Culture-Driven Team Building Specialization Course Syllabus

Overview: This specialization provides a practical, research-informed framework for understanding and shaping team culture to drive performance, inclusion, and continuous learning. Over approximately 8 weeks of flexible learning, participants progress through five structured modules that build from foundational concepts to real-world application. Each module combines academic insight with hands-on analysis, culminating in a capstone project using a case from N2Growth. Ideal for current or aspiring leaders, the course equips learners to diagnose cultural dynamics and lead effective, inclusive teams.

Module 1: The Power of Team Culture

Estimated time: 6 hours

• Definition and core elements of team culture
• Understanding unseen norms and assumptions
• The role of rituals, symbols, and stories in shaping behavior
• Case examples of cultural success and failure

Module 2: Building High-Performing Teams

Estimated time: 10 hours

• Diagnosing common team challenges: groupthink, conflict, lack of commitment
• Establishing team ground rules and accountability
• Strategies to build trust and psychological safety
• Enhancing team cohesion and productivity

Module 3: Optimizing Diversity on Teams

Estimated time: 10 hours

• Leveraging diversity for innovation and performance
• Identifying and mitigating unconscious bias
• Managing power dynamics in diverse teams
• Designing inclusive team structures and practices

Module 4: Creating a Team Culture of Continuous Learning

Estimated time: 6 hours

• Importance of reflective practice in teams
• Aligning rewards with learning and growth
• Building infrastructure for knowledge sharing
• Diagnosing barriers to team learning

Module 5: Diagnosing and Strengthening Team Culture

Estimated time: 8 hours

• Applying cultural diagnostic frameworks
• Interpreting team dynamics and feedback
• Designing targeted culture interventions

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 12 hours

• Analyze a real-world team culture case from N2Growth
• Diagnose key cultural issues and leadership challenges
• Develop and present evidence-based recommendations

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with basic team or organizational settings
• Some experience in leadership or management preferred
• Interest in team dynamics and organizational culture

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Recognize subtle cultural forces affecting team performance
• Diagnose and address common team dysfunction
• Design inclusive team environments that leverage diversity
• Foster cultures of trust, accountability, and continuous learning
• Deliver actionable recommendations for improving real-world teams