STAGES/PROCESS OF

ORGANIZATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME,
UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS
AND VALUES.
Organizational Development
Meaning:
Organization development (OD) is a conceptual,
organization-wide effort to increase an organization's
effectiveness and viability.
 ORGANIZATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
The Organizational Development (OD) process is complicated and it takes long
time to complete the process. It takes minimum of one year and sometimes
continues indefinitely. There are different approaches to OD process but the
typical process consists of nine steps, viz.,
1.Initial Diagnosis
2. Data Collection
3. Data Feedback
4. Selection of Interventions
5. Implementation of interventions
6. Action planning and problem solving
7. Team Building
8. Inter-Group Development 
9. Evaluation and Follow up
 Initial diagnosis Data collection Data feedback

Action planning
Implementation Selection of
and problem
of interventions interventions
solving

Inter group Evaluation and

Team building development follow up

PROCESS OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Initial Diagnosis: The initial diagnosis refers to finding the inadequacies within
the organization that can be corrected by OD activities then it is necessary to find
out the professionally competent persons within organization to plan and execute
OD activities. The outside consultants can be also employed to help in diagnosing
the problems and diagnosing OD activities. The consultants adopt various methods
and that primarily includes interviews, questionnaires, direct observation, analysis of
documents and reports for diagnosing the problem.

2. Data Collection: The survey method is employed to collect the data for
determining organizational climate. It also helps in identifying the behavioral
problems that are rising in the organization. 

3. Data Feedback: The collected data are analyzed and reviewed by various work
groups that are formed for this purpose. It is done in order to intervene in the areas of
disagreement or confrontation of ideas or opinions. 

4. Selection of Interventions: The interventions can be described as the

planned activities that are introduced into the system to achieve desired changes and
improvements. The suitable interventions are to be selected and designed at this
stage. 
5. Implementation of Interventions: The selected intervention should be
implemented progressively as the process is not a one shot, quick cure for
organizational problems. Consequently, it achieves real and lasting change in the
attitudes and behavior of employees.

6. Action Planning and Problem Solving: To solve the specific and identified
problems by using the collected data, groups prepare recommendations and specific
action planning. 

7. Team Building: The consultants explain the advantages of the teams in OD

process and encourage the employees throughout the process to form into groups and
teams. 

8. Inter-group Development: After the formation of groups/teams, the

consultants encourage the inter-group meetings, interaction etc. 

9. Evaluation and follow up: The organization should evaluate the OD

programmes and should find out their utility, and develop the programmes further for
correcting the deviations. The consultants make great significance to the organization
in this respect. The entire steps in the OD processes should be followed by the
organization in order to derive full range of OD benefits.
VALUES, ASSUMPTIONS AND
BELIEFS OF ORGANIZATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
A set of values, assumptions & beliefs
constitutes an integral part of
Organizational Development, shaping
the goals & methods of the field &
distinguishing Organizational
Development from other improvement
strategies.
MEANINGS
Assumptions - something that you think is true
although you have no definite proof .
Beliefs - are the assumptions we make about ourselves,
about others in the world and about how we expect things
to be. Beliefs are about how we think things really are, what
we think is really true and what therefore expect as likely
consequences that will follow from our behavior.
Values - are about how we have learnt to think things
ought to be or people ought to behave, especially in terms
of qualities such as honesty, integrity and openness
According to Bennis, “The basic value underlying all OD
theory and practice is that of ‘CHOICE’. Through
focused attention, and through the collection and
feedback of relevant data to relevant people, more choice
becomes available and hence better decisions are made.
Organizational Development Values
Tend to be:
 Humanistic
 Optimistic &
 Democratic
Humanistic values - Proclaim the importance of the individual,
respect & dignity, assume that everyone is intrinsic worth, view all
people as having the potential for growth & development.

Optimistic values - posit that people are basically good, that

progress is possible & desirable in human affairs , & that reason &
goodwill are the tools for making progress.

Democratic values - assert the sanctity of the

individual, the right of people to be free from arbitrary
misuse of power, the importance of fair & equitable
treatment for all & the need for justice through the rule
of law & due process.
Early statements of OD values
and assumptions
Early statements of ‘OD’ values and assumptions Values are
an integral part of OD. In 1969, Warren Bennis proposed
the OD practitioners(change agent) share a set of normative
goals based on their Humanistic/Democratic philosophy. He
tested the following normative goals:

Improvement in interpersonal competence.

A shift in values, so that human factors and feelings come to be considered legitimate.
Development of more effective “Team Management” i.e. capacity for functional groups to
work more competently.
Development of increased understanding between and within working groups in order to
reduce tension. Development of better methods of conflict resolution. Rather than the usual
bureaucratic methods, which rely mainly on suppression, compromise and unprincipled
power more rational and open methods of conflict resolution are sought.
Developing organic rather than mechanical systems.
Richard Beckhard, in 1969, described several “assumptions
about the nature and functioning of organizations” held by
OD practitioners, as tested below:
The basic building blocks of an organization are groups(teams) so the basic units of
change are groups and not individuals.
An always relevant change goal is the reduction of inappropriate competition between
parts of the organization and the development of a more collaborative condition.
Decision-making in a healthy organization is located where the information sources are
rather than in a particular role or level of hierarchy.
Organizations, sub-unit of organizations and individuals continuously manage their
affairs against goals. Control are interim measures, not the basis of managerial strategy.
One goal of healthy organization is to develop generally open communication, mutual
trust and confidence between and across levels. People support what they help create.
People effected by a change must be allowed active participation and a sense of
ownership in planning and conduct of the change.
IMPLICATIONS of OD values assumptions
What are some of the implications of OD assumptions
& values for dealing with individuals , groups, &
organizations?
1. Implications of dealing with INDIVIDUALS
There are two basic assumptions:
First that most of individuals have drives toward
personal growth & development if environment is
both supportive & challenging.
Second that most people desire to make & are capable
of making a greater contribution to attaining
organization goals 1 Implications for dealing with
individuals
 
The implications of these two assumptions are
straight forward:
Ask
Listen
Support
Challenge
Encourage risk taking
Permit failure
Remove obstacles & barriers
Give autonomy
Give responsibility
Set high standards
Reward success
2. Implications of dealing with GROUPS
ASSUMPTIONS:
What occurs in the work group at both formal & informal
levels, greatly influences feelings of satisfaction &
competence.
Most people wish to be accepted & to interact cooperatively
with at least one reference group usually work group.
Most people are capable of making greater contributions to
group effectiveness & development.
Finally there exist attitudinal & motivational problems in
organizations.
Implications:
•Let teams flourish because they are often the best way
to get work done.

•Invest time in group development to increase group

members & create positive climate.

•Adopt team leadership style Require interactive &

transactional solutions.
REFERNCES
Organizational Behavior- L.M Prasad
Internet-
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/Bharathi
sunagar-347044-4-values-assumptions-entertainment-
ppt-powerpoint/

Name- Konica Aggarwal

Roll No.- 2421
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