Organization Development and Change

Chapter Eight: Feeding Back Diagnostic Information

Thomas G. Cummings Christopher G. Worley

Learning Objectives for Chapter Eight

To understand the importance of data feedback in the OD process To describe the desired characteristics of feedback content To describe the desired characteristics of the feedback process
Cummings & Worley, 8e (c)2005 Thomson/South-Western 8-2

Possible Effects of Feedback

Feedback occurs No Change Energy to deny or fight data
NO Is the energy created by the feedback? YES What is the direction of the feedback?

Energy to use data to identify and solve problems Do structures and processes turn energy into action?
YES

Anxiety, resistance, no change

Failure, frustration, no change

NO

Change
Cummings & Worley, 8e (c)2005 Thomson/South-Western 8-3

Determining the Content of Feedback

Relevant Understandable Descriptive Verifiable Timely Limited Significant Comparative Unfinalized

Cummings & Worley, 8e (c)2005 Thomson/South-Western

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Effective Feedback Meetings

People are motivated to work with the data The meeting is appropriately structured The right people are in attendance
knowledge power and influence interest

The meeting is facilitated

Cummings & Worley, 8e (c)2005 Thomson/South-Western 8-5

Survey Feedback Process

Members involved in designing the survey The survey is administered to the organization The data is analyzed and summarized The data is presented to the stakeholders The stakeholders work with the data to solve problems or achieve vision
Cummings & Worley, 8e (c)2005 Thomson/South-Western 8-6

Limitations of Survey Feedback

Ambiguity of Purpose Distrust Unacceptable Topics Organizational Disturbances

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