A Comprehensive Guide to the 5 Stages of Organizational Development

Organizational development is an interdisciplinary field that draws on a variety of sciences, such as psychology, culture, innovation, social sciences, adult education, human resource management, change management, organizational behavior, and research analysis and design. It is a continuous, systematic, and far-reaching process for boosting organizational effectiveness, solving problems, and improving organizational performance. Companies of all sizes and sectors can benefit from organizational development interventions. Organizational development involves five stages that are necessary to apply in order to obtain maximum benefit.

Each stage is defined in terms of its descriptive elements, business agenda, economy, and key concerns.

Stage 1: Assessment

The first stage of organizational development is assessment. This is when the consultant will conduct surveys to determine the organization's climate and employee behavior problems. The assessment should be based on the company's mission, vision, values, and performance objectives.

Stage 2: Planning

The second stage of organizational development is planning. This is when the organization will develop a strategy for improvement based on the assessment results. The plan should include expanding the number of times when employees have paid time to take time off from their regular tasks in order to access development opportunities.

Stage 3: Implementation

The third stage of organizational development is implementation.

Different types of organizational development interventions require different implementation strategies. Group interventions may be necessary because part of the company is changing the way it develops a product, for example.

Stage 4: Evaluation

The fourth stage of organizational development is evaluation. This is when the organization will measure the success of the intervention by comparing it to the original objectives set during the planning stage.

Stage 5: Follow-up

The fifth stage of organizational development is follow-up. This is when the organization will continue to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed to ensure that the intervention remains successful over time. Organizational development interventions can help companies improve their strategy, management, human resources, and technology. Other things you can do to enhance your organization include organizational restructuring, business process reengineering, and strategic planning.

Organizational development can be challenging but most companies find that the benefits far outweigh the costs. Therefore, it is essential for companies to systematize every step of the process in order to maximize their success.