Main Theories and Principles of Organisation Development

 Assignment – 5ODT Part B
This assignment must be submitted through Online Services.
Part B (A.C.1.1) (1,000 words)
Your organisation (or one with which you are familiar) is going through a period of change, and you
have been appointed as the project manager for a 12 month programme of Organisation Development
(OD). You are asked to develop a short research paper (approximately 1000 words) on the main
theories and principles of organisation development. This should:
 Explore and discuss the origins of OD, leading towards contemporary definitions, and covering ideas
of learning theory; psychology and behavioural science; social and organisational learning; and
organisational systems theory. Make reference to theory, models and research as relevant, and
should be correctly referenced
 Summarise key points as they are likely to relate to the project in question, discussing at least two of
the theories, models or ideas previously explored
 Please also comment on how you will transfer the new knowledge and skills gained during this
assignment into working practices. You may also use this reflection for your CPD.
 You should also include 3-5 references from up to date and relevant sources in order to support
your findings. This assignment must be submitted through Online Services.
NAME: Mohammed Alhaddi COHORT:
COMPANY: Sharjah National Oil
Corporation
WORD COUNT
Section 1 (500 words)
Explore and discuss the origins of OD, leading towards contemporary definitions, and covering ideas of
learning theory; psychology and behavioural science; social and organisational learning; and
organisational systems theory. Make reference to theory, models and research as relevant
Origin of OD:
The OD concept began at 1940’s -1950’s when psychologists focused on dynamic groups and
observe how they response to participation. At 1940’s Kurt Lewin developed a leadership
workshop called the T-group which provide systematic feedback on participants’ behavior and
attitude, which led to rich learning experience (Developing People and organizations, HR Text
Book, page 39).
Based on this success NTL (National Training Laboratory) was formed at 1947 and expanded in
1950 allowing individuals to learn more about themselves (Same Source).
The term “Organizational Development” began to emerge as internal professional used to apply
theses techniques to their organizations (McGregor 1960, Beckhard 1969).
At 1960 McGregor discovered that management has two approaches regarding their employees,
one theory stating that employees have to be controlled because they are avoiding
responsibilities and they should be observed, The other theory Y that employees are accepting
responsibilities if they be given the right conditions.
Maslow’s “Hierarchy of needs” (1954)
Social Sciences: Psychology, Anthropology, sociology. T group and Tavistock Institute
OD has many definitions; it takes similar shape in some definition, different in others.
Will mention afterward some of those definitions:
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 Assignment – 5ODT Part B
This assignment must be submitted through Online Services.
“A Planned and systematic approach to enabling sustained organization performance through
the involvement of its people” CIPD Factsheet, 2016.
“A process of learning and changing” or “A structured of ensuring sustainability of business” or
“A method of ensuring continuous development” or “Ongoing process that enables the business
and its people to perform effectively”.
I think the wide difference in definitions and views is because of the wide range of the expected
results of the OD as process, also because of the OD practitioners trying to fit in different
contemporary organizations.
There are many theories / principles involved in organizational development:
1- Learning theory
2- Motivational theory
3- Psychology
4- Democratic
Learning theory is ac core element of organizational Development and its definitions, as the
learning theory is thinking critically and sharing info through the organization, making the
following :
1- Team and continuous learning.
2- Building shared vision.
3- Mental Models
4- Personal Mastery
5- Through information system
6- Self-Assessment
Motivational theory primarily depends on the strategies of motivating the employees regarding
the development process. It is to be mentioned that the organizations that take up motivational
theory effectively incorporate training and development programs for their employees (Day et al.
2014). The motivational theory is not only helpful in encouraging the employees of motivating
about the development, but also helpful in increasing the efficiency of the employees by
incorporating training programs.
Psychological theory of organizational development can be analyzed as to be similar to that of the
motivational theory to a great extent. In the psychological theory of organizations development
focuses on the importance of motivating and encouraging the employees (Cummings and Worley
2014). In addition to this the psychological theory also focuses on the importance of accessing the
views of the employees about the development and change process. Moreover, the psychological
theory also points out the importance of accessing the demands of the employees.
Democratic theory incorporates the process of active participation of the employees in the
organizational development. By applying the strategy of democratic theory, the organization will
be able to incorporate and listen to the views and ideas as well (Thompson 2017). Moreover, by
taking up the organizational development theory an organization will be able to understand the
process of achieving cultural sustainability within the organization.
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