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OSR Master’s program

Frequently asked questions

How is the program different from an MBA or from programs in Organization Development?

MBA programs	OSR Master's program
emphasize the hard skills of finance, marketing, HR, IT, accounting, etc.	promotes a systemic, interdisciplinary approach
the breaking apart of a subject in order to understand it dominates the learning approach individual management topics and techniques are studied separately	students are encouraged to look at patterns, to understand the whole, and to "re-create" or put together rather than break subjects down develop observation skills and view an organization, with the OSR community as a prime example, from multiple lenses understand what is happening with yourself as you interact around the subject matter from month to month develop reflection skills to note what is happening to the processes, to the community and among the community comment on the synthesis they see occurring between sessions and across the quarter
delivered through the medium of traditional courses taught during the week	a learning-community approach — all participants remain together throughout the entire program follows a learning-intensive format, most often on weekends, and closely integrates classroom theory with real-world application

OSR participants are encouraged to see the complexity in an organization from a systemic perspective. Over the course of two years, deep understandings develop between the faculty and each advisee that allow the student to open up to personal change — with the guidance of the their faculty advisor and the Degree Committee, who challenge the student to "be all that they can be."

As members of OSR, students live the formation, growth, support and formal closure of their OSR cohort: "the learner is the scientist, the laboratory, and the experiment," whereas, in other programs, the student is the scientist only. The complexity is compelling, challenging, exciting and at times confusing!

I have an interest in obtaining my MBA and strengthening those skills. Through OSR, is it possible to strengthen those skills through part of the learning contract, without getting two degrees, yet still maintain the quality of learning?

A typical MBA program offers specific skills, such as financial analysis and management accounting, that are not taught in the OSR curriculum. In addition, certain MBA programs allow students to tailor their studies to target specific applications of business management skills, such as in information systems, human resources, operations, global management, international finance, etc. While it may be possible to complete OSR learning projects about leading change, OSR is not a substitute for attaining mastery in the core MBA disciplines.

I hold two Master's degrees (one in Educational Administration and Supervision, and another in Human Resources Management and Development). I'm contemplating a Ph.D. in order to know more about organizational change and development, will this program suit my needs?

That depends. It is not unusual for OSR students to have already earned degrees at the master's or doctoral level. Some applicants must decide whether OSR and a doctoral program is their next appropriate step.

The OSR Master’s program will provide a good theory base for organizational change and development, and it will enable you to make a significant contribution in your work place. Ph.D. is a valuable (and in some cases necessary) degree to have if you intend to do research in the Organizational Development or Organizational Behavior fields and/or to teach in higher education, particularly at the graduate level.

Does the OSR Master’s program improve other skills, such as listening?

Yes. Through the process of participating in a learning community that regularly reflects on the way it is operating, participants will grow in their general communication skills, as well as in contracting, negotiating, and resolving conflict. The skills component of the program includes effective meeting design and leadership, and presentation capability.

Can I skip some of the content?

No. It would be unadvisable for a student to deliberately miss a session simply because he or she had been exposed to a specific content area previously. In the OSR Master’s program, the presentation of course content is differentiated by several factors, all of which would be missed by not attending the session:

• the presenter may be a distinguished visiting faculty member;
• students actively seek to integrate course content with their job or life situation, which may provide a richer learning experience than when the student was originally exposed to the subject matter;
• students design and complete independent learning projects that may span the course of several sessions and require applying content from multiple domains;
• students who miss sessions also miss participating in their learning community and its activities, not just content;
• at times, the presenters may be other students and, as a learning community, will require other students' participation and support.

What are some typical projects people work on?

Student learning projects relate to their work and interests. Examples of past projects have included:

• designing a training program using whole-systems principles,
• assessing or diagnosing an organization or business unit,
• designing a whole-systems approach to process improvement, and
• designing a change intervention.

Some students have made the development of their own business into a learning project.

I have problems dealing with stress. Will this be a stressful process?

A key learning in the program is how to handle stress. This is accomplished in a wholistic way, integrating mind, body, spirit and heart. In addition, members of small student groups support each other in their various learning projects. It is important to have the willing support of family and friends.

Will I have to do a lot of reading?

Readings are carefully selected by faculty as well as by student design teams. The amount of reading required is comparable to other graduate level programs, but readings are more relevant to real-world application and to students' self-directed learning goals.

Will this be "touchy-feely"?

If by "touchy-feely" you mean characterized by any unwanted invasion of privacy to the point of discomfort and embarrassment, no. We model and teach that any intervention must follow the principles (articulated by Chris Argyris) of providing valid data, giving people the freedom to choose, and encouraging internal commitment to act. If by "touchy-feely" you mean whole person learning involving our emotions, feelings, and physical selves in balance with thought and logic, yes. Relationship, as well, is key to social system learning.

What if an individual can't handle a personal approach to learning? Don't some people in corporate America find talking about love or spirituality too threatening? Have you ever had people withdraw because it was too intimate an experience?

When people learn about the OSR Master’s program during the inquiry and application process, they usually come to have a realistic expectation about the OSR approach to learning and can assess for themselves their own comfort level with it. Some people have felt uncomfortable during the first quarter because the level of intimacy was outside their experience zone. However, in 25 years, no one has withdrawn because of this. On the contrary, graduates say that the "stretch" was a rounding experience for them that they found most valuable.

Have you ever run into discrimination within the learning community? For example, with people coming from different levels within their respective organizations, or having different educational backgrounds, some people might look down on other program participants, or assign the role of expert to others.

Yes, such subtle differences among participants do affect their behaviors toward one another. In our work of creating and sustaining a learning community, these behaviors are brought to the attention of the group and dealt with as part of the learning process. Of course, belonging to a learning community does not automatically eliminate all differences between people, but it does establish common standards for relating to and learning from one another, e.g., for seeking to understand and value differences, showing respect for others' views, etc.

What is the purpose of the residential sessions? Why are they required?

Residential sessions provide rich, sustained, in-depth learning experience and greatly facilitate the formation of the learning community. They provide for extensive skill-building, quality time with the faculty and peers, and opportunity for reflecting on learning in the context of life and work.

What is a Collaborative Learning Group? How will they be used?

OSR is a community of co-learners, including both students and staff, each with rich experience, insight and room to grow. Within the entire group of OSR participants, three Collaborative Learning Groups (CLGs) will be formed as ongoing small groups for the duration of the program. The CLGs enable participants to:

• Support one another's learning;
• Share and gain feedback from others on their entry statements, learning logs, individual development, etc.;
• Clarify degree process questions and expectations;
• Interact with a smaller group of peers within the larger OSR community.

Like a "homeroom," where you can find a smaller group for support, sharing, and developing ideas, each CLG is a quieter environment that allows all students more "air time."

How is grading done?

At the end of each academic quarter, qualitative evaluations are completed of each student's work and progress in the program. Academic credit granted at the graduate level requires "B or better" work.

I am anxious to get started. What can I do to prepare?

Several things:

• Talk with other family members so that they are prepared to deal with the impacts of the financial and time commitments you will be making.
• Talk to leaders in your organization about possible learning projects, change initiatives or other ways that you can integrate your learnings in the OSR Master’s program with your work.
• Read current articles or books about community-building and/or systems theory. Recommended reading list

Page updated Wed, March 25, 2009