Major Types of Interventions

The field of Organization Development uses a variety of processes, approaches, methods, techniques, applications, etc., (these are often termed "interventions") to address organizational issues and goals in order to increase performance. The following partial list of interventions is organized generally in the order presented by Cummings and Worley in their "Organization Development and Change" (West Publishing, 1993).

Human Process Interventions

Guiding Individuals

CoachingCounselingDelegatingLeadingMorale (Boosting)MentoringMotivating

Group-Based

Conflict ManagementDialoguingGroup FacilitationGroup LearningSelf-Directed Work TeamsTeam BuildingVirtual Teams

Technostructural Interventions

Downsizing and OutsourcingOrganizing Tasks, Jobs and RolesOrganizing StaffBusiness Process Re-EngineeringISO9000Total Quality Management

Human Resource Management Interventions

Employee Performance Management

Establishing Performance GoalsPerformance PlansObservation and FeedbackEvaluating Performance

Rewarding PerformanceRecognizing Performance Problems ("Performance Gaps")Performance Improvement / Development PlansStaffingFiring Employees

Employee Development

Career DevelopmentLeadership Development PlanningManagement Development PlanningPersonal DevelopmentPersonal ProductivityPersonal WellnessSupervisory Development PlanningTraining and Development

Employee Wellness Programs

Diversity ManagementDrugs in the WorkplaceEmployee Assistance ProgramsErgonomics: Safe Facilities in the WorkplaceHIV/AIDS in the WorkplacePersonal WellnessPreventing Violence in the WorkplaceSafety in the WorkplaceSpirituality in the Workplace

Strategic Interventions

Business PlanningCultural ChangeLarge-Scale InterventionsOrganizational TransformationStrategic Planning