Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Within the ODEN organization, members who work as professionals in a particular area or who share an interest in a particular field of inquiry often join together to plan projects and programs of special interest to them.

Currently four SIGs are active:

• Coaching Corner at Penn's mission is "To provide continuing education and professional development of Penn's community of coaches. This forum will discuss, discover, and share coaching knowledge; encourage mentoring and coaching among members; provide an environment to test and examine coaching theories. In addition, we will advance coaching scholarship through the peer review and discussion of submitted coaching related papers/articles." The group's next event will be a "Happy Few Hours" on Thursday, October 1, 2009 from 5:00 to ??? p.m. at World Cafe Live. The event is a social/networking evening for anyone who would like to attend. No RSVP necessary - just come!
• Projects, Programs, and Portfolios (P ³) welcomes the participation of all those who are interested in new ways of thinking about organizing and leading projects and programs; motivating teams and leading change; orchestrating portfolio decision-making; identifying and managing risks and opportunities; and participating in strategy development. Michael Farmer is the person to contact for membership information.
• The Systems Thinking SIG is intended to develop a community of ODEN members with an interest in applying concepts of complexity, sustainability, and systems thinking to organizations. The purpose of this SIG is to promote an understanding of complexity, sustainability, and systems thinking; explore how these concepts and principles apply to organizations; create a container for the exchange of knowledge, ideas and experience among members; and facilitate participation in and collaboration on presentations, workshop, and publications. Jane Frankel, Madelaine Sayko, or Danny Benau will be happy to answer your questions about the group. The next meeting is scheduled for April 30, 2008.
• The IT SIG is in its infancy as of December 2008. For more information contact Rick Bryson, ODEN IT SIG Organizer at: RBryson16@gmail.com.
• ODISC, the Organizational Dynamics International/Full-Time Student Community, is dedicated to assisting all international and full-time students, offering career-enhancing activities, promoting multicultural diversity, and serving as ambassadors for the OD degree programs, both here and abroad. An ODISC web page is in the works. Please click here for a Power Point presentation regarding ODISC and here for a membership application. Applications may be sent to Organizational Dynamics, Suite 328A, 3401 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6228.

  Members of ODEN who would like to form a Special Interest Group should contact Dr. Alan Barstow for information on how to submit a proposal.

3401 Walnut Street
Suite 328A
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Campus Map • MapQuest

T: 215-898-6967
F: 215-898-8934

dynamics@sas.upenn.edu