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Organization Development and Change

Thomas G. Cummings

Christopher G. Worley

Chapter Thirteen:

Organization Process

Approaches

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Learning Objectives�for Chapter Thirteen

To understand three types of system-wide, human process interventions: the organization confrontation meeting, intergroup relations interventions, and large-group interventions
To review and understand the effectiveness of these interventions in producing change

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Organization �Confrontation Meeting

The confrontation meeting is an intervention designed to mobilize the resources of the entire organization to identify problems, set priorities and action targets and begin working on identified problems.

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Confrontation Meeting Process

Schedule the Meeting

Create groups representing

multiple perspectives

Set ground rules

Groups identify problems

and opportunities

Report out to the

large group

Create a master list

Form problem-solving

groups

Rank the issues and

opportunities, develop an

action plan, specify timetable

Provide periodic reports

to large group

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Intergroup Relations Interventions

The quality of group relationships in an organization can affect how well the organization performs
Two major interventions

Microcosm Groups
Resolving Intergroup Conflict

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Microcosm Groups

Small groups that solve problems in the larger system
Small group member characteristics must reflect the issue being addressed (e.g., if addressing diversity, group must be diverse)
Primary mechanism for change is “parallel processes”

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Microcosm Group Process

Identify an issue
Convene the microcosm group
Provide group training
Address the issue in the group
Dissolve the group

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Resolving Intergroup Conflict

Groups and consultant convene to address issues
Groups are asked to address three questions

What qualities/attributes best describe our group?
What qualities/attributes best describe their group?
How do we think the other group will describe us?

Groups exchange and clarify answers
Groups analyze the discrepancies and work to understand their contribution to the perceptions
Groups discuss discrepancies and contributions
Groups work to develop action plans on key areas

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Large Group Interventions

Focus on issues affecting the whole organization or large segments of it, such as developing new products or services, responding to environmental change or introducing new technology

Various Change Programs

Future Search Conference (Weisbord)
Open-Space Meeting (Owen)
Open System Planning (Beckhard)

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Large-Group Meeting Assumptions

Organization members’ perceptions play a major role in environmental relations.
Organization members must share a common view of the environment to permit coordinated action toward it.
Organization members’ perceptions must accurately reflect the condition of the environment if organizational responses are to be effective.
Organizations cannot only adapt to their environment but also proactively create it.

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Large-Group Method �Application Stages

Preparing for the large-group meeting

Identify a compelling meeting theme
Select appropriate stakeholders to participate
Develop relevant tasks to address meeting theme

Conducting the meeting

Open Systems Methods
Open Space Methods

Following up on the meeting outcomes

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Open-Systems Methods

Map the current environment facing the organization.
Assess the organization’s responses to the environmental expectations.
Identify the core mission of the organization.
Create a realistic future scenario of environmental expectations and organization responses.
Create an ideal future scenario of environmental expectations and organization responses.
Compare the present with the ideal future and prepare an action plan for reducing the discrepancy.

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Open-Space Methods

Set the conditions for self-organizing

Announce the theme of the session
Establish norms for the meetings

The “Law of Two Feet.”
The “Four Principles.”

“Whoever comes is the right people.”
“Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.”
“Whenever it starts is the right time.”
“When it is over, it is over.”

Participants create the agenda
Coordinate activity through information postings