Reflective Journal

Not sure what I’ll be writing here, but I’m sure it’ll be something deep.

Organizational Change….or development

When pondering the differences between organizational change and organizational development, I first begin to define these.  Change denotes a transformation of some sort that could either occur quickly or gradually.  Development, on the other hand, denotes a more gradual, planned transformation within an organized system.  My experiences as the director of an organization have taught me that positive or desirable changes do not happen quickly or radically. Changes of this variety are normally slow, require buy-in from organizational members, and must be planned in advance.   Quick or radical changes are the result of an external environmental factor like a change in a law or rule, or an emergency that requires immediate attention.  Organizations must be proficient in dealing with both swift changes posed by external or internal issues and in planning and developing future plans. 

It is my hope that this course will enable me to develop tools that I can utilize at my own organization in order to ensure survival.