Dealing with Difference
Course ID: CEPL553Understand how difference can benefit or fragment a project team. Take a strategic approach to harnessing the power of difference.
Description
Successful collaboration and team functioning hinges on attaining an understanding and respect of difference and diversity. Difference can be at the national, personal, or cultural level, and managed well, can be a tremendous asset to a project team. This course explores the ways in which differences can create disconnects within a team and how those disconnects can be overcome. The best project leaders are well versed on the issues that can fragment a high-performing project team or undermine the group’s collective intelligence, and knows how to deal with them effectively.
This course focuses on the three main areas of difference – national and functional culture, personality, and learning style – and how different perspectives can create misunderstanding and misalignment issues within a project team. Particular emphasis is placed in diagnosing and overcoming the challenges associated with these differences among team members. A variety of frameworks and toolsets are provided to build bridges of understanding and develop processes to overcome actual and potential disconnects including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to identify and overcome personality differences.
Difference is an important component of any team. Taking advantage of the collective intelligence by tapping into diverse thoughts and expertise is one of the key roles of a project leader. This course will teach you how to master these skills.
This course has been approved for 6.0 Professional Development Units (PDUs) from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is essential for Project Management Professionals (PMPs), project managers, and functional managers charged with leading a cross-functional or project team to success. It is appropriate for business leaders, mid-level managers, and project managers who need to learn the critical leadership skills necessary to ensure the high performance of a project team.Enrollment
To register, contact an Enrollment Counselor at info@ecornell.com or 1-866-326-7635 (+1-607-330-3200 from outside the United States).Certificate programs are eligible for eCornell Payment Plans. Discounts are available for military personnel, veterans, and Cornell University Alumni. eCornell programs are not eligible for financial aid or federal Pell Grants. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.
May 19, 2010
June 30, 2010
Click 'Add to Cart' to see available dates beyond June 30, 2010.
Course Format
eCornell takes a problem-based approach to learning, and our courses are built around realistic case studies and scenarios. All courses are self-paced, and are facilitated by an eCornell instructor, who leads the online discussions and is available to answer any questions about the course content.
This course contains the following modules:
- National and Functional Culture
- The Importance of Difference
- Defining Culture
- Diagnosing and Overcoming Cultural Challenges
- Personality
- Defining Personality
- Overcoming Personality-Related Challenges
- Learning Styles
- Defining and Overcoming Challenges Related to Differences in Learning Style
- Difference and the Project Manager
Benefits to the Learner
Learners who complete this course will be able to:
- Analyze project teams for potential disconnects as a result of cultural, functional, personality-related, or learning style differences
- Minimize the negative effects that difference has on a project team
Authoring Faculty
Frank J. Wayno, Ph.D., Senior LecturerSponsoring School
Cornell University’s College of EngineeringTotal Learning Time
Approximately 6 hours over a period of two weeks.Certificate Information
This course can be applied toward the following certificate:You May Be Interested In...
Students who purchased this course also purchased:HRCI Recertification

Project Management Institute Professional Development Units

This course qualifies for 6.00 Professional Development Units (PDUs) from the Project Management Institute (PMI) for Professional Project Managers (PMPs) seeking ongoing education and professional development for continuing certification. eCornell is a Global Registered Education Provider of PMI. PDUs are designated as Category 3.
Technical Requirements
With all eCornell courses, access is easy. Participants only need a computer and an Internet connection. To view specific technology requirements, visit our Technology Requirements page.
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