Negentropy is a construct drawn from physics that can be conceptualized as the opposite of energy losses associated with normal organizational life. Over time, physical systems tend to "wind down" or entropy, eventually into disintegration. The application of negentropy to social systems, metaphorically, is the primary purpose of this…

Described in this paper are techniques that should be employed by human rights agencies as a way to achieve greater productivity with existing resources. (EB)

This meta-analysis examined effects from 126 studies that used organizational development (OD) interventions to modify satisfaction and other attitudes. Multi-faceted interventions were found to be more effective in modifying satisfaction and attitudes than were OD interventions that used a single technique. Team building and lab training were the…

The article describes how the management and supervisory personnel at Venus Packaging Limited worked as a team to help improve various systems within the company. (Author/BP)

The authors argue that organizational development (OD) has evolved as one response to the need for strategies and approaches to planned change. The "stream analysis" approach presented here can be used to understand and plan the change process. This approach can facilitate insight into the state of the change process, before and after…

Examines three factors contributing to organizational success: use of a systemic model to design and guide the change effort; analysis of interdependencies within the system and of the change potential; and use of communication methods to help ensure that the change will be supported. Presents characteristics of successful change efforts with…

This field guide provides a look into education in relation to a concept that has already been established in science, business and therapy. This book will encourage and educate readers about systemic thinking through examples and ideas pertinent to education and its reform. Following a Foreword (Michael Fullan) and Introduction (Blane Despres),…

The Essex County College Learning Resources Center was established within a two-month period in 1968, allowing no time to train personnel, develop procedures, or do organized planning. Consequently, the Director developed a tight central leadership and decision-making system. It was decided that the organization needed a management system that…

Examines the relevance of reengineering for organizational development in a technology-enabled marketplace. Emphasizes the need for shorter timeframes to implement change and discusses reasons for reengineering failure, as well as ways to make executive sponsorship more secure. (AEF)

This book addresses the goal of radically repositioning training from a peripheral role in the organization to that of a provider of bottom-line results, return on investment, and driver of performance. Each of five parts, and their respective chapters, begins with a changing mindset model that implies a shared perception, by both the individual…

When school psychologists adopt an organization development perspective they are acting on a cluster of related concepts: (1) that because schools are social organizations, school effectiveness depends on the school's organizational culture; (2) that attempts to institute educational reforms only work when the reforms and the school culture mesh;…

This paper explores the role that language can play in the development of technologies or other processes within an organisation. Examples and lessons from the literature of the learning organisation are looked as a key in the development of language. The paper uses a practical example of a customer complaints management system to demonstrate how…

How can the structure of a management system be reviewed? What specific data should be collected and what procedures should be followed? The specific data collection methodology consists of three steps: (1) description of process outputs, procedures, and inputs; (2) evaluation of effectiveness, needs, and priorities for change in the process; and…