2 Academic Perspectives of OD
Having set out the background, this chapter provides an overview of academic perspectives through a thorough review of the literature on OD. It details the origins of the term ‘Organization Development’. Difficulties in defining OD and its broad nature are considered. Blurred boundaries and confusion with close subject areas are examined with a view to identifying ‘what is not OD’ as well as what is (or at least might be). Scholars’ accounts of the origins of OD, those named as important contributors, its development as a profession since its founding are all set out.
An outline of what might be considered to be core, traditional, US-developed OD: open systems, process and more recent evolutions of core OD is set ...
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