Learning all about organizational development basics will help businesses plan a company-wide strategy for increasing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of business processes. A widely recognized business discipline taught in business schools around the world, organizational development is a process of change, implemented to improve business processes by increasing productivity and evaluating the usefulness and lack therefore of various business tasks.

Businesses use organizational development tools to modify the culture, values and structure of an organization to increase that organization’s health and adaptability to new markets, technologies and other business challenges. Consider the following tips to help you gather knowledge and use organizational development basics to improve the efficiency of your business operations.

1. Get a better, basic understanding of the term "organizational development."

2. Evaluate the pros and cons of employing an organization development process.

3. Learn which professionals can assist you with using basic organizational development tools.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research the definition of organizational development

Organizational development is a strategy or plan that improves an organization's operations using a top-down approach. Organizational development objectives are achieved by relying on behavioral science techniques to not only change processes, but to also change the attitudes and behavior of management and staff by employing self-analysis and organizational reflection strategies.

I recommend: Learn more about how practitioners define organizational development by visiting the Free Management Library. Check out the North Carolina Office of State Personnel to learn more about the basics of the organizational development process.

Assess the affects of using organizational development techniques

One of the greatest benefits of organizational development is that the end result is a more productive and smooth running company. However, one of the disadvantages is the focus, time and money it may take to attain that goal. By changing workplace behavior and evaluating processes, you may also come across job functions that are no longer necessary to the functionality of your company, which could result in job loss. No company wants to have a reduction-in-force, but this is sometimes a necessary step to keep the business on a profitable track.

I recommend: Learn the basics of organizational development by checking out information provided by the Organization Development Network. You can also learn more about the organization development process by visiting the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership.

Discuss your goals with organizational development consultants

Because it involves changing habits and routines, successful implementation of organizational change can be challenging. By talking to an organizational development consultant, you can learn how to identify critical priorities, analyze business tasks, roles and responsibilities and then use this knowledge to successfully bring about change with the organization. Organizational development consultants have access to a wealth of knowledge that can give you a clearer perspective on organizational development, so you can set reasonable expectations and goals.

I recommend: Read more about the roles of organizational development consultants by visiting the University of Washington website. Check out Leading With Style to learn more about organizational development services available to you.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Although it can be quite time consuming, implementing organizational development techniques is a great way to improve the overall health of your company. In today's ever-evolving business marketplace, one of a company's critical assets is its ability to accept and manage change.

Organizational development is a collaborative effort to examine and improve system-wide practices and relationships in an organization. There is an emphasis on including and respecting the opinions of all team members, and a focus on developing self-awareness and interpersonal skills.

The goal of the organization development process is not only to increase efficiency within an organization, but also to create a change that benefits the company and the world in which it operates. Organizational development is used both as intervention, to guide an organization through change or crisis, and as a preventive or maintenance tool, to keep an organization on track for continued success.

Primary organizational development issues include:

1. Organizational development interventions like conflict management and resolution
2. Strategic planning
3. Change management
4. Performance management
5. Leadership coaching

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take an organizational development class or seminar

To use organizational development as a maintenance tool, a course or seminar may teach you all you need to know. Company management can enroll in the courses to learn how to help lead organizational development, or the entire staff can enlist in a class or retreat to build a stronger team.

I recommend: The eLearning website from the Society of Human Resource Professionals offers several organizational development e-courses, with topics ranging from organizational effectiveness to recruitment and retention strategies. The Leader's Institute offers leadership and team-building retreats at locations throughout the United States.

Enlist the aid of an organizational development consultant

If you're new to organizational development, or if you're going through a crisis or a major change within the organization, you may want to bring in an expert. They may have worked with other companies coping with the same challenges as yours, or they may have experience working in your industry. Organizational development consultants may also know better how to bring all employees together to work toward improving the organization.

I recommend: The Organization Development Network's website includes a searchable directory of organizational development consultants, including their contact information, website, languages spoken, experience and specialty. The Consultants Mall offers an alphabetical listing of organizational development consultants.

Invest in online organizational development tools or software

If you want to make organization development an ongoing priority in your company, organizational development software or online organizational development tools may be the perfect investment. It costs less than hiring a consultant, and you'll always have it at hand if you need to address team-building or workplace environment issues.

I recommend: Kolbe WAREwithal software helps managers assess and predict organizational viability, team efficiency, team profitability, and return on investment and effort. The software allows companies to examine "what-if" scenarios, guides them on coaching employees, and provides insight into employee motivation. Web-based software from iCohere uses on a collaborative approach to the organizational development process, focusing on team-building and communication.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While the organizational development process may be initiated by company management, the role of the individual is critical. Only by bringing together every team member at every level can the organization development process succeed. That's why it's key to equip employees with organizational development tools to develop their relationship, communication and self-awareness skills.

Organizational development services have simplified the learning process by creating a wide range of programs that compliment just about any business environment. Organizational development consultants can train staff through various formats, some of which allow them to bring workshops and seminars directly to your office.

Organizational development education and training programs have moved beyond the traditional classroom setting, making it convenient to learn more about organizational development issues and techniques. As you begin the process of choosing a training program that's right for your business, consider the following information:

1. Be aware of the various organizational development training programs that are available to your company.

2. Learn more about organizational development techniques through print and online materials.

3. Consider hiring organizational development companies that provide workshops and seminars.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research your options before selecting a particular organizational development service

Training opportunities have evolved beyond the traditional classroom setting and it's possible to find a program that compliments the needs of your business. Shop around before you settle on a particular training program for your business to ensure you get the best fit.

I recommend: Dale Carnegie Training offers organizational development Training Courses on a variety of topics that include leadership training and effective communications. Choose between two- and three-day seminars. The Training Registry provides a list of organizational development workshops and seminars offered by various training companies. This resource puts you in touch with a broad range of services that include opportunities for activity based training, business simulation, teleclass, on-site training and more.

Utilize print and online resources for organizational development education and training

Print and online resources are available for anyone who desires to learn about the organizational development process without stepping into a classroom. Choose a convenient resource that can help provide a basic understanding of the organization development process.

I recommend: Start with the basics and build your own library of fundamental Organizational development resources with reference books, videos and other materials that contain expert advice and solid research. Visit ODPortal.com, the Organizational Development Portal, to find a nice selection of classics and authoritative resources. Free Management Library offers an online library that includes a field guide for consultants working with nonprofit organizations.

Hire an organizational development consultant for on-site training

Look for organizational development consultants that provide workshops and training in your area or on-site if you desire human interaction over print and online resources for your educational experience. Such programs often offer a variety of organizational development issues to choose from and allow you to focus on the specific needs of your company.

I recommend: TrainUp.com provides organizational development training seminars across the country. E-Learning training courses are also available on the company's website. Clarity Consultants' experienced professionals offers a broad range of organizational development training and consulting services. Contact the organization to learn more about the services they can offer onsite.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Utilize free assessments whenever possible to help you identify the organizational development tools your business requires.

Organizational development is widely practiced discipline that is concerned with improving performance within organizations. It is usually undertaken so that business processes can be analyzed and productivity can be increased. Most often, collaborative meeting are facilitated by experienced professionals, who assist the organization in examining different aspects such as processes, practices and relationships with the intention of identifying where improvements can be made. Large organizations often have departments that are dedicated to this discipline. If you are a small to medium sized businesses there are consultants that you can contract with who can help you. As you review all your options, it might be helpful to understand some of the terms you will find as you do so.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Strategic planning

Strategic planning refers to a process that is used by an organization to define its goals as well as to make decisions on how its resources will be allocated as it follows the plan. In the planning process some key questions are asked such as 'What are our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats?' This is also known as SWOT analysis. Strategic planning is considered one of the major tasks undertaken during organizational development.

I recommend: Competitive Intelligence provides a good overview.

Program management

Program management is one aspect of organizational development that is used to manage all the interdependent projects that have been identified by an organization and that will result in improved performance.

I recommend: Visitask defines this term for you.

Systems thinking

Systems thinking is an approach that is used by organizational development practitioners to solve problems. As part of this framework, problems are viewed as parts of an overall system rather than occurring in isolation. It usually includes an examination of the linkages and interactions within a system.

I recommend: Go to TechTarget for a succinct definition.

Facilitation

Facilitation is used by organizational development specialists to run a meeting. The facilitator of the meeting usually tries to build consensus decision making to determine a common purpose, solve a problem or exchange information.

I recommend: Farlex has a simple definition.

Gap analysis

Gap analysis is a technique that is employed by organizational development professionals to help a team to compare actual performance with desired performance. Two questions are usually explored: 'Where do we want to be?' and 'Where are we?'

I recommend: See BusinessDictionary.com for a brief explanation.

Knowledge management

Knowledge management (KM) consists of a variety of practices used in organizations to create, distribute and enable acceptance of experiences and insights. It is a course that is often taught in the fields of management, information systems and business administration. Organizational development is a type of knowledge management in that it is concerned with helping organizations focus on objectives so that innovation, improved performance and continuous improvement can occur.

I recommend: Go to CIO for more information on this topic.