The Process of Change through Interlevel Dynamics in a Large-Group Intervention for a Religious Organization

Abstract

In recent years, large-group interventions have been growing in prominence in the theory and practice of organizational development. These interventions, which have different titles and structures, have been defined in terms of a process in which, by bringing a whole system into a room, a large system attempts to create a shared sense of direction and a commitment to that direction. The generic purposes of a large-group intervention are to enable those who have a stake in the system to discuss shared desires and intentions, take responsibility for their own plans, and implement a shared vision. This article looks at a large-group intervention among Catholic sisters in an organizational development context and applies the construct of organizational levels and the Lewin-Schein change process model with a view to contributing to further reflection on the dynamics of large-group interventions.