Exploring the Role of the OD Consultant: Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Findings

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of contemporary OD consultants to better understand their knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as their work experiences, perceptions and challenges. There are three sections to this paper. First, forty OD consultants were identified and then interviewed in 2020. To obtain the richest data, we used a mixed method approach using exploratory interviews and survey data. The interview data provided verbatim quotes to identify major themes. From the qualitative data, three primary themes surfaced; namely, a) OD consultants as continuous collaborators; b) OD consultants as knowledge communicators; and c) OD consultants as value providers. A second section of this paper includes the unexpected finding of the alignment of contemporary OD consultants’ words to the OD classical writings of roughly 40 years earlier. These 2020 OD consultants' words and values aligned with the classical OD works and views of scholars from decades ago. Additionally, although OD is often challenged by controversy and criticisms such as the need to ‘re-invent’, OD is dying, and OD as Adolescent, the interviewees conversely resounded the alternative positive outcomes of OD. The final section includes the contribution to the theme of AOM regarding managers, and the resurfacing of AOM’s Organization Development and Change Division’s Past Chairs published works and how today’s OD consultants' thoughts and experiences (at the 50th year celebration of the ODC Division) align with the ODC Division Past Chair's scholarly contributions. In short, what is old is now new!