Reflections: Change Management Is Not Organization Development

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, Part One is to make a comparison of organization development (OD) and change management (CM) across eight concepts that are relevant to both OD and CM. The concepts or characteristics are (1) guiding philosophy, (2) value system, (3) theory, (4) primary skill, (5) intervention mode, (6) change model, (7) change activities, and (8) sustainment of change. OD stresses development of people and change regarding the organization, whereas CM emphasizes facilitation and expanding their business with the client organization. A concluding statement for the comparison of OD and CM is that OD has a rich underpinning of theory and a clear set of values that provide guidelines for the work with clients and CM has neither. Thus, CM is a misnomer. Part Two concerns the longer term and includes some consequences for OD from the pandemic of 2020–2021, such as the virtual workplace and leadership. The article concludes with some things to remember, suggesting the importance of group size, large group interventions, and loosely coupled systems.