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Understanding your organisation, the commercial context and the wider world of work
Understanding people's behaviour and creating the right organisation culture
Understanding and influencing organisational systems and human behaviour is integral to developing a positive culture and healthy working environment.
It has become increasingly important for all people professionals to have a good understanding of organisation culture and behaviour. Historically, we may have expected Organisation Development (OD) specialists to hold this knowledge; however, whilst OD specialists certainly have a deep understanding of this in the work they do, all people professionals need a common understanding of the way culture and behaviour impact on people practices, and vice versa.
It’s particularly important that people professionals think in a systemic way: understanding how to align the different elements of the organisation’s system (for example, the values, the culture, structures, people practices and policies) to maximise the organisation’s performance.
This area of the Profession Map encompasses the knowledge needed to understand how organisations and people behave, and includes elements such as:
WCHG case study: Home is where the heart is
By making volunteering a strategic priority, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group has created a scheme that’s the beating heart of the community. Read WCHG's story.
Each standard progresses through four levels of impact. Which level do you most embody in your day-to-day work?
At this level you'll understand:
At this level you'll understand:
At this level you'll understand:
At this level you'll understand:
Resources to guide your work, career planning and development, available on the CIPD's main site.
Understanding your organisation, the commercial context and the wider world of work