ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
"I believe that it is important not to forget about your people during times of change and to only focus on structures and processes. Without your people you will not have an organisation."
How can organisations benefit from Organisational Development?
We are living in changing times and things are moving far more quickly and unpredictably than we could ever have imagined or sometimes cope with. Changes occur in any organisation, no matter the size or the years of existence.
An Organisational Development project can assist you in identifying problem areas or potential problems within your organisation and deal with it accordingly and proactively. This can result in better personnel morale, increased productivity and ultimately a higher profit.
When can Organisational Development interventions be used?
Organisational Development interventions can be used if an organisation undergo or experience any of the following:
- Any form of transformation/change, i.e. new management, new products or systems, a merger or takeover of another company
- Poor communication
- Low personnel morale
- A high personnel turnover
- Constant conflict in a team/organisation
- Personnel resisting change
- To be proactive in identifying and solving potential problems
What are typical Organisational Development interventions?
The type of intervention will be dependent on the problems that have been identified. The following are examples of typical Organisational Development interventions:
- Strategic planning – for example vision, mission, goals, values, SWOT analysis
- Team interventions - for example Teambuilding, diversity awareness etc
- Facilitating – for example meetings, problem solving sessions, conflict, trauma debriefing
- Life skills development – for example resilience, stress management, time management
- Talent Management – for example life and career planning
My preference is working with smaller teams or departments within an organisation in order to assist them in dealing with their challenges.
Organisational Development experience
My Organisational Development experience includes the following:
- I have been the department head of the Organisational Development department within the Military Psychological Institute where I have trained OD consultants within the Military environment.
- I have facilitated training for entry level OD consultants at the University of Pretoria – “Organisational Development Process and Interventions”.
- I have trained HR Administrators within a large international organisation to understand the basics of OD and facilitation in order to support their OD consultants – “HRC Capacity Building with the emphasis on Organisational Development Process and Facilitation and Micro-skills”.
- I facilitated, coordinated and implemented various OD projects making use of the Action Research Model – diagnosing, feedback, joint action planning and interventions. This was done for government and private organisations.
- I have facilitated focus groups, conducted personal interviews and administered questionnaires in order to gather information as part of the diagnostic phase in the OD process.
- I have developed and facilitated different interventions related to the specific needs of clients as identified during the diagnostic and/or joint action planning phases of the OD process, e.g. stress management training, personal development, self-awareness, team development, etc.
- I have facilitated various sessions ranging from meetings for clients, problem solving, conflict between individuals, to strategy sessions.
- I have developed, coordinated and facilitated various team development interventions at all levels within private organisations and government departments.
- I have chaired meetings between clients and Psychologists in order to determine specific needs and to manage the logistical arrangements of the OD projects.
- I have developed and presented various life skills workshops as part of interventions for clients, e.g. stress management, time management, conflict management, etc.
- I have developed and implemented a change management programme for the amalgamation between Bestmed and Sanlam Healthcare Management. The focus was on dealing with the human issues and resistance to change.
- I have facilitated debriefing and stress management sessions for Forensic Pathology Services as part of their Wellness interventions.
- I have developed and facilitated team development sessions for Armed Reactions Officers at ADT Security in order to develop team morale and identify potential leaders.