Organizational Development: Some Problems and Proposals

Abstract

Examination of the rapidly increasing body of OD literature reveals that much of its research is redundant and without refinement or validation, that the term "Organizational Development" itself remains scientifically undefined and hence primarily a convenient label for a variety of activities, and that the OD literature as a whole is more autobiographical than organizational in focus and scope. Work toward resolution of these three problems, the author suggests, would help the practice of OD base itself on a more mature and usable set of principles and procedures for organizational change. The author also questions the adequacy and utility of the traditional dichotomy between organizational process and structure evident in the literature and discusses a reconceptualization of organizational structure that permits clarification of key issues in the practice and theory of organizational change.