What is Organization Development?

Despite 70+ years of history, Organization Development (OD) remains somewhat elusive, nebulous to those outside the discipline. Part of the reason for this is due to the highly diverse interdisciplinary underpinnings that shaped and informed its development. With framing disciplines as varied from anthropology to social psychology to innovation to learning and development, simply understanding the scope and purpose of OD can be a challenge. Hence, in today’s episode, we look to demystify organization development by addressing the question, ‘What is organization development’ head-on.

What You’ll Learn

In this episode, you will learn:

• Historical/contemporary definitions of OD

• Purpose, objectives, and scope of OD work

• Brief history of OD from 1940s – present

• Share several real-life examples of OD work

• Highlight (3) forms of OD: Diagnostic OD, Dialogic OD, and Hybrid OD

• Persona of an OD practitioner (demeanor, role & responsibilities, and knowledge, skills, and capabilities)

Hope you enjoy!

-Randall Scott

Related Reading

• What is Organization Development and Why is it Important?

• Introducing Hybrid OD (Organization Development)

• 3 Must-Have Skills for Organization Development Pros

Facing a complex change challenge in your organization? Book an OD consultation with Henosis Partners.

Watch the Video

Watch the full video on YouTube: What is Organization Development?

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