Mind the Gap: Revisioning Organization Development as Pragmatic Reconstruction

Abstract

This article identifies the possibilities for a revisioning of organization development (OD) in light of a resurgent debate within both OD and the wider field of organization studies. Scholar— practitioner, theory— practice, and relevance— rigor are terms within the debate that indicate what are seen as the challenges. In the context of this debate, the authors review the theory and practice of New OD and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) both as sources of insights into approaches to OD and organizational change and as pointers to the gaps along the way of seeking to address these challenges. The authors discuss what else can be learned from approaches that are based on concepts of organization practice. In light of this understanding, the authors argue for a revisioning of OD as a process of engaged inquiry that changes organizations by changing their practices.