certificate

Organization Development Testimonials

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Organization Development?

Organization development is an approach to improving organizational performance by aligning areas such as management, strategy, and people. This approach is rooted in science and draws from diverse disciplines like psychology, culture, innovation, social sciences, adult education, human resource management, change management, and organizational behavior.

What Can You Do With an Organization Development Certificate?

Professionals in this field are leaders and change agents. An Organization Development Certificate can prepare you to take on many organizational challenges. Examples of these would be leading organizational change initiatives, collaborating with stakeholders, and coaching your team through difficult transitions and conversations that may arise as a result. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, training and development managers earn a median annual salary of $120,130. That makes organization development a lucrative field to pursue!

Why Is Professional Development an Important Part of Organization Development?

Professional development is an important tool for continuing training and education. The goal for this is to optimize workforce performance. Successful professional development programs can affect wider organization development goals in areas such as organizational productivity, planning, and strategy.

What Is Professional Development in the Workplace?

Organizations can use professional development strategies such as education and training. They would do this to develop workforce capabilities and motivate, engage, and retain employees. Professional development can target specific needs gaps. It may even encompass broader and ongoing workforce education or training initiatives.

What's the Difference Between HR and OD?

Organizational development and human resource management have overlapping characteristics. They are both concerned with people and how they function within an organization, for starters. Historically, HR focused on things like employee training, policy, and compensation. OD seeks to improve systems and practices at the operational level. Lately, responsive organizations have blended the roles, involving HR in more strategic functions. We see this in defining and cultivating workplace values and culture.

What Are Important Skills for an OD Practitioner?

An OD practitioner’s skill set covers many areas. They support communication across units, problem-solving, critical thinking, and organizational and interpersonal skills. University of Minnesota CCAPS offers an Organization Development Certificate that can prepare you, in as little as four months, to help your organization optimize its overall performance.