Organization Development
Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.
— Winston Churchill
do you have questions?
“I know things are not working as they should in my organization, but I’m unclear about exactly what is going on or how to fix it.”
“We are about to acquire another company. Our systems are different, our cultures are different… how do we best plan for and manage this change effort? Can we decrease the potential for conflict, resistance, attrition, and general dysfunction?”
“I have some questions and would like to run a survey but need help designing it so I get the information I need.”
Organizations are in constant flux. Sometimes change is planned; other times it must simply be managed.
Organization Development (OD) is a collaborative process that can be used to clarify issues and create solutions, maximize human potential, increase organizational effectiveness in meeting intended goals, and produce sustainable performance gains within the organization. OD experts help leaders assess needs, plan, implement, and manage systemic change, whether it is at the organizational, group, and/or individual level.
Dorsett OD works with the organization in a variety of ways
The OD process is not a step-by-step prescription for the way things “should be done,” but rather, the process is adaptive; Sharon Dorsett helps the leader dig in to a problem, figure out the underlying issues, and then decide on what future help is needed. Together they work on a range of problems that may include aligning functional structures with the organization’s strategy; creating a feedback system to support and strengthen individual performance; managing conflict and increasing collaboration; assessing the work environment to identify strengths on which to build and areas in which change and improvement are needed; and/or providing help and support for employees, especially those in senior positions, who would benefit from coaching that would help them improve their own job performance.
OD May Include Exploration of the Organization’s:
- Culture
- Norms
- Values
- Strategy
- Motivation
- Job design
- Rewards
- Power
- Leadership and management
- Teamwork
- Efficiency
- Organizational effectiveness
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Morale
- Retention
- Work environment
- Organizational structure, design, and life cycle
Dorsett OD Offers an Organization Development Process That Typically Involves:
- Working with the organization to develop a shared understanding of the issues being faced
- Reaching agreement on project scope, objectives, and responsibilities of participants
- Gathering data (through interviewing and custom designed survey assessments) to gain a deeper understanding of the organization, analysis of needs, assessment of challenges and opportunities for change
- Designing and planning intervention for change
- Guiding and monitoring the intervention process
- Assessing the change plan, including evaluating results, celebrating success, analyzing lessons learned and identifying next steps
“Sharon’s comprehensive review of our affiliate was instrumental in helping us identify areas in our organization that could be improved. While gathering data she worked seamlessly with all levels of our organization and her conclusions and recommendations were both thoughtful and insightful.
Sharon also worked with management to implement corrective strategies and to establish benchmarks where progress could be measured. Sharon’s organizational development work played a key role in helping us become a stronger and better habitat affiliate.”
— Jonathan Campbell,
Board Chair,
Habitat For Humanity
of Greater Portland