What is the primary focus of organizational development - SHRM-SCP Prep
Question
What is the primary focus of organizational development?
Answers
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Explanation
Correct Answer: A. Improving performance.
The primary focus of organizational development (OD) is improving organizational performance and effectiveness through planned interventions. OD uses data-driven approaches, systems thinking, and behavioral science to enhance both individual and group performance, leading to better productivity, adaptability, and goal achievement. While OD efforts may involve cultural change or managing change, these are means to the ultimate goal of improved performance. OD aligns strategy, structure, and processes with organizational goals to achieve sustained effectiveness.
Why the Other Choices Are Incorrect :
- B. Diagnosing the environment: Incorrect because diagnosis is only an early step in the OD process. It helps identify performance gaps or areas needing change, but it is not the ultimate goal. Diagnosis supports the broader objective, which is to improve how the organization functions.
- C. Changing the culture: Incorrect because while OD often involves culture change as a tool or outcome, it is not the primary purpose. Cultural transformation is a method used to enhance effectiveness, but the overarching aim remains performance improvement.
- D. Managing change: Incorrect because change management is a technique or process that supports OD, not its central focus. OD is broader in scope and targets sustained organizational improvement, of which managing change is just one part. OD includes managing change, but goes beyond to ensure long-term performance gains.
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