Business Acumen

By communicating using the language of business, Organisation Development practitioners can engage more effectively with line management and other stakeholders, on change and development projects.

Identifying opportunities for the translation of activity-based thinking into output-based design and demonstrating the ROI of Organisation Development work; will encourage buy-in for Organisation Development efforts. Through Business Acumen, participants will gain an understanding of how organisations create value by engaging with the concepts of value creation, cost and quality.

Through this module, you will develop an understanding of how to manage and influence the bottom line, enabling you to build strategic partnerships, based on shared purpose. You will learn how to evaluate the core business model of your organisation, enabling you to help key role players understand the implications for their circles of influence.

• Understand how your organisation creates value (profit, cost and quality issues)
• Link Organisation Development initiatives to the bottom line
• Speak business language to engage effectively with line management

• MIT Business Model Archetypes
• Quantifying ROI, key ratios
• Key business terminology

• Understand basic business model theory
• Develop the ability to assess organisational performance against core effectiveness metrics, and identify possible improvement drivers
• Target Organisation Development/Change interventions to impact specific business metrics
• Communicate effectively with line management as a business partner

• Explore business value concepts
• Understand how an organisation creates value (profit, cost and quality issues)
• Understand how Organisation Development initiatives impact the bottom line
• Understand business language

2-days or 12-hours

Assessment is an integral component contributing to the success of this module. Participants will be required to participate in a variety of assessment activities that include but are not limited to assignments, action learning projects, case studies and examinations.

The WorldsView™ Academy Learning Process underlies all WorldsView™ programmes and is informed by progressive research about learning in contemporary environments. Our learning process consists of four learning channels:

• E-Learning platform that provides both a base for becoming familiar with  the field of each programme, as well as a space for ongoing exploration;
• A Classroom engagement where our faculty facilitate rich conversations  and learning experiences to deepen understanding of the field;
• A Workplace Application, often in the form of a workplace project, to   root learning in the actual work experience of learners and to ensure practical relevance and embodied understanding;
• and an Assignment/Evaluation, usually a portfolio of evidence combined with an examination, to confirm learning and conform to external examination board requirements, e.g. the Council on Higher Education, to formalise qualification.

Only highly qualified and experienced organisation development practitioners are appointed as Faculty in WorldsView Academy. Faculty members are selected in accordance with the specific module criteria as approved by the Academic Board. The requirements for the appointment of Faculty include relevant academic qualifications, experience in developing organisations and facilitation or lecturing experience.

A quality education programme begins with the development of quality modules and courses. World-class design and development standards are deeply entrenched in every programme module, setting WorldsView Academy apart from other educational programmes. Our design and development policies, frameworks and principles guarantee robust processes in the development of learning programmes and material.

These include:

• Highly qualified and experienced development Faculty.
• A robust development process.
• Numerous Academic Board and peer reviews.
• Integrated Learning.
• Core themes and philosophies that underpin all modules, ensuring learning coherence.

Organisation Development practitioners, HR practitioners, Managers and Leaders who want to understand and apply Organisation Development values, processes and practices that will have a positive impact on the business bottom line.

• National Senior Certificate/Grade 12/NQF level 4 (or equivalent)
• Age exemption (23 years or older)
• English at grade 12/NQF level 4 or equivalent

At WorldsView™ Academy, we understand that companies have unique organisational needs, which is why we offer customised training and development solutions to best suit your particular requirements. Please contact us for further information in this regard.