ABSTRACT
An organization development (OD) consultant is often called in by a company or hospital or other organization when something is going wrong. It is a rough rule of thumb to say that the more that is going wrong, the more ready will the organization be to make real changes that are more than superficial. If, however, there is too much going wrong, the resulting panic will make any real work on the part of the consultant almost impossible. Perhaps enough has been said to make it clear that quite a bit is known about how to change organizations from oppressive hierarchies into places which allow for growth, personal development and genuine participation. OD can actually strengthen the effectiveness of unions, if used in the right way. The consultant in OD works like a therapist or facilitator, bringing out conflicts and helping to get them properly worked through and dealt with, at the pace which the organization finds possible.
