Week 11:

Entering and Contracting

Acknowledgement of sources
Text: Waddell, Cummings & Worley (2000).
Other sources: Harvey & Brown (2001)
 Learning Objectives
• To describe the steps associated with
starting a planned change process

• To reinforce the definition of an OD

practitioner as anyone who is helping
a system to make planned change
 General Model of Planned Change

Planning Evaluating
Entering and and
and Diagnosing Implementing Institutionalising
Contracting Change Change
 The Entering Process

• Clarifying the Organisational Issue

– Presenting Problem
– Symptoms
• Determining the Relevant Client
– Working power and authority
– Multiple clients -- multiple contracts
• Selecting a Consultant
Elements of an Effective Contract
• Mutual expectations are clear
– Outcomes and deliverables
– Publishing cases and results
– Involvement of stakeholders
• Time and Resources
– Access to client, managers, members
– Access to information
• Ground Rules
– Confidentiality
 Emotional Demands of Entry
• Client Issues
– Exposed and Vulnerable
– Inadequate
– Fear of losing control
• OD Practitioner Issues
– Empathy
– Worthiness and Competency
– Dependency
– Overidentification
 NEXT WEEK

• OD practitioners – styles & skills

• Reading: Chapter 3

• Additional reading: French & Bell (1999) Chapter

14; Senior (1997) Chapter 8