Managing Change

4‐2Expanding Organization Development

Structured and Unstructured Organization Development

One side of Organization Development involves preparing a place for discussion where everyone gathers and talks things out (just like the feedback meeting in Story 1). Another side of it involves using everyday connections and encouragement to drive progress (like how Hirose and Hanami went around trying to convince their senior co‐workers in Story 4). The first side is termed structured Organization Development and the second is unstructured Organization Development connection and approach.

Most people's idea of Organization Development probably involves gathering people and having a discussion to implement techniques using a ton of unknown jargon. There are also people practicing Organization Development who equate it to implementing methods and techniques under it. In short, people think that Organization Development involves only structured things. However, this is a narrow way of viewing Organization Development.

Using only structured techniques like the feedback meeting in Story 2 usually isn't enough to spark change in an organization or workplace. By going through the three steps—seeing the problem, serious discussion, and building a future—in a structured place for discussion, the plans and actions agreed upon in the “building a future” step are executed on a daily basis, and ...