It can be seen from this brief canter through history that Organisation Development today is quite different from its early beginnings in the 1960’s. Each decade built upon theories, research and learning from the previous decade. OD today is often characterised by system-wide, transformational interventions and strategies, with a clear focus on empowerment, inclusion, participation, values and ethics and on developing leaders and people in order to develop the organisation and deliver high levels of customer and stakeholder satisfaction.
Consequently, key skills for leaders and managers in the 21st century and key issues for OD strategy development today are:
• Conducting thorough and frequent environmental scans and diagnoses (both internal and external)
• Capturing and translating the information gleaned and sharing it appropriately. Involving others in identifying appropriate responses, including reviewing the core purpose, vision, strategies and goals of the organisation where necessary.
• Learning and applying learning and knowledge. Embedding a learning culture.
• Skilfully facilitating – teams, discussions, processes, change, the development of people and organisational potential.
• Empowering, developing and trusting people, to enable them to participate fully, to be creative, take risks, experiment and learn.
• Embedding and demonstrating a flexible and adaptable leadership approach.