Todays organizations operate in a rapidly changing environment.  Consequently, one of the most important assets for an organization is the abilitiy to manage change, , , and for people to remain healthy and authentic.  Consider the following definitions of OD:

 

"Organizational 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 on 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 acheiving 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." 

 

- Neilson, "Becoming an OD Practitioner," England Cliffs, CA: Prentice - Hall, 1984, pp. 2-3.