WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OD?
This question provided many valuable insights about OD that could indeed add more clarity to the field. Richard Beckhard (1969, p. 9), in one of the earliest definitions of OD, defined OD as:
“An effort (1) planned, (2) organization-wide, and (3) managed from the top, to (4) increase organizational effectiveness and health through, (5) planned interventions in the organization’s processes using behavioral science knowledge.”
You could, of course, take issue with some parts of Beckhard’s definition. However, the purpose of OD is made clear: to increase organizational effectiveness and health. Organizational effectiveness typically focuses on improving an organization’s performance, results, operational capabilities, ...
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