

From Lewin came the ideas of group dynamics and action research which underpin the basic OD process as well as providing its collaborative consultant/client ethos. Kurt Lewin (1898–1947) is widely recognized Template:Bywho as the founding father of OD, although he died before the concept became current in the mid-1950s.

OD can involve interventions in the organization's "processes," using behavioural science knowledge organizational reflection, system improvement, planning and self-analysis. OD is neither "anything done to better an organization" nor is it "the training function of the organization" it is a particular kind of change process designed to bring about a particular kind of end result. Warren Bennis has referred to OD as a response to change, a complex educational strategy intended to change the beliefs, attitudes, values, and structure of an organization so that it can better adapt to new technologies, markets, challenges, and the dizzying rate of change itself.

Organization development ( OD) is a new Template:When term which means a conceptual, organization-wide effort to increase an organization's effectiveness and viability.
