Summary
Contents
This comprehensive collection of cases and exercises allows students to practice organization development (OD) skills at the same time as learning about theories of organizational change and human behavior. The first part of the book presents cases about the OD process, and the second part includes cases in organization-wide, team, and individual interventions. The final part provides practical exercises that make the course material come alive through realistic scenarios that organizational change practitioners regularly experience.
This book can be used as a stand-alone text or as an accompaniment to Donald L. Anderson's textbook Organization Development: The Process of Leading Organizational Change, Second Edition (ISBN 978-1-4129-8774-5).
Contracting with a Client
In the contracting meeting, the practitioner and client meet to determine what work the client would like to have performed. The problem is explored in more detail, and the client and practitioner jointly agree on the next steps. Good contracting meetings enhance the client-practitioner relationship, clarify expectations, and add to the practitioner's understanding of the problem. In summary, the purpose of the contracting meeting is to:
- Further explore the problem.
- Clarify the client's goals and objectives for the request.
- Allow the client and the practitioner to get to know each other, and to validate that the practitioner has the knowledge and skills to accept the project.
- Understand the organization's commitment to change.
- Agree on mutual roles and needs.
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