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Organisation development plans 'help drive positive change'
HR News |
27/08/2010
Human resources departments have a vital role to play in implementing true change within businesses and organisations, according to a leading industry body.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) says it can be a difficult struggle attempting to modify established working practices in today's corporate environment.
As a result, CIPD claims that HR must invest additional time and money in their organisation development (OD) plans.
According to the organisation, these can play a key role in influencing the operational and cultural change needed to enhance business performance.
CIPD defines OD as being "the planned and systematic approach to enabling sustained organisation performance through the involvement of its people", explaining the need for HR to take a leading role.
The organisation claims that OD applies to changes in the strategy, structure and processes of an entire operation, and is based on the application and transfer of behavioural science knowledge and practice.
It says OD is concerned with flexibly managing planned change, in a manner that can be revised as new information is gathered; and focuses on the development of new skills and knowledge within the workforce.
However, Angela Baron, the CIPD's adviser on OD and engagement, claimed that this area remains "somewhat of an enigma" for many organisations.
She commented that the concept is difficult to describe, noting that it is often hard to see how it differs from good HR.
Ms Baron stated: "Recent developments in HR have shown that good practice is driven by good quality information and insight. A well thought-out OD strategy is one way to achieve this, as well as offering significant benefits in the management of on-going change."
She claimed that leadership and effective line management is the key to successful implementation of OD.
According to leading social psychologist Warner Burke, OD is best described as "a planned process of change in an organisation's culture through the utilisation of behavioural science technology, research and theory".
Posted by John Lynes
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