Dear Colleagues,

Since we are about to discuss and interact on issues of 'Organization Development' or 'OD' as it is famously known, I guess there would have been no better way to understand the meaning of this term before uncovering the various facets of this..

Organization development is a long-range effort to improve an organization’s problem solving and renewal processes. This is done particularly through a more effective and collaborative management of organization culture. Special emphasis is laid on the culture of formal work teams. Also the assistance of a change agent, or catalyst is sought, and theory and technology of applied behavioral science, including action research is put to use.

More members with their views on the definition / meaning ??

Regards,

CHRM

"To win...you must stay in the game" - Claude Bristol

Dear chrm and colleagues,

Cummings and Worley have stated that, "Organization Development is a process by which behavioral science knowledge and practices are used to help organizations to achieve greater effectiveness, including improved quality of life, increased productivity, and improved product and service quality. Its focus is on improving the organization's ability to assess and to solve its own problems. Moreover, OD is oriented to improving the total system - the organization and its parts in the context of the larger environment that impacts upon them." Stoner points out that OD is not designed to solve a single or temporary problem in the organization. Its intention is to move the organization to a higher level of functioning - that is, to improve the performance and satisfaction of organization members.

But OD has experienced major changes through time; for that reason it is difficult to arrive at a clear and definitive definition of OD. Nevertheless, it is important to point out that OD is a managerial theory whose focus is satisfaction of both people and organizations. In addition, OD techniques are useful in any situation, but especially when a change occurs in the organization.

How about the other member's thoughts on this topic ?

Regards,

Sumit

Organisations, as living organisms, are susceptible to many changes. They are also expected to bring changes in the lives of the clients whom they are serving. Often these changes are effected by factors, which are both external and internal to organizations. Organisation Development enables us to understand these factors and to take appropriate interventions to make and manage changes. Making and managing changes is possible only if the organization has embraced the culture of learning. The culture of learning is largely influenced by the systems and practices the organizations have adopted to manage their intellectual capital or the knowledge.

Regards,

Mark