Lamar, an OD consultant, is working with members of a cross-functional team to build cohesiveness and practice skills so the team can function better. He has observed them working together to solve problems and he has shared the latest customer survey results with them. Lamar is conducting the ______ stage of the OD process.
Business · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021
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Lamar is conducting the "Diagnosing" stage of the Organizational Development (OD) process.
Extra: Organizational Development (OD) is a field that deals with improving the effectiveness of an organization and its members by applying behavioral science principles. The OD process typically involves several stages:
1. Entering and Contracting: This initial stage involves establishing a relationship between the OD consultant and the client, defining the scope of work, and understanding the organization's issues and readiness for change.
2. Diagnosing: In this stage, which Lamar is conducting, the OD consultant collects data and observes the organization to understand its current functioning, including problem areas. Using various diagnostic tools such as surveys, interviews, and observations (like watching the team solve problems and reviewing customer surveys as Lamar did), helps the consultant to identify areas for improvement.
3. Planning and Implementing Change: Based on the diagnostic information, plans are developed for implementing changes that will lead to organizational improvement. This could involve redesigning jobs, restructuring the organization, or changing processes.
4. Evaluating and Institutionalizing Change: The final stage involves assessing the effects of changes to make sure they have successfully addressed the problems diagnosed at the beginning. Successful interventions are then made a permanent part of the organization's practices.
Lamar's work with the team to build cohesiveness and observing their problem-solving in action, as well as sharing customer survey results, is indicative of the diagnosing stage, wherein he is gathering and analyzing information. This stage is crucial because it determines the direction of the interventions that will follow in the OD process.