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Large System Interventions and Org. Development


Large System Interventions is one of the OD interventions that works on a principle of whole systems. The interventions encompass the involvement of all stake holders either working with smaller groups set by set to large groups in a room with a process that facilitates understanding and emerging of the vision for the people in the organization. The idea of bringing all the stakeholders related with the issue it brings in both inside-out and outside-in approach.

The LSI has multiple approaches which address organizational issues such as defining out vision, cultural change (Diversity and Innovation) and structural change (Re-structuring, Mergers and Acquisition) through practices such as Open space Technology, Action Learning and Future search. The examples of IBM Value JAM, Vodafone and Idea Merger and other examples of similar nature involve processes that are mentioned above in bringing in buy-in from the stake holders

The concept of emergence is fascinating as the processes that are designed ensures that all the views from different parties are taken into consideration. Anything that emerges or evolves out as a collective goal is considered to be sustainable. The process starts of as a chaos but at the end of the process we see an order that can be looked forward by everyone The system itself as part of the process of feedback from previous experience and feedforward to future expectations and development areas. The process builds the trust in the people and acknowledges all the viewpoints by making it transparent and clear on direction and end state of the goal.

The OD consultant acts as a facilitator in the entire process considering the OD values and emphasizing the organization values which they believe as a whole. The amount of facilitation of the OD consultant decreases over a period of time as the stages progress in a planned fashion. The facilitator helps the system to self-sustainable over a period of time by empowering the individuals in the system in making their decisions. This can be only accomplished with continuous reinforcement in the system over and over again on relevance to the desired state by sense making and meaning making in the process.

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