Contemporary organisation development (OD) in practice draws on
sophisticated theory and tools to advance organisational change, using a
range of concepts and techniques including positive psychology,
appreciation, and active engagement with the workforce. OD is considered
to be humanistic and, as a result, progressive. Mark Cole's original and
thought-provoking treatise points at a hole at the heart of OD practice:
it fails to consider the role of power in the workplace - and the result
is disempowering.
Drawing from critical theory as a radical means to redefine practice,
Mark Cole exposes this paradox and reveals the significant limitations
and negative impacts of current OD practice. We need to replace the idea
of the organisation with a focus on active human organising to enable
individuals within systems to effect change from the grassroots up: this
concept is Radical OD.
Essential reading for students, practitioners, and academics of OD; the
wider HR community, and all with an interest in developing their
understanding of organisational life, this ground-breaking manifesto
offers unique and challenging insight into the corporate presence of
OD - and challenges the willing reader to reimagine the focus and intent
of this work.
