Group Development as a Framework to Understand and Promote School Readiness to Engage in an Organizational Development Project

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the relationship between successful organizational development efforts in schools and the school's level of group development. The utility of organizational development (OD) for school improvement is discussed. Research findings regarding the factors associated with successful and unsuccessful OD projects in schools are outlined. Next, the relationship between these factors and the stages of group development described in the social psychological literature is demonstrated. Finally, steps that can be taken to increase the level of group development in a school and its readiness to engage in an OD school improvement project are described.