The NTL Handbook of Organization Development and Change: Principles, Practices, and Perspectives, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER TWENTYLARGE GROUP INTERVENTIONS^a

Barbara Benedict Bunker and Billie T. Alban

A critical breakthrough in organization development (OD) methods occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. OD practitioners working with systemic problems in organizations developed methods for bringing together “the system,” all the concerned parties or “stakeholders,” in one place to make decisions about the issues facing them.

Until the 1980s, change work often occurred within organizational departments or units. “Team building” was popular and effective for the group involved. At the same time, change processes led by top management that affected the direction of the whole organization usually occurred as a waterfall process. The plan or strategy began at the top ...