Step 5: Sources for Additional Learning
Interactive Exercise(s) About This Topic
- Think of a system that are you involved in, for example, an organization or a team. Draw a logic model of that system, including to list its inputs, recurring processes, outputs and outcomes.
- Think of at least one recurring process in a system that you are involved in, and list some of the activities in each phase of the process cycle, including in the planning, developing, operating and evaluating phases.
Discuss these Articles
Invite some colleagues to read these articles with you.
- Read the brief article, OD Practitioners: Organizational Physicians, to gain a basic impression of the role of Organization Development (OD) practitioners.
- Then read the more complete article Holistic Organization Development: A Paradigm for the Future to understand a broader perspective on the field of OD.
Discuss your impressions of the field and compare it to your perspectives on your own consulting work with organizations.
Scan Lists of Free Articles About This Topic
Familiarize yourself with the sections of articles in the Library's topics, Organizations (an Overview) and System Thinking.
Share Questions, Answers and Materials in CDI's Discussion Group
Use the Discussion Group to conveniently get help and give help with CDI faculty and fellow learners. You can search for topics in the group, as well.
Read at Least One Book About Organization Development
CDI’s courses and programs are focused on generalists and specialists working on one specific area of an organization or on the entire organization. Courses and programs are not focused primarily on developing generalist OD consultants. However, the following OD book is one of the best for conveying the rich body of research and learnings about understanding and working with organizations.
Organization Development and Change, Thomas G. Cummings and Christopher G. Worley.
Answer Questions for Reflection and Discussion
One of the best ways to enrich your learning is to reflect on the content of the course, including to affirm what you are doing now and to identify what you might do even better. Think about the following questions. Discuss them with others. See Questions for Reflection and Discussion.
Review Range of Resources for Consultants' Learning
Scan the list of General Resources for Learning for Consultants. Pick at least one of the resources to use now, for your continuing professional development.