Why a Group Relations Perspective is Valuable for Organisation Development: Insights from Indian Experience

Abstract

Group relations (GR)-influenced approaches have been used by practitioners in India since the mid-1970s to consult to organisational systems. This article focuses on the relevance of this framework to organisational leaders and consultants who wish to deploy their skills to manage change. It draws largely on the author’s experience of organisation development (OD) in India, approached from a GR lens. Providing an introduction to the main strands of GR work, the article goes on to argue that these are invaluable to anyone interested in OD, accompanied by brief examples of how a GR approach throws light on what may be happening. The competencies that GR-influenced consultants and leaders deploy, and some challenges that may be thrown up specifically in the Indian context, are also reflected on.