Presented by: Marge Mohoric, Ph.D. Organization Development: An Overview

2 Defined Organization development (OD) is an attempt to influence the members of an organization to take greater responsibility for their own actions. It is an organization-wide effort, managed from the top, to increase organization effectiveness.

3 Typical OD Process Startup, contracting Assessment, diagnosis Feedback to clients Action planning Interventions, implementation, evaluations Managed by internal or external facilitator, consultant

4 OD Profession—Brief History 1940s survey research and feedback 1950s action research 1960s efficiency studies, motivation, quality circles 1970s strategic change, planned change Theorists: Lewin, Likert, Beckhard, Bennis, Levy, Argyris, Schein, Burke, Senge

5 Ways to discuss OD As a profession As a philosophy/paradigm Theories and models Tools and techniques

6 Need for OD Today Organizations experience rapid change, so more need for OD Current OD Topics: change management, appreciative inquiry, coaching, continuous learning, emotional intelligence, large-scale interventions, learning organization, self-managed teams, systems thinking

7 Planned OD Change Strategic OD: Organizational transformation Cultural change Self-designing organizations Strategic management

8 Planned OD Change—cont’d Work from a plan with vision, milestones, measures and celebrations Must involve top management Usually has a champion (facilitator) Best if planned and implemented via teams

9 Some OD Change Models Balanced Scorecard Benchmarking/Total Quality Management Business process reengineering Cultural change Organizational learning Involves changes to organizational structures and processes Establishes core competencies

10 Difference in OD and Org. Behavior Organization behavior is the study and application of knowledge about how people, individuals and groups, act in organizations. OD takes a long-range approach to improving organizational performance and efficiency and focuses on the total system.

11 OD Resources Fifth Discipline, Senge Practicing OD: A Consultant’s Guide, Sullivan Organizational Change and Development, Cummins & Worley OD: its nature, origin and prospects, Bennis OD: behavioral science interventions for organization improvement, French & Bell