Describe Od as Body of Work , That Is Informed by Science and Art

Describe OD as body of work that is informed by science and art.

OD Evolution

Organization Development theory evolved during post World War II. The countries across the world were devastated post World War II and most of the countries were moving towards democratic and participative approach for development of society and economic growth. During this period the world witnessed the growth of knowledge industry to support organizations to maintain and develop. The advancement of knowledge industry fostered new management practices but also had very negative impact on the culture of the organizations since the new practices were viewed has dehuman. The organizations started looking for new approach that would integrate people, technology and systems. The organization development theory based on the study of human behavior, training & development , employee feedback started getting acceptance as approach that is humanistic and effective to organize new management practices and people for organizational effectiveness The organizations understood that new management practices seeks change in approach and human behavior individualistically and in group played vital role to embrace change.

In 1940’s the US government and organizations pioneered in hiring academicians, psychologist, sociologist and advisors to study human behavior and group dynamics for organizational effectiveness through behavioral change intervention.

Kurt Lewin is considered to be the father of organization development, who worked for US army and later set up lab along with his students for study of human feelings, behavior and relations. The autocratic rule, pre-democratic belief and the prevailing political scenario influenced his thinking. He was strong propagator of democratic values and participative approach to tackle social conflict. His founding principles were based on human relations (Behavior), group dynamics and participative approach to study changing behavior in real world. Lewin and his students ran lab to study group behaviors and analyze its impact on social change. T Groups evolved at this stage that conducted extensive research on human behavior in group through psychological research, human interaction lab, analysis and its application for seeking required behavioral change. The organizations ambitious to grow adopted this approach to seek change in the organization behavior that impacted organization effectiveness.

The organization development is more western concept that evolved from T Groups, which was believed to be major approach for change in 1940’s and 1950. OD over period of seventy years has faced several criticism since its principles are based on various disciplines and operates in different forms. In spite of the criticism OD has survived and is reinvented time and again by its practitioners in various forms to bring

desired change in the organization. However the core components of OD evolved by Lewin thinking i.e. planned change, action research and values still remains basis for any form of OD intervention.

Organization development approach is adopted for change management inside the organization. OD intervention is applicable only in organization and has no role to play outside the organization. OD cannot bring