Greater Cincinnati Organization Development Network

Here are some notes from Ken Wessel’s group from our last meeting.  Good stuff here!  Thanks Ken.  More items will be posted as received.

CHALLENGES TO THE OD PROFESSION

I studied the Copenhagen Consensus as background for responding to the 9/9/08 meeting request to identify challenges we face as OD professionals.

My reaction to information provided by the Copenhagen group was that they used terms whose meaning did not match their usage and that structure of their work was not logical.  So I went about revising the structure of their work, without changing their words, beginning with an operational definition of “challenge.”

   “A call to engage in a test of ones abilities or resources in a demanding, stimulating, and worthwhile undertaking.”   (A summons to action.)

Next, I developed a framework to place challenge in relationship with other elements of Copenhagen material.

Strategies that reconcile
Challenge and issues

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        Decision to engage the challenge    Issues that restrain progress
———————————————>  <—————————————–
In their own words the Copenhagen challenge is; “What would be the best way of advancing global welfare and particularly the welfare of developing countries, given $75B in available resources for an initial 4 year period?”

They identified and force ranked a number of issues including; disease, global warming and air pollution.

A sample strategy to resolve issue of disease included; micronutrient supplements and fortification and school nutrition programs.

Using this approach I drafted:

A CHALLENGE TO OD

“To employ our intellectual powers of logic, reason and objective observation as activating force for change.”

ISSUES WE FACE IN ACCEPTING THIS CHALLENGE

•    Imprecise use of language and automatic use of terms that are in vogue
•    Stereotypes of OD profession as “detached from real world, bound to academia, hypersensitive to feelings, HR based, passive…”
•    Low level of understanding how the mind works, generation of thought, process of thinking.”
•    Unsustainable efforts toward development in situations that lack coherent design
•    Partnering with others based on mutual comfort vs. challenging potential leaders to step up

POSSIBLE STRATEGIES

•    Increase functional skill in use of functional frameworks to improve quality of thinking
•    Focus on quality of thinking as critical success factor in any undertaking

This is intended as a draft to be further developed by the network.

Ken Wessel:  9/11/08

Greater Cincinnati ASTD - Dedicated to workplace learning and performance

GCASTD 2008 Fall Conference: A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities

Patterns, Thinking, and Approaches

We’ve packed the 2008 GCASTD Fall Conference with a dazzling array of ideas to stimulate your thinking as well as concrete tools to use on Monday morning. And kept last year’s prices!

Through the changing lens of the kaleidoscope, we’ll move among the many trends, realities, breakthroughs, and challenges employers address.

Join us October 24 to learn and grow in our chosen field, allowing us to return energized to make a difference to those we serve.

Susan Smyth, 2008 Conference Chair

Where:

Sharonville Convention Center
11355 Chester Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45246

Registration Information:

Early Bird Registration (By September 26, 2008)
GCASTD Member: $129
Non-Member: $149 (includes one year membership)

After September 26
GCASTD Member: $149
Non-Member: $199 (includes one year membership)

Group Rate:
5 or more members, $120 per member.

To review the conference schedule and to register, click here:

http://gcastd2008fallconference.eventbrite.com/

-Submitted by Tony Cipollone

As summer is flying by, I just realized that we’re almost into August. I would like to schedule an ODN board meeting for next Tuesday—August 5 from 6:30-8:00. The purpose of this meeting is our annual “transition” meeting where we welcome our new board members and say good-bye to our outgoing board members and take care of any business before the start of our fall programs.

Outgoing Board Members:

Joe Payne- Co-Chair
Gary Sweeten- Program Co-Chair

2009 Board

Shari Bleuer Co-Chair
Frank Fletcher Co-Chair (NEW)

Dale Browning Program Co-Chair
Amita Ghosh Program Co-Chair

Leigh Drake Communications Co-Chair
Kira Knight Communications Co-Chair (NEW)

Regina Troxell Membership Co-Chair
Shawna Webb Membership Co-Chair (NEW)

Jackie Gibson Administrator

AGENDA:

• Welcome new board members
• Farewell to Joe and Gary
• Current Membership
• Goals for Future Membership
• Finances and member dues
• Paypal vs credit card
• Website Update
• September Kick Off Program (Last Spring we talked about the program being hosted at Western Southern). Topic: Compliance Mandated Change?
• Ideas for upcoming programs
• Set meeting times/places for monthly board meetings

MEETING LOCATION: Sharon Road Skyline Chili. I-75 exit Sharon Road Exit. Skyline is on the right hand side of road- near Frisch’s. Call my cell at 513-703-8840 should you get lost. Time: 6:30-8:00PM. If you have any particular agenda items- let me know and I’ll add them. Thanks and see you next week. Shari