Larry Kokkelenberg - OD for the Accidental Practitioner: A Book Written by Practitioners, for Practitioners

PRAISE FOR

OD for the Accidental Practitioner

Written by two seasoned, experienced organization development professionals, this book will likely become a key resource for a group of people who, either by choice or circumstance, have become responsible for guiding learning and change in organizations. Kokkelenberg and Miller have done an extremely creditable job of outlining a complete curriculum for professional OD development.

Peter F. Norlin, PhD, Principal, ChangeGuides; Former Executive Director, OD Network

OD for the Accidental Practitioner is clearly written and offers a great deal of wisdom for the accidental OD practitioner, which actually is a much larger population than perhaps even the authors realize. Lawrence Kokkelenberg and Regan Miller have performed a valuable service by writing this book.

Todd L. Matthews, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Leadership and Organization Development and Change, Cabrini University

OD for the Accidental Practitioner is a comprehensive look at the field and practice of organization development, co-authored by two very experienced and deeply respected practitioners.

Dr. Kris Lea, PsyD OD, PCCP, President, Kris Lea Consulting Group, Inc.

Kokkelenberg and Miller have written a straightforward account of organization development (OD), easy to read, clear to understand, useful to ponder. Written for accidental practitioners from other fields who are doing OD for various reasons, the book is an informative and welcoming companion. A caring way to learn OD. For more seasoned OD veterans, the book provides a rich array of insights and cases that rekindle ones own experiences and stimulate learning from them. An inspiring way to continue the journey.

Thomas G. Cummings, Professor of Management and Organization, University of Southern California

Having been an OD practitioner for almost fifty years, I found this book refreshing and a reminder of the OD concepts and beliefs I hold dear. This book is a must-read for accidental practitioners and those who have been practicing the craft of OD for years. As the authors said, practicing OD is both an art and a skill that requires a balance between how you like to engage with clients, your preferred approaches to whole system improvement, and the uniqueness of each and every client... a lesson that often takes practitioners years to understand. This book will speed up your learning process and for us old-timers remind us of why we have dedicated our lives to OD.

Frederick A. Miller, CEO, The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, Inc., ODN Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Co-author of Safe Enough to Soar: Introducing Interaction Safety

Practical. Useful. Down to earth. This is the book I wish Id had when I first stumbled into the consulting profession. Larry and Regan have given us an informative, enlightening, and digestible handbook. Read it. Absorb it. Apply it. And pass it on to others.

Dr. Karl Albrecht, Author of Blueprint for a New America

This is an excellent, practical book that is based on the extensive practical experience of authors Kokkelenberg and Miller. The book is well written and covers the waterfront of change management, organization design, organization development, and so much more. It is for anyoneOD consultants, managers, or even workerswho find themselves trying to facilitate change efforts in organizational settings. My advice: buy the book, read it, and apply what you learn from the wisdom contained in it.

William J. Rothwell, PhD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CPLP Fellow, Professor, Penn State University/University Park

It is true that most OD practitioners enter the field through a side door rather than the main entrance with a shiny new masters degree or doctorate. And most are expected to hit the ground running, learning as you go if necessary. Kokkelenberg and Miller have provided the consummate companion piece written with the inexperienced practitioner in mind. In fact, it might be a good idea for practitioners to download their copy into their iPhone.

W. Warner Burke, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University

Organizations are operating in increasingly turbulent worlds that require them to navigate the complex dynamics of change. Kokkelenberg and Millers clear and concise book, based on years of experience and packed with practical and psychological insights, is a timely resource for people wanting to understand what organization development (OD) is about, and how it can help their organization to thrive. The books case examples, checklists, and wisdom bits will be useful prompts for OD practitioners as they address their organizations OD challenges in these radically changing times. Its a really good read.

Dr. Linda Holbeche, Visiting Professor, OD and HRM, City of London University Business School

I think its important for those entering into the field of OD to gain an understanding of the history and purpose of OD, and how to transfer their current skills to become an experienced OD professional. I think this book will help the accidental practitioner understand how they can develop the competencies needed to effectively lead OD change initiatives.

Dr. Nancy Zentis, CEO, Institute of Organization Development

Larry and Regan have brought the principles and concepts of OD to life in practice. Few have approached understanding the field through the eyes of those who are practicing without the benefit (or restraints) of first learning it all through academic lenses. This book captures the essence of what is needed by the practitioner themselves, the organization, the foundations and processes of OD, and organization change. It also makes good connections with foundational theories and practices for added knowledge of readers. Its an excellent reminder for more experienced practitioners and a field book for new or accidental practitioners.

David W. Jamieson, PhD, President, Jamieson Consulting Group, Inc.; Editor in Chief, OD Review

I really enjoyed reading this book. It covers a broad range of theories, methodologies, tools, etc., to enable the reader to understand the many aspects of OD in a very clear and logical way. Although it is intended for the accidental practitioner, it is also useful for seasoned practitioners as a way of reconnecting to aspects of OD that may have been forgotten (or possibly lurk in the recesses of our minds). The structure includes case examples and study group or self-reflection questions at the end of chapters to facilitate the learning process. The definition of OD is simple but not simplisticthe essence of what OD is about.

Glenda Hutchinson, Organization Development Consultant, IODA Co-Vice President of Conferences and Events

There is a strong need for those new to the field of OD to have a resource for understanding and practicing sound and effective OD. This book responds to that need. However, it also goes beyond this need and offers practical ideas for seasoned practitioners as well.

Dr. D. D. (Don) Warrick, Professor of Leadership and Organization Change and Presidents Teaching Scholar, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

CHAPTER 1

OD for the Accidental Practitioner

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We were fortunate to have careers that allowed us to go into other organizations and be exposed to different cultures, leadership styles, employees, working atmospheres, rules, and regulations, etc. This experience alone is an education. We got to see what works and why it works, or what is not working and the consequences of that. We were able to broaden our experiences as we helped organizations improve. We saw success and failure and what caused those results. We made mistakes, often at the clients expense, and then learned from them. Every experience we were exposed to made us more knowledgeable and more skillful for the next client. We were fortunate to learn by doing and were exposed to a wide variety of projects and circumstances.