An organizational assessment is a review of an organization’s processes, work environment, organizational culture, and organizational structure.  It differs from other types of evaluations we have looked at in this major because the assessment focuses primarily on the organization.  There is a constant need to review how departments are organized, processes are structured and implemented, and problems are managed.  Organizations are constantly trying to adapt, survive, and perform at a high level, but they are not always successful. The only way to better understand what they should change to improve their performance is to conduct organizational assessments.  This can help organizations obtain useful data on their performance, identify important factors that are aiding or impeding their results, and measure themselves with respect to competitors. The goal is also to assist managers in implementing effective action plans and appropriate solutions toward organizational objectives.

 

Attached above is an editorial written in my OGL 350 Diversity and Organizations class in the summer of 2014.  This class was by far one of my favorite classes of my major.  We focused on diversity and the issues that some organizations or leaders have in utilizing people’s diversity as a positive asset.  The class examined different models for analyzing culture and how those models can be used to explain cultural differences, prejudice and discrimination, understanding of various cultures (e.g. gender, sexual orientation, religious, social class, age), identity, socialization, basic intercultural competencies, theories relating to conflict and diversity in organizations, influence of culture on management styles, awareness of the competencies needed to effectively manage diverse organizations. Each week we would focus on specific issues related to the before mentioned topics, and it was eye opening to see how even other students around my age have such different views or even judgments about other races, sexes, religions, etc.  Our final project was to write an editorial about a subject that related to the class.  I focused on racial profiling in police departments.  It was interesting to research the issues involved with this, and how you even have racial profiling amongst police officers of the same race as the people they are treating unfairly.  The class and research for the editorial made me a little sad that our country is still so far behind on these issues.  There were some heated discussions in the class because of all the different viewpoints, but I think that made us all learn a lot.  It also opened my eyes to something I am really passionate about, and after taking this class, I wanted to find other ways to get involved with promoting and celebrating diversity.  It something I will continue long after I graduate.