Wk5 - Diagnosis/systems approach

Question 1

What is organisational diagnosis?

Answer 1

A systematic approach to understanding and assessing the present state of the organisation.

Question 2

What are the aims of organisational diagnosis?

Answer 2

• discover problems and areas for improvement

- help organisations improve their capacity to assess and change inefficient patterns of behaviour

Question 3

What does organisational diagnosis provide in terms of data analysis and interventions?

Answer 3

• data analysis: rigorous analysis of client system - e.g. departments, products etc
• organisational processes: communication networks, teamwork, decision making, goal setting etc
• a basis for structural, behavioural or technical interventions to improve organisational performance

Question 4

Explain the elements of weisbord’s six box model? What is the additional factor?

Answer 4

• purposes
• structure
• rewards
• helpful mechanisms
• relationships
• leadership

Additional factor - environment

Question 5

Explain the following element of weisbord’s model: purpose

Answer 5

purposes - what business are we in

Question 6

Explain the following element of weisbord’s model: structure

Answer 6

structure - how do we divide up the work

Question 7

Explain the following element of weisbord’s model: rewards

Answer 7

rewards - do all needed tasks have incentives

Question 8

Explain the following element of weisbord’s model: helpful mechanisms

Answer 8

helpful mechanisms - have we adequate coordinating technologies

Question 9

Explain the following element of weisbord’s model: relationships

Answer 9

relationships - how do we manage conflict amongst people

Question 10

Explain the following element of weisbord’s model: leadership

Answer 10

leadership - does someone keep the five boxes in balance?

Question 11

What are the two levels of diagnostic questions?

Answer 11

• gap between organisational and individual

- gap between organisation and external environment

Question 12

What are five common methods of collecting data during diagnosis?

Answer 12

• questionnaires
• interviews
• observations
• projective techniques
• secondary sources

Question 13

What are the pros of: questionnaires

Answer 13

• quantifiable
• large sample size
• inexpensive

Question 14

What are the pros of: interviews

Answer 14

• adaptive
• source of rich data
• empathic
• builds rapport

Question 15

What are the pros of: observations

Answer 15

• data on behaviour rather than reported behaviour
• real time not retrospective
• adaptive

Question 16

What are the pros of: projective techniques

Answer 16

gain interesting insights

Question 17

What are the pros of: secondary sources

Answer 17

• non-reactive - no response bias
• high face validity
• easily quantifiable

Question 18

What are the cons of: questionnaires

Answer 18

• non-empathic
• missing key issues
• overinterpretation
• response bias

Question 19

What are the cons of: interviews

Answer 19

• expensive
• interviewer bias
• coding and interpretation difficulties
• self report bias

Question 20

What are the cons of: observations

Answer 20

• coding and interpretation difficulties
• sampling inconsistencies
• observer bias and lack of reliability
• expensive

Question 21

What are the cons of: projective techniques

Answer 21

• lack validity
• lack reliability
• may be misinterpreted

Question 22

What are the cons of: secondary sources

Answer 22

• access and retrieval difficulty
• validity concern
• coding and interpretation difficulty

Question 23

What are the characteristics of effective feedback?

Answer 23

• relevant
• understandable
• descriptive
• verifiable
• timely
• limited
• significant
• comparative
• unfinalised

Question 24

What are some red flags in diagnosis?

Answer 24

• confidentiality issues
• over diagnosis
• crisis diagnosis
• consultant’s favourite diagnosis
• only diagnosis the symptoms

Question 25

Explain the force field model?

Answer 25

Driving forces - positive forces for change
Restraining forces - obstacles to change
Have to remove obstacles before change can take place. Increasing driving forces only increase resistance to change.
ie. current state resisting desired state.