Dialogic Organization Development

10Entering, Readiness, and Contracting for Dialogic Organization Development

Tova Averbuch

This chapter offers models distilled from two decades of practice about entry, readiness, and contracting for Dialogic OD, the initial stages of relationship between client and consultant.¹ It begins with the question of why and when to contract for Dialogic OD work, continues with a definition of “readiness,” and discusses how to assess initial readiness and build readiness for Dialogic OD. Next the consultant’s “entering” into the organization is described as a process of crossing multiple thresholds while widening the circles of stakeholders’ engagement. The final part of this chapter defines “contracting,” elaborates on its innate challenges, and gives ...