XLRI (Jamshedpur) and the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, USA), both top ranking business schools in their respective countries, have come together to offer an innovative program on Positive Organization Development and Change (MPOD) in India. It has been designed specifically for mid-career executives with a passion for leading change initiatives. It will aim at enhancing their leadership and change management skills, building sustainable institutions, and shaping vibrant communities. The program will be open to experienced professionals from all functional areas.
The MPOD programme will commence in November 2013. It will be conducted in six one-week modules spread over 15 months. The modules will be conveniently spaced 10-12 weeks apart, making the program flexible enough to accommodate the busy schedules of executives and enabling them to attend on-campus classroom sessions without leaving their employment. Each module would be of 4-7 days’ duration. Four modules of the program would be held at XLRI, Jamshedpur or other locations selected by XLRI; the remaining two modules would be held back-to-back over a fortnight at Weatherhead’s campus in Cleveland, USA. In the intervening period between modules, participants will work on projects in their respective organizations. They will also receive additional online guidance from the MPOD faculty.
The programme will be facilitated jointly by a XLRI-Weatherhead faculty team which will include internationally acclaimed scholars, authors, thought leaders and intellectuals who have had pioneering impact on organization development and change. Among them will be internationally-acclaimed scholars and best-selling authors such as David Cooperriderand Richard Boyatzis.
On successful completion of all six modules of the programme, candidates will be awarded Case Western’s Master of Science degree in Positive Organization Development & Change. They will also receive two post-graduate certificates in Appreciative Inquiry for Business and Societal Benefit, and Developing Leadership through Emotional Intelligence jointly awarded by the partner schools.
“We are extremely pleased with our association with Weatherhead School of Management, and initiation of this new programme at XLRI”, said Fr E Abraham, Director of XLRI. “The innovative MPOD, delivered jointly by XLRI and Weatherhead, aims to develop a unique ‘portfolio of mastery’ in each participant, based upon fundamental pillars of knowledge: positive change leadership, sustainable enterprise creation, strategic impact and value to business, leading with emotional intelligence and experimental learning,” he added.
Dr Ron Fry of Case Western, who will direct the MPOD said “We are glad to offer this pioneering programme for executives from the Indian sub-continent and beyond”. He further noted that “Organizations today operate in global markets that experience volatile, non-linear changes and fluctuations, and this programme enlarges students’ world-view and enables them to shape sustainable organizations. MPOD responds to the increasing demand for rigorous, relevant education in the emerging fields of positive psychology and positive organisation scholarship.”
