St. Louis Organization Development Network (STL-ODN)

About St. Louis Organization Development Network (STL-ODN)

The St. Louis Organization Development Network is a group of professionals with a mission to serve the OD community through learning experiences and opportunities to interact with peers. Our organization strives to create an atmosphere where we can learn, share ideas and build business relationships with other members. We offer a variety of events and programs throughout the year along with mentoring programs for members who would like to advance their career and develop, both personally and professionally, with the guidance of a senior level STL-ODN member. What is Organization Development (OD) and why is it important? The overall goal of OD is to improve an organization’s effectiveness. It involves the application of behavioral science knowledge, in a planned and system-wide manner, and it addresses an organization’s strategies, structures, and/or processes. "Change management" is a term that is sometimes used interchangeably with OD. It is concerned with how people react to change, and how their needs have to be considered if change efforts are to be effective. Organizations are increasingly challenged by change. Competitive pressures are becoming more and more demanding, and rapid technological change and the globalizing economy create new challenges. In the midst of this, employees seek more satisfaction from their work lives as well as more balance in their lives as a whole. Whether organizations are private, public or not-for-profit, they must adapt to this new world if they are to survive and thrive. They need to become more nimble, more customer-driven, and more innovative, and they need to attract and retain competent and committed employees. This will require more flexible organizational structures, new types of leadership, and new ways of managing. Ultimately, OD professionals can help organizations navigate this difficult terrain to become more effective in the work they do.

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