Organization development is the systematic method of taking an objective look at how an organization is operating and gathering information, and then deciding on the most appropriate action to help that organization develop and improve.
Written by two leading experts in the field, this updated second edition of Organization Development includes new coverage of complexity and chaos theory, new case studies describing OD practices and attitudes in countries outside of the U.S. and U.K., and new chapters on change and culture and employee engagement and wellbeing. The authors have also re-structured the book's format, creating greater cross-referencing between the HR and OD sections and an added emphasis on the collaborations between OD and HR functions.
"In these leaner and leaner times, the practical guidance of this book ensures that OD/ HR professionals and organization leaders have the tools and know-how to create and sustain healthy organizations." (
Dean Royles, Director, NHS Employers)
"The book comes into its own by clearly differentiating what benefits OD brings but being careful to point out that it is vital to go through a series of steps rather than trying to jump in mid way through as we're probably all tempted to do at times." (
HR Network (Scotland))
"In this edition, Cheung-Judge and Holbeche offer an even more comprehensive account of OD and HR in easy to read and practical terms. Purists in both fields will breathe a sigh of relief knowing that core principles have not been sacrificed with the addition of more contemporary theory and practice. Internal and external practitioners alike will appreciate this all in one reference." (
Mary Ann Rainey, PhD, Organizational Effectiveness Consultant and Executive Coach, MA Rainey Associates)
"The first edition of Organization Development: A Practitioner's Guide for OD and HR is a very useful compendium of theories, practices, and figures with well-informed guidance for practitioners. This new edition is even more so with expanded, updated, and new sections on complexity and chaos theories and approaches, Dialogic OD, the logistics and infrastructure that support change, behavioral change, organization agility and resilience, and employee engagement. Mee-Yan Cheung-Judge and Linda Holbeche have again produced a valuable handbook for both the beginning and experienced OD practitioner." --(
John D. Vogelsang, PhD, Editor in Chief of the OD Practitioner)
"
The authors have organized and integrated OD into an easily understood, practical book that is very useful to newly involved professionals from many fields. I especially appreciate the intentional relationship between HR and OD as the bridge to how much of this work will occur in the future and who will be doing it.
In comparison to many other texts on OD, this text stands out in its attention to the design function in interventions, the use of self, the practical, integrated way theory is discussed and summarized, and more focus on change, which is often assumed rather than discussed theoretically.
" --(
David W. Jamieson, PhD, Professor & Department Chair, Organization Learning & Development, University of St Thomas)
"Cheung-Judge and Holbeche have included just enough of everything -- history, theory, practical application, the essentials of OD without drowning the reader in some of the irrelevancies that abound in other OD texts." --(
Matt Minahan, President, MM & Associates)
