7.9 Organizational Development

Organizational Development, OD, is concerned with changing the attitudes, perceptions, behaviors, and expectations.

OD consists of a number of practices to facilitate change in an organization.  They include:

• Diagnostics – Yes, that management skill.  Ask questions, gather data, and interview employees.
• Surveys – Even though surveys have their problems, they may provide feedback and insight into issues and potential solutions.
• Team Building – The change that may be needed is in the interpersonal interactions.  There are many exercises designed to promote team building.  A common, which you may have heard about or done, is the trust fall.  While these exercises may be useful and often fun, a manager needs to understand what it is they are trying to change and whether the exercises will lead to that change.
• Education – Perhaps employees are not aware of the changes that are needed.  For example, they may need training to recognize factors in a potentially hostile work environment.
• Inter-group activities – If a group has internal issues, it may help to have the group turn its attention on another group.  Friendly competition against another group can help make a group more cohesive.