ABSTRACT
The program described in “A Systems Approach to Organization Development” took place between 1966 and 1968. During this period the plant grew from about forty to approximately one hundred employees. The original plant manager was succeeded in 1967 by a manager from inside the plant who had been part of the experiment and who enthusiastically supported the move toward more participation and responsibility for production employees. From 1966 to 1969 the change effort was supported by an internal corporate OD consultant and an external OD consultant who visited the plant frequently and continued to make interventions to support the changes described. However, extensive support from both OD consultants ceased in early 1969. Shortly thereafter, a third plant manager from an older, unionized, more traditional plant took over. Three years later, a fourth plant manager from outside the plant took charge. With the exception of an attempt to rejuvenate OD activities in 1974, the plant has not had active OD consulting support since 1969. Now, almost ten years later and thirteen years after the beginning of the intervention, it is of some interest to know what has taken place.
