Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.
Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid)
Organizational development (OD) is the planned, systematic process of changing the strategies, procedures and culture of an organization to improve its performance, effectiveness and growth.
OD is an effort within an organization to improve its capabilities and overall effectiveness. Not a simple process or quick fix, OD is a structured, organized and often lengthy endeavor to bring transformational change to specific areas of an organization or all of its parts—its values, strategy, structure, people and processes—with the goal of creating a sustainable, resilient organizational culture that can adapt to change and achieve targeted goals for success, growth and profitability.
Data and evidence are used extensively in OD. It is a research-driven process and focuses on modifying human behavior for the betterment of employees and the organization overall. Unlike human resources management, which includes hiring, employee retention and performance management as well as helping with policies and procedures, OD assesses what is happening within an organization and performs an intervention, attempting to produce positive change and align employees’ behavior with the organization’s strategy, business processes and goals.
In a rapidly changing business environment, OD is crucial for maintaining the competitiveness and sustainability of companies. It helps them to improve organizational effectiveness, adapt to new challenges and support a positive and engaging work culture.
