What is the difference between Organizational Development and Human Performance Improvement?
This is a frequently asked question and understandably so. Both fields are aimed at improving the performance of people and organizations. However, there is considerable difference in style and practice between the two. Organizational Development (OD) adopts a very broad-brush approach to overall organizational performance improvement. It generally operates at a macro-level. It is most frequently employed when there is anticipated or actual, significant organizational change. Human Performance Technology (HPT) is more of an engineering discipline. It focuses on identified gaps in human performance and seeks to eliminate (or at least reduce) these. Here are a few definitions of OD: OD is the field of study and practice that focuses on various aspects of organizational life, aspects that include culture, values, systems and behavior. The goal of OD is to increase organizational effectiveness and organizational health, through planned interventions in the organization’s processes or opera
