CHAPTER NINETEEN
Positive Organizational Change
What the Field of POS Offers to OD Practitioners
 
David S. Bright and Kim Cameron
 
 
 
 
 
This chapter describes the emerging field of “positive organizational scholarship” (POS) and its connection to organization development (OD). The story of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Arsenal shutdown provides an illustration of what is meant by positively deviant performance, a key focus of POS research. A framework for POS is described as a model for differentiating between “abundance” versus “deficit” approaches to OD. The chapter concludes with examples and implications of research findings on the heliotropic effect, positive climate, and positive energy.

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