Sample Essay Questions for Final OD (4,6,9,10, 14, 16)

Chapter 4: Role and style of the OD Practitioner

1. What are the pros and cons of external and internal practitioners? Why is the team
approach a viable alternative?
2. Compare and contrast the five basic practitioner styles.
3. Why is it important for an organization to be ready for an OD program?
4. Differentiate between learning organization and organizational learning.
5. Identify the basic problems in the practitioner-client relationship.

Chapter 6: Overcoming Resistance to Change

1. Trace the life cycle of change in an organization or government.
2. What are major forces in the change process?
3. Explain major factors affecting success of change.
4. Explain strategies to lessen resistance.
5. What strategies might be used in gaining acceptance for an OD program.
6. Explain restraining forces blocking implementation of change programs.

Chapter 9: Employee Empowerment and Interpersonal Interventions

1. What are the objectives of laboratory training?
2. Explain how transactional analysis can help you better understand your communication
patterns.
3. Explain the steps in a career life planning program.
4. Identify and explain stress management interventions.
5. What are interpersonal interventions and why they are important to the organization?
6. Explain employee’s empowerment.

Chapter 10: Team Development Interventions

1. Explain the concept of team development also identify when to use team within the
organizations.
2. Identify the characteristics of an effective team.
3. Identify and give examples of ways of increasing team effectiveness.
4. Identify the symptoms of groupthink. Explain how groupthink can be avoided through
team development.
5. Explain categories of team interaction.
6. Identify the six steps in the team development process.

Chapter 14: High-Performing Systems and the Learning Organization

1. Compare and contrast the reasons for successful and unsuccessful change programs.
2. How can managers develop an organizational culture that encourages a high-
performing system or a learning organization?
3. Explain high performance systems.
4. Explain the concept of learning organizations.
5. Explain four management systems. Also mention advantages and disadvantages of
each.

Chapter 16: The Challenge and the Future for Organizations

1. Identify some of the conditions for the success of an organizational development
program.
2. Is organizational development an emerging discipline or only a passing fad?
3. Do you agree or disagree with the criticisms of organizational development?
4. Explain interpersonal trends regarding future aspects of organizational
development.
5. Explain how practitioner-client relationship should be terminated.