Links between the Laboratory

Training Stem and the Survey

Feedback Stem
In 1940, link occurred between people who were to be key figures in the laboratory
training stem of OD and people who were to be key figures in the survey feedback stem.
In 1944, Douglas McGregor and Kurt Lewin explored the feasibility of a group
dynamics center at MIT.
Douglas became very interested in the research of leadership and organizations that
were done in the Institute for Social Research.
In 1956, lab staff members were: Beckhard, Benne, Bradford, Gordon Lippitt, Malott,
Shepard and Likert.
Argyris, Blake and Mcgregor joined the staff for the 1957 Arden House lab.
Links between group dynamics and survey feedback people were extensive, ofcourse,
after the RCGD moved to Michigan with the encouragement of Rensis Likert and
members of the SRC.
 The Action Research Stem

Action research is the process of systematically collecting research data about

an ongoing system relative to some objective, goal or need of that system;
feeding these data back into the system; taking actions by altering selected
variables within the system based both on the data and on hypotheses; and
evaluating the results of actions by collecting more data.

According to French – Action research can be used as a generic process in

organization development. The process is iterative and cyclical.

According to Herbert Shepard – The action research model is a normative

model for learning or a model for planned change. He highlights the relations
among goals (objectives), planning and actions.
 Varieties of Action Research

Kurt Lewin:- Chein, Cook and

Raymond Katzell:- Harding:-
Investigation of
general laws Adventitious Diagnostic
Diagnosis of a Preplanned Participant
specific situation Demonstration Empirical
Experimental