Human Resources Organizational Development 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best defines Organizational Development (OD)?
- A planned, organization-wide effort to increase effectiveness using behavioral science knowledge (Correct answer)
- A financial strategy focused on reducing labor costs through restructuring
- A legal compliance program ensuring adherence to employment regulations
- A recruitment process designed to attract top external talent
Correct answer: A planned, organization-wide effort to increase effectiveness using behavioral science knowledge
OD is a planned, systematic effort that applies behavioral science principles to improve an organization's health and effectiveness.
Question 2: Kurt Lewin's change model consists of which three stages?
- Plan, Execute, Review
- Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze (Correct answer)
- Diagnose, Intervene, Evaluate
- Assess, Implement, Sustain
Correct answer: Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze
Lewin's three-stage model involves unfreezing current behaviors, implementing the change, and refreezing new behaviors to make them permanent.
Question 3: An OD practitioner conducts interviews and surveys to understand the root causes of low morale before designing an intervention. This is called:
- Action planning
- Organizational diagnosis (Correct answer)
- Process consultation
- Team building
Correct answer: Organizational diagnosis
Organizational diagnosis is the systematic process of gathering and analyzing data to identify root causes of organizational problems.
Question 4: Which OD intervention focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and communication within a work group?
- Survey feedback
- Job enrichment
- Team building (Correct answer)
- Management by objectives
Correct answer: Team building
Team building interventions are designed to enhance cohesion, communication, and collaborative effectiveness within a group.
Question 5: The Action Research model in OD involves:
- Executives unilaterally deciding on changes and then communicating them downward
- A cyclical process of data collection, feedback, planning, action, and evaluation (Correct answer)
- Hiring external consultants to redesign the organization without employee input
- Benchmarking competitors and replicating their best practices
Correct answer: A cyclical process of data collection, feedback, planning, action, and evaluation
Action Research is a cyclical, collaborative process where data is gathered, shared with stakeholders, and used to guide iterative change efforts.
Question 6: Which term describes an organization's shared values, beliefs, and norms that influence employee behavior?
- Organizational climate
- Organizational culture (Correct answer)
- Corporate governance
- Psychological contract
Correct answer: Organizational culture
Organizational culture refers to the deep-rooted shared values, beliefs, and assumptions that shape how members of an organization think and behave.
Question 7: In the context of OD, 'process consultation' is best described as:
- A consultant solving the client's problems directly
- A consultant helping the client perceive, understand, and act on process events (Correct answer)
- A consultant auditing financial processes for compliance
- A consultant designing new workflows to replace existing ones
Correct answer: A consultant helping the client perceive, understand, and act on process events
Process consultation, developed by Edgar Schein, involves a consultant helping clients observe and improve their own processes rather than providing direct solutions.
Human Resources Organizational Development 1
Which of the following best defines Organizational Development (OD)?