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Chapter One
What Is Organization
Development?
Richard Beckhard
Organization development is an effort (1) planned,
(2) organization-wide, and (3) managed from the top, to (4) increase
organization effectiveness and health through (5) planned interventions
in the organization's "processes," using behavioral-science knowledge.
1. It is a planned change effort.
An OD program involves a systematic diagnosis of the organization,
the development of a strategic plan for improvement, and the
mobilization of resources to carry out the effort.
2. It involves the total "system."
An organization-development effort is related to a total organization
change such as a change in the culture or the reward systems or
the total managerial strategy. There may be tactical efforts which work ... read full excerpt from Organization Development: A Jossey-Bass Reader ebook
