Organizational Change and Development
One project completed by our students with CA One Services Nashville involved
conducting an organizational assessment and developing strategic planning
recommendations. CA One runs all food service operations for the approximately
14 establishments of the Nashville International Airport. A particularly
interesting aspect of this organization was its highly diverse workforce, with
employees from multiple nationalities and ethnic/cultural backgrounds. This made
for a dynamic environment with unique aspects for OD. Critical incident-based
interviews with employees at all organizational levels, and a review of recent
survey findings, were the primary methods utilized.
One recent project of the OD
class was a comprehensive organizational assessment for the U.S. headquarters of
Pearl Drum, the world's #1 drum maker. One of our recent OD classes conducted
focus groups, individual and group interviews, and an employee survey at Pearl
Drum in Nashville to complete an organizational assessment. Results of the
assessment led to creation of recommendations for follow-up attention by the
organization to help it continue to grow and maintain its position as an
industry leader.
The applied project for another OD class involved organizational assessment of
Goodwill, a not-for-profit organization. They asked our students to make
recommendations on ways to improve their recruitment and retention efforts as
they undertook a significant new growth initiative. The class used interviews as
well as analysis of data available from the organization in the assessment.
Students
also worked with Square D, a Group Schneider Company, on an organizational
development project with the Engineering Department. Square D is a nearby
company that custom engineers and manufactures medium voltage switchgear (i.e.,
really big circuit breakers & electrical equipment). Students gained hands-on
experience with diagnosing the organization's situation, survey techniques, data
analysis and interpretation, and providing feedback of findings to management
and employees. Recommendations for organizational interventions were made based
on the findings.
The OD students completed a project
for the Murfreesboro City School System centered on conducting an organizational
diagnosis for a school that had undergone major changes over the past several
years. Bradley Elementary was poised to develop into a nationally elite model of
an “arts integration” curriculum structure and teaching style throughout all its
classes, but was at a crossroads in its evolution. Our
diagnosis utilized interview and survey data, and provided a blueprint of
specific recommendations for how this organization should move forward at this
critical junction in its development.