Glossary

Terms are purposely defined as simply as possible. For more technical or in-depth definitions, try entering a term in a search engine on the web, such as Google, followed by a space and the acronym "OD" (for organizational development).

Advocate

A person who lobbies for positive change.

Capacity building

Improving an organization's overall ability to carry out its mission.

Change agent

Consultant who facilitates a change or organizational development process.

Cross-functional organization

One in which there is open communication and project coordination across the functional/departmental areas. There is a balance of managerial authority and employee influence.

Cross-functional teams

Combine members from different functional groups within an organization. Benefits include more direct communication lines and optimized knowledge resources.

Empower

Encourage and permit members of an organization to explore the truth about their individual and collective needs, usually with the goal of positive change

Functional (silo) organization structure

The more conventional or "traditional" organizational structure in which departments are organized to-down by function, with minimal communication between functional areas.

Human systems

A group of people with a common purpose. Examples include: families, tribes, nations, societies, religious groups, neighbourhoods, businesses, non-profit organizations, schools, government bodies, teams, unions, work groups and departments.

Human systems or Organizational development consultant

The organizational consultant utilizes his or her knowledge of self and human dynamics to help individuals and groups improve overall oranizational effectiveness.

Influencing up

Providing input to persons in positions of greater authority in the organization, in order to enact change.

Intervention

Spontaneous or pre-meditated actions which are intended to assist the client in moving toward their goals.

Leader

One with authority who guides, directs, and shows the way by actions and words.

Leadership

The capacity to lead, especially the ability to be proactive in the face of stress and change - may be encouraged in all organization members.

Leadership development

Fostering the capacity to lead among all or some organization members.

Leverage point

Places within an organization where a relatively small intervention will produce the far-reaching positive changes in the entire system.

Resilience

Ability to bounce back in the face of stress and change.

Organization

As used here, refers to entire entity or sub-group within it (e.g. company, institution, department, board of directors).

Organization development (OD), Organizational improvement

Sees organizations as human systems and focuses on aspects of organizational life which shape them, such as vision, culture, values, decision-making, work processes and communication styles. Typically, OD services are employed when an organization (or a group within an organization) is going through a major change or is responding to a change in the market.

Here's an alternate definition which talks about what it's like to go through an organizational development process:

Organization Development is the attempt to influence the members of an organization to expand their candidness with each other about their views of the organization and their experience in it, and to take greater responsibility for their own actions as organization members. The assumption behind OD is that when people pursue both of these objectives simultaneously, they are likely to discover new ways of working together that they experience as more effective for achieving their own and their shared (organizational) goals. And that when this does not happen, such activity helps them to understand why and to make meaningful choices about what to do in light of this understanding.

Neilsen, Becoming an OD Practitioner, Englewood Cliffs, CA: Prentice-Hall, 1984, pp. 2-3.

Organizational learning

Organization members reflect together (with or without the help of an external consultant) on their experience of relationships, processes, patterns and other aspects of organizational life; make interpretations together; plan future actions based on shared understanding and conclusions; and carry out those actions and evaluate them - which begins the learning cycle again. Organizational learning can become part of an organization's culture making it more resilient and effective in the face of ongoing change.

Sponsor

The person(s) in an organization with the vision, authority, resources and drive to initiate and follow-through (even in the face of resistance) on a major organizational change effort.

System

A functionally related group of elements. From Greek sunstone, meaning to cause to stand together.

Systemic change

Changes in organizational dynamics, e.g. how members and sub-groupings in an organization process information, make decisions, carry out business, in the context of relationships, culture, values, morale, etc.

Systems thinking

As applied to human systems: A view of organizations which places emphasis on the patterns, processes and relationships among its members and groups, to find ways to break negative patterns, and maintain and improve positive patterns, processes and relationships.