Organizational Development from the Social Science Perspective

Below you will find the important aspects of section 2.

Learning Outcomes:-

● Analyse critically the theoretical roots of contemporary consultancy.

● Identify strengths and weaknesses in each perspective

● Consider which perspectives may inform the way in which you hope to work in your consultancy project for your assignment.

An appropriate plan therefore is to read through the theoretical models of contemporary consultancy

Identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Relate appropriate models to your project. Think about there suitability as to what perspectives may relate to your project work.

N/B : If you do this type of work from an early stage, it helps you to understand consultancy project work and what theories concepts support your decisions.

The perspectives are:-

● Social Science

● Systems Theory

● Psychoanalytical/Psychodynamic .

Overview:- Successful consultancy evolves from the ability to be open to new structures and scenarios. The other positive aspect is to have or develop a willingness to learn with and from clients.

To recap on article 1, Parable of the Kitchen Spindle.

4 specialists were called into a restaurant to provide there expert opinion on diffusing a situation which arose between waitresses and cooks.

Each specialist gave advice from their perspective. It was the junior cook who came up with the simple idea from his own experience in a previous job. He had worked with a rotary mechanism to which they pinned their orders. The orders went out accurately to the customers.

What to Learn From This:- Each of the specialists ideas were thought through from a single perspective .The junior cook however solved the problem from the 4 specialist perspectives.

Sociologist- no hierarchial conflict. T...

... middle of paper ...

... the organisational development consultants is to work with team members to help facilitate the learning process.

● Both parties are co-learners in diagnosing the organisation, designing changes and implementing and assessing the changes made.

● In this setting the groups work together. Both consultants and organisational members work as co-workers.

Have you observed or worked in this type of project group.

Finally go back to the learning outcomes. Start thinking about the project you have in mind to discuss for your assessment. You can begin to analyse the different theories. What type relates to your project? Provide your reasons for identifying these theories that they relate to your project issues.

This is a summary of organisational development from the social sciene perspective.

I will go on now to summarise the systems theory perspective.