Abstract
OD practitioners are faced with the dilemma of using their diagnostic skills to create high-quality change plans, yet the clients must be involved to increase the likelihood of the change plans being implemented. Sys tems Improvement Research (SIR) resolves the dilemma by establishing a team composed of inside workers and outside consultants who jointly collect data and make plans for change. The development of SIR, its theoretical bases, and several field experiences with the approach are described.