Do you like puzzles? Not jig-saw puzzles or crossword puzzles… I mean, in real life… do you like figuring things out? Do you like mysteries? Do you like fixing things that are broken? Do you wonder “what makes people tick?” Do you get satisfaction out of making a contribution that improves…. anything? Are you like me… maybe you mow the grass and then pause to look at it with a sigh of satisfaction – knowing your effort made it look good (again)?
If you answered yes to any of the above… maybe you should consider a career in Organizational Development! But…. what kind of OD specialist would you be?
Look at the three ” OD trends” noted by our textbook authors in chapter 23. They talk about the Traditional Trend, the Pragmatic Trend, and the Scholarly Trend. Read all three – very carefully. There’s good stuff about each one. I mentioned each one of these in my weekly lecture, as well…. (hint-hint).
In your response for this week, I would like for you to rank them, 1, 2, 3, according to how important you think each one is – based on your personal preference, background, career experiences, and so forth. If you went into the OD field, (I said “if”), which trend would you lean toward? And then of course, please explain – and say why. When you get to your third choice, explain why you listed it last. Provide experiential application wherever you can.