Process Consultation: Its Role in Organization Development

by Edgar H. Schein

A member of the PH OD Series! How can you influence a situation in the workplace without the direct use of power of formal authority? This book shows you how by presenting the core theoretical foundations and basic prescriptions for effective management.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Management, Psychology

204 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1969

About the author

Edgar Henry Schein is the Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management Emeritus and a Professor Emeritus at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Schein investigates organizational culture, process consultation, research process, career dynamics, and organization learning and change. In Career Anchors, third edition (Wiley, 2006), he shows how individuals can diagnose their own career needs and how managers can diagnose the future of jobs. His research on culture shows how national, organizational, and occupational cultures influence organizational performance (Organizational Culture and Leadership, fourth edition, 2010). In Process Consultation Revisited (1999) and Helping (2009), he analyzes how consultants work on problems in human systems and the dynamics of the helping process. Schein has written two cultural case studies—“Strategic Pragmatism: The Culture of Singapore’s Economic Development Board” (MIT Press, 1996) and “DEC is Dead; Long Live DEC” (Berett-Kohler, 2003). His Corporate Culture Survival Guide, second edition (Jossey-Bass, 2009) tells managers how to deal with culture issues in their organizations.

Schein holds a BPhil from the University of Chicago, a BA and an MA in social psychology from Stanford University, and a PhD in social psychology from Harvard University.

From:http://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/detai...

Reviews

[Paul Niven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe one of the best books I've ever read. It's only about 150 pages but I highlighted something on each and every one. Extremely beneficial advice for anyone who facilitates or consults with groups.

[Harun Dagli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and concise book from a very experienced consultant on how to become a successful consultant

[Samuele Maccioni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Presidiare la soglia.

[Zhe Zhao · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of the book basically has nothing to do with consulting, instead it's more like a collection of refined natural laws in organizations, which are very helpful for managers to handle the dynamics of organizations. And Schein's background in psychology makes them very convincing. While the second half of the book is highly specific about P-C engagements.

[Michel Verweij · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book on helping changing!
In my opinion Schein describes the heart of change management, how to support individuals in change, how to build a good relationship and how to intervene.
Schein is in favor of process consultation, one of the options to provide help starting from and working with the problem and options of the client. This process works in all situations. Other options are selling expertise or diagnosing and prescribing required change. These other options are the ones I often encounter, and also usually practiced and still practice. Then you wonder why change is not adopted. Truly helping is a difficult process that is perfectly described in this book with various examples for interventions.

[Stephen Shu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very dry read, but one of the few books that talks about facilitation-based consulting.

This book is one of four books I recommend as core to the practice of consulting. More details here: http://steveshuconsulting.com/2015/07...

[Neena Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This pioneering work and book by Schein is the fundamental building block for a learner & practitioner of organisational process, dynamics & development.
A must read for an OD student & consultants alike.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schein led the way. Along with Argyris and Schon, a good fundamental for organization analysis.

[Nico Macdonald]

Recommend by Anthony Story.

[Jeff Lampson]

A classic in OD an process consulting. It's a must read if you are serious about the field.