Wk1 - OD & OT

Question 1

What are the two broad perspectives towards organisational change?

Answer 1

• organisational development

- organisational transformation

Question 2

What are the main characteristics of the OD approach?

Answer 2

• human relations movement started OD
• focus on people - group dynamics, leadership, communication
• uses feedback loops
• developing people and the organisation

Question 3

What are the main characteristics of the OT approach?

Answer 3

• comes from business policy - operations, finance, marketing etc
• top down approach
• future orientated
• focus on structure, function and motivation
• commonly uses interventions - downsizing, restructuring etc
• driving change to achieve goals of individuals and organisation

Question 4

What is OD’s main criticism of the OT approach?

Answer 4

strategic management does not place importance of people, doesn’t understand them well.

Question 5

What is OT’s main criticism of the OD approach?

Answer 5

OD is not very pragmatic, lacks process focus, ‘soft’ approach.

Question 6

What are the two types of change?

Answer 6

planned

emergent

Question 7

How does change operate on a time spectrum?

Answer 7

can be episodic or continuous - contrasting OT and OD approach.

Question 8

According to Dunphy and Stace contingency change model - what are the four types of scale of change?

Answer 8

• fine tuning - departmental division level
• incremental adjustment - structures and management processes
• modular transformation - realignment of department/divisions
• corporate transformation - revolutionary organisation wide change

Question 9

What are the six stages of organisational development?

Answer 9

• anticipating need for change
• developing consultant client relationship
• diagnostic phase
• action plan, strategy and technique
• self renewal, monitoring and stabilising
• continuous improvement process