Weill Medical College of Cornell University · Courses
eCornell CIPA
19 courses with the subject eCornell CIPA, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
eCornell CIPA511Assessing Nonprofits using Financial Statements and Ratios0
Nonprofit organizations may not be in business to make money, but they must still pay close attention to their finances to achieve their mission. Nonprofits, like all organizations, need to have enough money to pay salaries, run programs, purchase goods, or pay debts. Often nonprofits come under fire when they don't have a good financial balance, have too much cash, have high expenses, or are not putting the right amount of money toward programs serving their mission. Tracking the financial health of a nonprofit is not only the responsibility of the chief financial officer but also of its administrators, board members, directors, and key program staff. It's the responsibility of the entire organization to engage in the process and secure the organization's ongoing financial health. In this course, Professor Grasso draws on a wealth of first-hand experience with nonprofit management to give you a guided tour through the structure and interpretation of typical nonprofit financial statements. Professor Grasso will walk you through reading and interpreting financial statements including an income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. Using financial ratios, he will show you how to analyze the health of an organization by analyzing its cash reserves, debt burden, and expenses. You will practice calculating 10 different ratios and interpreting their results. And Professor Grasso will provide you with guidance on how to adjust your organization's strategy based on those results. As you move through the course, carefully-crafted tools and activities will guide you in applying what you learn about financial assessment and management to the specifics of your own nonprofit organization.
eCornell CIPA513Fundraising and Revenue Generation0
The courses Assessing Nonprofits using Financial Statements and Ratios and Determining Appropriate Budgeting, Debt Financing, and Cash Flow are required to be completed prior to starting this course.
eCornell CIPA514Strategically Governing the Organization0
These courses are required to be completed prior to starting this course: Assessing Nonprofits using Financial Statements and Ratios Determining Appropriate Budgeting, Debt Financing, and Cash Flow Fundraising and Revenue Generation
eCornell CIPA521Framing Complex Problems with Systems Thinking0
Whether you need to tackle a complex project, communicate more effectively, rethink your organization or your job, solve world hunger, or figure out your teenager, systems thinking can help you. All of these are complex and challenging real-world problems, sometimes called wicked problems. We all confront problems, big and small, in our personal and professional lives, and most of us are searching for better ways to solve them. In this course, Professors Derek and Laura Cabrera will demonstrate how we can use systems thinking to solve everyday and wicked problems, to transform our organizations, and to increase our personal effectiveness. At its core, systems thinking attempts to better align the way we think with how the real world works. Our thinking is based on our mental models, but these models, created from our unique perspective with its inherent biases, are usually inadequate representations of reality. The Cabreras illustrate how we can use feedback to recognize and adapt our mental models so that they better align with reality, enhancing our problem-solving capabilities. For systems thinking to be successful, it must be adaptive. In this course, you will explore the concept of complex adaptive systems, and while these systems seem unnecessarily complicated, the Cabreras will reveal a surprising discovery. Underlying all complex adaptive systems are simple rules, and applying these rules is the key to transforming the way we frame and solve everyday problems.
eCornell CIPA522Using the Four Simple Rules of Systems Thinking0
While you may not realize it, you are already making use of some of the patterns of systems thinking. For example, you may take a certain perspective on a problem however, you might not be aware of your perspective and more importantly, may not recognize that you are likely omitting other perspectives. It is these types of omissions that contribute to both the creation of our most challenging problems and our inability to solve them. This course will walk you through the four simple rules of systems thinking, which provide a new paradigm for solving problems. These rules represent distinctions, systems, relationships, and perspectives, or DSRP. Throughout this course, you will start to unlearn some of the deeply ingrained thought patterns that result in unproductive interactions, unintentional bias, and faulty binary or linear thinking. Systems thinking means intentionally reflecting on how you think, including both the information and the structure of your thoughts and ideas so that you can break old habits and think more systematically. With a variety of examples, tools, and techniques, you will practice making distinctions between ideas or things, organize ideas into systems, recognize hidden or underlying relationships, and identify the perspectives implicit in the information you analyze. As a result, you will be equipped to identify more innovative solutions, build consensus across diverse groups of people, and approach problems with more creativity, adaptability, and clarity. The course Framing Complex Problems with Systems Thinking is required to be completed prior to starting this course.
eCornell CIPA523Visualizing and Modeling Complex Systems0
How do you make sense of all the information you are bombarded with on a daily basis? We can barely absorb the overwhelming amount of information, let alone determine its meaning. As Derek and Laura Cabrera illustrate in this course, we humans process information best with our eyes and our hands, and we can take advantage of this fact by using visual maps. Visual maps can help you corral this information, organize and structure it, and most importantly, convert it into knowledge that you can act upon. In this course, you will use the online mapping software, Plectica, so that you can break down your complex problems using the simple rules of systems thinking, DSRP. Building maps with this easy-to-use software will help you gain insights into processes, relationships, or challenges of any kind, and enable you to quickly and easily share these insights with others. As you become more adept at creating visual maps, your systems thinking skills will increase as you deepen your understanding of complex ideas, communicate these ideas more effectively, and enhance collaboration across groups to spur innovation. The courses Framing Complex Problems with Systems Thinking and Using the Four Simple Rules of Systems are Thinking are required to be completed prior to starting this course.
eCornell CIPA524Building Analytical and Emotional Intelligence with Systems Thinking0
Recent surveys show that employers are looking for individuals who have both analytical and emotional intelligence. Organizational leaders across a wide spectrum of industries and professions want people with strong problem-solving skills who can handle their emotions and work effectively with others. How can you learn to better balance your emotions with critical thinking, to balance your own needs with the needs of another? This course will provide you with the tools and guidance for using the simple rules of systems thinking (DSRP) to build both your analytical and emotional intelligence. By asking more robust questions and challenging yourself to go beyond traditional forms of thought and logic, you can more quickly identify and bridge the gaps in your thinking and build new knowledge about any problem or situation. You will transcend either-or thinking to consider a wider range of possibilities that more closely reflect the real world. These same approaches for building your analytical capabilities also enable you to harness your emotions by helping you gain awareness of your own thinking. This awareness will build your emotional intelligence, which in turn will increase your ability to collaborate, think creatively, and solve tough problems. You will come away from this course with practical approaches you can apply in every area of your life to enhance your work, your decisions, and your relationships. These courses are required to be completed prior to starting this course: Framing Complex Problems with Systems Thinking Using the Four Simple Rules of Systems Thinking Visualizing and Modeling Complex Systems
eCornell CIPA525Designing Organizations for Systems Thinking0
Why do we start organizations in the first place? We have a vision for the future, and we need to work with others to bring that vision to life. The whole purpose of any organization is collective action. When organizations fail, it is often the result of the failure to harness the collective power of individuals to drive toward that singular vision. However, much like you would design an iPhone, you can also design organizations that are adaptive and can focus everyone on achieving the organization's vision. In this course, Cornell University faculty members Derek and Laura Cabrera present you with the design principles of intelligent, adaptive organizations built for systems thinking. With expert guidance and hands-on activities, you will create your organization's vision and mission, and build capacity and learning systems that support your organization's ability to achieve these core principles. This approach is a systems leadership and organizational design model that will help you better design, guide, manage, and change your organization. It provides you with a blueprint to build the culture you need to attain your ultimate goal: to have your entire organization, at every level, working toward realizing your company's vision. These courses are required to be completed prior to starting this course: Framing Complex Problems with Systems Thinking Using the Four Simple Rules of Systems Thinking Visualizing and Modeling Complex Systems Building Analytical and Emotional Intelligence with Systems Thinking
For organizations to succeed, they need to develop individuals who are constantly learning and adapting according to information on the ground. Sharing key mental models at the organizational, team, and individual levels is critical to creating a culture of learning that enables the organization to survive and thrive through chaos and complexity. In this course, Professors Derek and Laura Cabrera demonstrate how to become a systems leader; that is, someone who can use systems thinking at the organizational level, at the team level, and at the individual level. You will create a culture for your organization that is built on shared mental models and develop techniques to incentivize thought leaders to support the culture based on your vision, mission, capacity, and learning. At the team level, where the real work of the organization gets done, you will explore the process of building, sharing and evolving mental models through collaborative mapping and feedback processes. And finally, you will turn your own thinking into doing, to ensure that your actions are aligned with key organizational mental models. With tools, techniques, and expert guidance, you can begin to implement systems thinking at all levels of the organization, creating teams and individuals upon which organizational culture, values, and success are built. These courses are required to be completed prior to starting this course: Framing Complex Problems with Systems Thinking Using the Four Simple Rules of Systems Thinking Visualizing and Modeling Complex Systems Building Analytical and Emotional Intelligence with Systems Thinking Designing Organizations for Systems Thinking
eCornell CIPA541Leadership Skills and Traits in Public Organizations0
Are leaders born, or can they be made? In this course, we'll tackle this classic leadership conundrum, and at its conclusion, you will have developed your own perspective on what makes a leader successful. Using his experience as the former Deputy Secretary of Labor and background as a Cornell Visiting Professor, Professor Seth Harris will explore the skills and traits that make leaders effective in today's public-sector organizations. With real-world examples combined with scholarly research, you will analyze and reflect on both the personal characteristics and the skills and competencies that define great leadership. You will have the opportunity to assess yourself and other leaders on these critical skills and traits using leadership assessment tools. Because this course focuses on public leadership, Professor Harris will walk you through the key differences between public and private organizations to help you develop a more thorough understanding of the characteristics of your public organization. With this information, you will be able to determine your leadership readiness and create a plan for the areas you want to develop to become a successful leader within your organization.
eCornell CIPA542Assessing Your Public Sector Organization0
Are public organizations different from private sector organizations? Do they require different sets of leadership skills or traits? In this course, Professor Seth Harris will provide you with a framework that you can use to better understand your organization. With this understanding, you will be well positioned to determine how you can be a more effective leader in your organization. There are many elements that affect every organization and dictate the type of leadership skills needed to thrive. You will learn about societal factors that affect all organizations, such as technology, demographics, and cultural conditions, as well as how organizations and leadership are affected by these factors in areas like mission, resource availability, and process. Additionally, public organizations have certain unique external factors that private sector organizations don't need to consider. These systems and structures, public expectations, and external influencers, which can have an enormous impact of the role of the public sector leader. Lastly, you will explore the specific internal characteristics of public organizations, including factors such as the goods or service it provides and the types of employees who are attracted to public sector organizations. At the conclusion of the course, you will have a detailed picture of your own public organization and how its defining characteristics influence the leadership skills and traits required for success.
eCornell CIPA543Motivating Public Sector Employees0
Part of being a great leader is understanding why your employees want to work in a public sector organization, how you can motivate them individually and as a group, and what incentives and tools are available to do so. In this course, you will explore your own reasons for working in a public organization as well as the motivations of your colleagues using a well-tested survey tool. You will also determine what types of monetary and non-monetary incentives are available to you within your organization so that you can match them to the motivations of the organization's employees. Professor Harris will also explore how certain leadership behaviors can be a strong motivational force. Many employees will only be motivated by a leader when the leader's style and behaviors meet the employee's needs and those of the organization. In this course, you will explore some of these leadership styles, assess the behaviors of leaders in your organization, and determine which leadership traits are compatible with which public service motivations.
In this course, Secretary Harris will guide you through several leadership models that you can use to identify the most effective leadership strategies for you, your employees, and your organization. You will perform a thorough assessment of the employees to determine their overall level of competence and commitment to the organization's goals. Focusing on the organization, you will examine the degree to which tasks are highly structured, your level of positional power, and the state of the relationship between employees and leaders. Using your assessment of both your employees and your organization, you will determine which leadership behaviors will be most effective in influencing and motivating your staff to perform at a high level and meet the organization's goals. You will also determine which leadership behaviors will be most effective in overcoming obstacles to achieving critical team and organizational goals. At the end of this course, you will leave with a set of leadership strategies that are best suited to your organization and its employees.
eCornell CIPA545Goal Setting in Public Sector Organizations0
We all know that setting goals is critical to achieving success in any endeavor. But in order to do this effectively, you need an approach that works. In this course, Professor Harris guides you through the performance pyramid, a system you can use to set challenging goals and then develop operating plans and accountability tools that will enable you to measure and monitor your organization's progress toward those goals. Mastering a measurable performance framework, navigating challenges, and utilizing goal-setting theory will help galvanize your employees around a specific vision and optimize engagement and accountability.
eCornell CIPA546Leading Public Sector Teams to Success0
In any organization, teams can be an effective way to organize employees, meet critical objectives and move the organization forward. But how do you lead teams in public organizations? Do you need to adjust your approach because of the limits or constraints present in public organizations? In this course, Professor Harris will present you with proven characteristics of successful teams and help you to determine how your teams measure up. You will examine a model of team leadership that will help you determine when you should intervene and when you should step back and let your team find its way. You will also explore different possible interventions and determine the right circumstances to employ each one. Finally, Professor Harris will discuss the challenges of managing team conflict and provide you with strategies and examples that will enable you to successfully navigate the inevitable issues that occur when groups of people work together.
eCornell CIPA561Evaluating a Corporate Sustainability Strategy0
In this course, you will critically examine the sustainability-based interactions among corporate entities, their peers, regulators, the public, and other stakeholders in order to identify opportunities for improving the outcomes of these interactions. To do this, you will examine how corporate structure affects business practices and how different industries are affected by the sustainability movement. You will then identify how these factors influence a company's motivation to act more sustainably. You will also consider the balancing act that today's corporate leaders face as they uphold their corporate fiduciary duties and navigate evolving sustainability demands. Finally, you will assess the impacts of business activities on the environment and pinpoint a company's positive and negative sustainability efforts. By the end of this course, you will be better prepared to assess your company's sustainability practices relative to industry standards.
In this course, you will identify sustainability risks associated with particular corporate activities and propose actions to mitigate these risks. To do this, you will review a corporate 10k to evaluate and identify a company's identified risks. You will then examine ways that corporations disclose, report, and manage reputational risk. Finally, based on your previous findings, you will develop several strategic corporate sustainability initiatives focused on a company and its key stakeholders. By the end of this course, you will be better prepared to identify regulatory and reputational sustainability risks and develop strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluating a Corporate Sustainability Strategy
eCornell CIPA563Generating Profit in the Era of Sustainability0
In this course, you will explore how values-informed purchasing and investment decisions, along with generational shifts in investment and consumption patterns, create opportunities for companies that adapt to trends in sustainability. You will also examine ways in which regulatory changes, growing scrutiny, and increased pressure by civil society create growing markets for products and services that have fewer impacts on people and the planet than conventional products and services. Building on this base, you will identify how investment decisions can influence societal outcomes and how private, return-seeking capital can improve social and environmental outcomes by fostering more sustainable business activities. By the end of the course, you will be prepared to propose sound sustainability initiatives or new sustainable business ventures that you believe represent real opportunities for a company like yours to increase its profitability. Evaluating a Corporate Sustainability Strategy Sustainability Risk Management
