Organisation development in healthcare: a critical appraisal for practitioners

Table of Contents
CONTENTS

List of illustrations

Who should read this book?

Acknowledgements

Introduction

What is OD?
The historical development of early OD
The development of OD in healthcare in the UK
An NHS case study: The Trent Regional Health Authority Organisation Development Unit
The changing context for OD activity: A VUCA/RUPT world
The unusual nature of healthcare organisations
The challenges facing today’s OD in healthcare
Into the future: The possible next steps in healthcare OD development

Organisation Development in Healthcare: A Critical Appraisal for Practitioners provides both an overview of the evolution of OD in healthcare as a field of practice and as a challenge to its future development. It examines the underlying assumptions behind OD and tracks its historical growth in healthcare, with special attention devoted to the UK’s National Health Service. The unusual nature of healthcare organisations delivering human services through the work of professionals who are subject to emotional labor and are addressing society’s wicked problems provides a unique context. A range of challenges for healthcare OD are identified, including questions of conformists or deviant innovation; organisations as machines or systems; hierarchy versus democracy; the importance of power and emotion and possible future ways forward for healthcare OD are suggested. Examples and short case studies from both the UK and the US to illustrate the benefits of OD are included.