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OD Research --
what seems to work?
For the details look at Organization
Development French and Bell pp.312 - 319
Results seen in a
significant number of cases
u Economic performance improved -
impact on costs, profits, quality (about half the time)
u Improvement in process variables --
goal emphasis, decision making, human interaction such as
openness
u Employee productivity
u Worker satisfaction
Methods Used
u Managerial Grid
u Task-oriented laboratory training
u Survey feedback
u Use of multiple intervention
approaches
u Relatively short term OD projects
(4-6 months) and relatively long term projects (25 or more
months)
u Sociotechnical systems (STS)
u Goal setting
u Training
u Appraisal and feedback
Examples of links
between results and type of intervention
Results
Intervention
| Greater impact on attitudes |
Human process interventions
(team building, lab training) ; STS- lesser affect |
| Higher job satisfaction,
commitment, performance and lower role stress, physical
symptoms, turnover |
Increasing autonomy and
participation |
| Increased productivity,
reduced absenteeism, turnover |
STS interventions (increase
pay, self directing teams, etc) |
| Increased productivity |
Organizational arrangements
like -- employee feeling more in control, belief in the
value of the work, being challenged, engaged in life long
learning, recognition for achievements |
| Outstanding financial returns to
shareholders and significant competitive advantage |
Employment security, selective hiring of
new personnel, self managing teams and decision making
decentralizing, high compensation related to
organizational performance, extensive training, reduction
in status distinctions across levels,
extensive sharing of financial and performance information
throughout the organization |
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