Organizational Development and Change
In this module’s Case Assignment, we will again use an experiential approach. You will engage in a personal
applied case on the topic of organizational development. As in earlier modules, use the following outline to
structure your 4- to 6-page paper. You may use the subtitles as headings within your paper.
Introduction: Discuss the topic of the paper and how you will approach it. It is best to write this section after you
have written the rest of the paper.
Concrete Experience: Begin with a specific situation/event. Describe a change that occurred at your workplace
that was significant and meaningful to you. It may have been an extraordinarily good experience—or it may
have been an experience that did not work out very well at all! The important point is that it should be an
experience which you would like to understand better. Be objective and focus on just the facts: who, what,
where, when, and how—as if you were composing a newspaper article.
Reflective Observation: Reflect upon that change experience from multiple perspectives of persons involved or
affected in the organizational change. Step back from the situation, look at the organizational change from your
own viewpoint, and from the perspective of all other parties involved or affected. You want to look at the
circumstances surrounding the experience from every relevant point of view. Why did you react and behave the
way that you did? Why did others behave the way that they did? Did others have the same positive (or
negative) experience? Explain. (Note: your discussion of theories and models from your module materials
belongs in the following section.)
Abstract Conceptualization: Use critical thinking skills in order to understand and interpret the change
experience at a deeper, more generalizable level. Interpret and understand the events you have described by
drawing on the concepts, theories, and models in the background material from this module. Explain how they
apply to your experience. For example, what steps in the change process were undertaken in the change
process you experienced. Which Organizational Development technique, if any, was applied and used in your
actual experience? Which Organizational (OD) Development technique do you think should have been applied
and why? Compare the actual experience with the change plan you develop from your chosen OD technique.
Be sure to apply at least three concepts, theories, and/or models and cite all references to concepts, ideas,
and/or quotes that you use from any outside source.
(This Abstract Conceptualization section is the “heart” of your paper. Using critical thinking skills, provide a
clear, specific discussion on the logic, theories, and models and how they apply to your experience.)
Active Experimentation: Identify ways to respond to the next occurrence of a similar experience. What have
you learned about the way organizational development and change can take place from this analysis? What
have you learned from any mistakes? How are you going to put what you have learned to use? What actions
will you take to lead effective change at a business or organization?
