Organizational Development: Reflection on Learning Essay

Change is a common thread that runs through all businesses regardless of size, industry and age. Our world is changing fast and, as such, organizations must change quickly too. Organizations that handle change well thrive, whilst those that do not may struggle to survive.

INTRODUCTIONOrganizational change is a concept that regularly occurs due to the nature of today's business environment. (McNamara, 2007) It is common in business communications, strategy, management and leadership. (McNamara, 2007) Change occurs when an organization revolutionizes parts or its entire strategy and/or wants to change the way it operates. (McNamara, 2007) Thus, it involves the realigning of organizational processes and operations. In order to remain competitive and successful in today's business environment, organizations must continually undergo changes by being innovative. (McNamara, 2007) Therefore, change plays a major role in the longevity, maturity, and success of any organization.

Inventions, new technologies, abolition of trade barriers, rapidly changing markets - the world is continuously passing from one state into another: The world is changing. But how can organizations survive within the chaos of uncertainty? The following essay will give an insight into the complex world of the management of organizational change with a more detailed view of the ideas of the Irish management thinker Charles

“All things go and nothing stays, and in the flow of the river, you could never step in the same river twice”, said Greek philosopher Heraclitus. We are experiencing changes every day, and so does the organization. They are facing rising of globalization, change of technology, the importance of financial results, intellectual capital, market change and the multiplying speed of changes. The leader has to respond and be prepared for the changes that were brought by each trend.

Organizational development (OD) refers to a process of enhancing personal and organizational change, and increasing the organization’s effectiveness by using interventions that are driven by behavioral and social science knowledge (Brown and Harvey 2011).The main aim of organizational development in any given organization is to bring change that will drive the organization towards attaining effectiveness in its operations. Organizations need to change in order to become more productive, satisfying to members, as well as attain effectiveness. In other words, change is a significant aspect as far as an organization’s life is concerned. For instance, the increment in customers ' demand, the presence of advanced technologies, and the demand

Organizational development (OD) is an application or process of building a greater level of efficiency within the organization. OD develops the ongoing effort geared for long-term effects. OD works to help management and employees on a variety of levels. Organizational development is perhaps unequaled in its ability to meet any type of organization needs. However, the solutions developed from the role of OD may not be necessarily interchangeable with different organizations (Grant, 2010).

Organisation Development ensures organisation to establish and maintain a better future for the entire organisations. Organisation development can be achieved through either a change management plan or supported by software upgrading. Staff behaviour patterns will allow organisation development management to observe and analyse situations and consider the required justifications, which will result in achieving effective organisational changes.

The significance of organizational change is captured by Sloan (1967) when he indicated that market situations like the dynamic nature of the product and services coupled with the dynamic nature of the market itself can bring down a given business entity if the given entity is not ready for the culture change.

Organizational change is often used to improve all or part of an organization, such as a process. Organizational change may occur as the organization changes its strategy for success or when there were decisions made to change the entire environment that the organization is currently functioning under (Cawsey, Deszca, & Ingols, 2011). Change can also occur as the organization evolves while moving through life cycles. In order for organizations to grow and develop, there must be change at various stages of this process.

Organizational change encompasses many challenges to both the individual, and the organization. An organization is a living system, as Flower (2002) states “living systems cannot survive without change, challenge, variety, and surprise” (Flower, 2002, p. 16). An organization requires the ability to adapt in to survive as Darwin states in The Origin of Man, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change” (Read Me First, 2013, p. 1). It must adapt to the changing market, global economic pressures, stakeholder demands, and the diverse needs

In this article we can see that different disciplines can be combined for a more effective organization development and management change of thinking.

Organisation development(OD) is a planned process of change in an organisation’s culture through the utilization of behavioral science technology, research and theory (Warner Burke, 1982). It also refers to a long range effort to improve an organisation’s problem solving capabilities and its ability to cope with changes in its external environment with the help of external or internal behavioral-scientist consultant or change agents (Wandell French, 1969).

In order to have a successful outcome to occur from an organizational development intervention the organization must be acceptable of change. The organization’s readiness must be evaluated. To evaluate the readiness for change a combination of three different measures will need to be implemented, which are observation, surveys, and interviews

Organizational change is usually triggered by relevant environment shift, either internal or external, that sensed by companies and leads to intentionally generated response (French, Bell & Zawacki, 2006). This paper will discuss several organization development models..

Burke (2014) stated that organizations change from day to day. The changes that take place in organizations can be intentional or unintentional. Generally, the changes that occur is accidental. It is important to have a broader and deeper knowledge of understanding organization change. Understanding what is currently happening as well as trends in which the organization is functioning can provide such awareness.