Organization development (OD) is a professional discipline with focus on improving and enhancing capabilities within organizations to meet strategic and tactical goals. That focus is directed at the performance of people: individuals, groups and teams distinct from capital or other assets at the disposal of the organization.
As such OD professionals pay particular attention to motivation, behavior, group dynamics, skills and values development and
performance measurement.
Some people think this focus is "soft". Historically, there may be some truth to this assessment, but as the discipline of OD emerges and matures, attention is increasingly paid to measurement to determine value and effectiveness.
Not dissimilar to the evaluation of an income statement or balance sheet, such measurement is increasingly essential for organizations to evaluate their most valuable and cost-rich asset: their employees.
There are countless methods, tools, frameworks and practices to draw from and apply to the successful use of organization development to meet organizational goals.
Whether it is Industrial Psychology, Social Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Law, Adult Learning Theory, Behavior and Development Theory, ROI analysis, process analysis, or the synthesis of two or more of these disciplines, the application of Action-Learning is a cornerstone of the successful se of Organization Development.
It is Action-Learning that makes OD interesting, challenging, fruitful and fulfilling, not only for individuals, but for groups, teams and organizations.