COHR 409 - Creativity and Innovation

This course is designed to encourage more expansive, critical, and creative ways of thinking about organizations, society, and the role of the individual in each. This will be accomplished by taking an interdisciplinary perspective on bureaucracies, businesses, governments, and other forms of organization to learn how they shape, define, and influence individual human beings, groups, and society. In addition to standard management textbooks and readings, the class uses the work of poets, fiction writers, essayists, and social critics to provide alternative source material for these inquiries. Philosophies of work, social organization, leadership, moral action, and corporate influence are considered in depth, with accompanying attention being paid to policy-making and direction by organizational leaders. Finally, the student is encouraged to develop original and innovative ideas for how to translate their personal values into social and organizational action.

Learning outcomes

The objectives of this course are:

• to cause students to develop original and innovative ideas related to organizational and work life so they can more effectively translate their personal values and beliefs into action.
• to encourage a critical examination of the pros and cons of modern organized life so that students will be better equipped to change or improve organizations when flaws are identified or to defend against unjustified attacks on organizations.
• to encourage students to develop personal management philosophies based on an examination of organizations, leaders, and historical events from different points of view.
• to cause to students to reflect on the moral aspects of organizational life.

Note: COHR 409 will not be offered in 2023W.

Prerequisite: COMM 203.