Practicing Organization Development: A Guide for Leading Change: A Third Edition

THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNAL OD PROFESSIONAL

This section presents the disadvantages faced by internal OD professionals:

Poor credibility: Too often OD is seen, along with HR and training, as areas in which people are placed who simply can’t do anything else. The individuals are too academic, too theory-oriented, and too connected with the latest fad of the month.

 

Insulation: There is a tendency not to get out too often. In the best of all possible worlds, OD people should be spending considerable time (and even rotating assignments) in line areas, understanding what the woop and warf of the business are on an everyday basis. While working with Tastemaker, a world-class flavoring company, the CEO had placed his top OD person in charge ...