Purpose
This assignment is worth 20% of your final grade. This midterm assignment focuses on part one of the organizational development process in which you diagnose an issue in your organization and identify the need for change. You will evaluate theories and models and identify barriers to change. This assignment will cover OD concepts and theories we have discussed so far. These concepts and theories include the following subjects:
· Planned change theories
· OD diagnostic processes
· Barriers to change
· Internal and external impacts
Task
Choose an organizational development concept or theory from the readings and discussions. In a 5- to 7-page paper, discuss and build out the theory by applying it to an organization you are working for, have worked for, or are familiar with.
To complete the assignment, keep the following criteria in mind:
· Be thorough as you apply the concept or theory to your organization.
· In your diagnosis, clearly identify the organization problem or issue and work through the chosen theory as you apply it to the organization.
· Describe the change that needs to take place and discuss internal and external forces that represent obstacles to the change, supporting your opinion with appropriate citations. Describe the various kinds of data you would need to gather to confirm your diagnosis. Consider the level of analysis (organization, group, or individual job) that should be applied to this situation.
· You are expected to incorporate at least one of the following course objectives in your short paper:
· Evaluate definitions, theories, and models of corporate culture
· Identify the roles and relationships corporate culture has in organizational performance
· Use a systems perspective in analyzing organizational conditions
· Evaluate theories and models for managing change in organizations
· Identify common barriers to effective change management
· Evaluate the role and impact of organizational structure, leadership, mentorship, and coaching on organizational effectiveness.
Your paper should be 5 to 7 pages long, excluding the cover and reference pages. Your paper should be double-spaced. Please follow guidelines for citations, quotations, and references. Use at least five scholarly resources that are dated within the last five years. You are strongly encouraged to use the required and reserved readings in this course, as well as peer-reviewed journal articles found through the UMUC library. Research methodology and problem analysis will be emphasized in the grading of this assignment.
This assignment is worth 20% of your final grade and addresses Course Objectives 4 and 5. You must complete this assignment individually, without contacting other students, and you may not use a paper or any part of a paper from a previous class or from another person. If you have questions about this assignment, please post them in the Ask the Professor discussion forum so that everyone can benefit from the answers
