What is Appreciative Inquiry?
AI is a theory and practice developed by David Cooperrider at Case-Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1987. It involves 1) recognizing and valuing the best in the people around us, affirming the past strengths, successes, and potentials, perceiving those things that give life, health, vitality, and excellence to organizations; and 2) exploring and discovering, or being open to see new potentials and possibilities. This approach is a breath of fresh air in that it focuses on what works as basis for moving the organization forward.

The Careers In Transition PDN is for those who are transitioning into or out of careers in human resources, training, organizational development, performance improvement, talent/career management, and coaching.

The Corporate University PDN provides a forum for professionals involved with corporate universities to share information and network. For the purposes of the PDN, a corporate university is defined as “the strategic umbrella for developing and educating employees, customers, and suppliers in order to meet and organization's business strategies” (Corporate Universities, Jeanne Meister). Participation is open to all those who have an interest in exchanging ideas, experiences, strategies, etc. related to corporate universities.

What: Knowledge Management in Practice

When: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 – 6:00-6:30 p.m. Networking; 6:30 – 8:15 p.m. Program

Where: Northwestern University Prosthetics Orthotics Center (NUPOC)
Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 345 East Superior St., Rm. 1712, Chicago, IL 60611; Phone: (312) 238-8006 

Join us for the Corporate University PDN’s May 21 meeting where we look at Knowledge Management in Practice.  The discussion will be launched with a case study of how knowledge management is leveraged in medical education, with an opportunity to see the latest in distance learning technology. 

Carl Frappaolo in his book, Knowledge Management defined the process as "a means by which to capture and monitor ever-developing bodies of intellectual capital, and to promote its leverage by communities of practice." This entertaining evening presentation will showcase the latest technologies in asynchronous and synchronous distance learning in medical education.

Topics to be covered:

• Capture, archival and distribution of lectures, meetings and presentations.
• Setting up communities of practice.
• Virtual Surgical Patient Programs

Who:  The discussion (yes, we mean discussion) will be hosted by Jodi Fox, Director of Distance Education, NUPOC and Dennis Glenn, a Knowledge Management Consultant to the Healthcare Industry.

About the Presenters: 

Jodi Fox has been developing technical training for a variety of adult audiences for fifteen years. She has created support functions from manuals to help desks for small companies as well as international clients. In 2006, she accepted the challenge of implementing a brand-new blended learning format at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Transitioning to blended learning allowed her program increase enrollment capacity by 50 percent. Jodi’s goal is to maximize collaboration and interaction for distance learners to keep them engaged, motivated and excited about the experience.  

Dennis Glenn recently resigned his position as Assistant Dean for Distributed Education at Northwestern University, where he researched and designed blended interactive learning environments for NU and the School of Communication.  Dennis created and was the director of the Distributed Learning Center where staff and student researchers designed and produced interactive learning environments for faculty and students.  Currently, he is working with the American board of Surgery and the Surgical Council on Resident Education to create an on-line interactive communication and learning environment for surgical residents and program directors in general surgery. 

RSVP : Naomi Berkove ( nberkove@owpp.com) 312-960-8108

The Internal Consulting PDN of the OD Network Chicago area is a special interest group meeting monthly in downtown Chicago to explore topics centering on internal consulting issues inside organizations across the spectrum of Organizational Development, Human Resources, and Training & Development. Learning from one another’s experiences and exploring new perspectives and resources are key areas of focus for the groups. While the PDN invites attendance and perspectives from both internal and external (independent) consultants, this is a forum free of direct marketing appeals or overt networking from those in job transition. Come be a part of the conversation!

Topic: Improving Talent Management
Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 7:30 -9:00 am (9-10am for networking)
Location: The Northern Trust Company, 181 W. Madison (7th floor), Chicago

RSVP:  For building access, send an email to cmt2@ntrs.com at Northern Trust if you are thinking about
attending.

Description:  
Accenture, a leader in Talent and Organizational Performance capabilities, will share the Accenture high level approach to improving Talent Management, along with a few case studies of what some of their clients have done in this space.*

About the Presenter
Lisa Fitterer, a Senior Manager in Accenture's Talent and Organizational Performance capability group, has worked with clients focusing on supporting their human capital development goals for the past 15 years.  Lisa is based in Chicago - currently working with Navistar Corporation.  Her background includes supporting global systems implementations, organizational restructurings, and enterprise process standardization - leading various programs to enable sustained performance improvements and realize the financial benefits of the client's vision.

The Internal Consulting PDN of the OD Network Chicago area is a special interest group meeting monthly in downtown Chicago, the Western Suburbs and the Northwestern Suburbs to explore topics centering on internal consulting issues inside organizations across the spectrum of Organizational Development, Human Resources, and Training & Development. Learning from one another's experiences and exploring new perspectives and resources are key areas of focus for the groups. The PDN invites attendance and perspectives from both internal and external (independent) consultants, and at the Chicago and/or either Suburb group meetings. This is a forum free of direct marketing appeals or overt networking from those in job transition. Come be a part of the conversation!

Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008

Time: 8:00 - 9:30 am  

Location: Tellabs at the corner of Diehl Rd and Raymond in Naperville (see attached map)

RSVP Required for building access.  Prior to the meeting, please respond to this email or send an email to cmejia@nicor.com or Arthur.Bingham@tellabs.com if you are thinking about attending.

Topic:  How OD professionals can leverage E-Learning to achieve company goals

OD professionals are faced with the need to communicate with or provide training to a diverse population of employees in a distributed and harried workforce. E-Learning and other technology-based learning initiatives offer approaches that can make communications and training accessible, engaging, effective and aligned. 

Trish Uhl , PMP, CPLP, President of Owl’s Ledge, and CCASTD Director, Strategic Planning will share some of the latest trends in technology-based learning and explain how to match technology options to desired goals.  Trish will partner with Sandra Lamartine, OD Manager, James Hardie Building Products, to share recent examples of E-Learning that are helping James Hardie increase sales effectiveness.

Join us to catch the latest in this fast-changing technology front.

This group is organized to connect with HRD professionals in the northern suburbs to explore, discuss, and share resources with one another.

The Northwest Internal Consulting PDN of the OD Network Chicago area is a special interest group meeting every other month in the Northwest suburbs. There is no charge to participate. We explore topics centering on internal consulting issues inside organizations across the spectrum of Organizational Development, Human Resources, and Training & Development. We provide opportunities to learn from experienced professionals in the field as well as take an experiential and action learning approach in our meetings. While this is primarily focused on internal consultants, all are welcome with the understanding that we strive for a forum free of direct marketing or overt networking from those in job transition. Come be a part of the action!

Topic: 2008-9 Planning Meeting

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008, 8:30 - 10:00 AM

Where: Zurich North America, 1400 American Lane, Schaumburg, IL
           Switzerland Room, Tower 1
           Please note: There is a parking lot on the south side of the building.

Since our first meeting in the fall of 2006, this group has quickly grown into a regular attendance of 30 people with a core group of 10-15 regulars! Feedback about our topics has been very positive so far, and we would like to invite you to help us continue that by providing your input on topics and perhaps by helping us find presenters.

This meeting will not be a content presentation, but rather a planning/steering meeting. Our objective is to create a draft schedule of topics and presenters for July 2008- June 2009. Last year's planning meeting was very productive identifying topics and speakers of interest. John Kelly, Moderator, personally invites you to attend this year's planning meeting and come with your good ideas and suggestions. Below is the agenda:

• Welcome & Introductions
• Brainstorm potential topics
• Potential presenters
• Volunteers to approach potential presenters
• Discussion regarding original vision and practices for our PDN
  • Food
  • Meeting Space
  • Volunteer facilitators for given topics
  • Other?

External Consultants: While our PDN meetings are primarily intended for internal consultants, externals are also welcome. Please understand that all presenters will be internals, though they may co-present with an external.

Please come and bring your ideas, experience and/or network! If you are interested, please let us know you are coming using the link below. This is simply to ensure we have enough space and materials.

To register click or cut & paste the following into your browser address line: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=TWI6CsokVrKI18mROY9L5w_3d_3d

If you are unable to attend, we would still like to hear your opinion. Please share your idea with someone that is attending or email it directly to Nancy Herz at nh@fulcrumnetwork.com. Provide as much detail as possible, for instance "how to create a leadership pipeline program" vs. something broad like "leadership development."

The OLG (formerly Human Performance Improvement) PDN was founded by training and OD professionals in 1998 to champion the development of processes and motivational factors impacting on human performance, and to ensure that our members’ learning is always ongoing. We investigate and share performance improvement information and personal experiences with other practitioners in order to improve the individual, team and organizational performance of those attending and the organizations they serve. Practitioners of all skill and experience levels are encouraged to contribute and participate.

This PDN focuses on different OD interventions that the learning community is particularly interested in exploring. It will serve as a forum where we are given an opportunity to share our knowledge, experience, and expertise in the subject matter at hand. Potential topics for discussion include Dialogue, Open Space Technology, Culture Change and others that might be of interest to the group.

Next Session – TBD
Watch this space for Details!

Interested in joining the ODI PDN? Please contact Eleanor Alandy at the number or email above.