Discuss the Case from the Standpoint of OD Values and Ethics.
The Kindred Todd case illustrates a realistic dilemma an Organization Development Practitioner (ODP) may face while properly performing his role of helping the client organization maximize humanistic benefits and achieve organizational effectiveness. The ODP is a qualified professional who facilitates change within the client organization that involves encouraging open communication, employee involvement and personal growth and development. Although some ODP’s may specialize in a specific technical area, all possess common skills in the social processes of organizations. The very nature of the ODP helping role lends itself to the potential for misconduct, intentional or unintentional, because the ODP wields significant power and influence over his client. He has gained the client’s trust, holds in his possession intimate knowledge about the organization’s culture and operations, and is positioned to guide the implementation of the program jointly developed with the client, thereby the client relies on his expertise and guidance at every step in the change process. Without professional values and ethics to guide the ODP’s every interaction, communication, and activity, he may find it difficult to navigate the client relationship as both client and ODP roles and goals may often come into conflict or become clouded by ambiguity. Values and ethics help the keep the ODP’s his role in focus and act to guide him as he works jointly with the client to identify the challenges facing the organization, recommend a solution and assist in their implementation resulting in increased organizational effectiveness and performance.
The case was fraught with examples of how the Action Research Model (ARM) was not followed and professional values and ethics were questionable. In the ARM, planned change begins