This article discusses the process of learning to perform organization development (OD) work full time. In studying this the authors conducted a "clinical" analysis ofa journal kept by one of the authors during a 20-month tenure as an OD manager, and of the experience and training of both authors in this field (one a "retired" OD manager, both professors of organizational behavior). Many personal and professional struggles were revealed in this research, which are integral to the development of the self in the role of the OD practitioner. The article offers ways of conceptualizing and handling these struggles, and thereby the work of practicing OD.
Berg, D.N.
, & Smith, K.K. (Eds.). (1985). Exploring clinical methods of social researchBeverly Hills: Sage.
4.
Blake, R.R.
, & Mouton, J.S. (1976a). Diary ofan OD manHouston: Gulf Publishing Company.
5.
Blake, R.R.
, & Mouton, J.S. (1976b). Strategies of consultation. In W.G. Benniset al. (Eds.), The planning of change (3rd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
6.
French, W.C.
, Bell C.H., & Zawackh R.A. (Eds). (1978). Organizational developmentDallas: Business Publishers.
7.
Levinson, D.J.
, Darrow, C.N., Klein, E.B., Levinson, M.H., & McKee, B. (1978). Seasons of a man's life-New York: Knopf.
8.
Neilsen, E.H.
(1984). Becoming an ODpractitioner. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
9.
Oshry, B.
(1980). Middlepower. Boston: Power and Systems.
10.
Schwartzman, H.
(1984). Research on work group effectiveness An anthropological crique. Paper presented at Carnegie-Mellon Conference on Work Group Effectiveness.
11.
Simmons, V.M.
(1985). Restructuring an organization's history: Systematic distortion in retrospective data. In D.N. Berg & K.K. Smith (Eds.), Exploring clinical methods for social researchBeverly Hills: Sage.
12.
Smith, K.K.
(1982). Groups in conflict Prisons in digseDubuque, L: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
13.
Steele, F.I.
(1975). Consulting for organization change. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press.
14.
Zaltman, G.
, & Duncan, R. (1977). Strategies for planned changeNew York: Wiley.
