This
compelling short book (bookmarked pdf) is a proposal for the first 'accredited' OD paradigm.
In
Part 1, veteran researcher and practitioner Barry Oshry demonstrates beyond
doubt that, despite the frequent references to paradigms and paradigm shifts in
the management and organization literature, there are no scientific paradigms
in this field as Thomas Kuhn defined them in his landmark essay.
He
then makes a clear and convincing case for the Organic Systems Framework (OSF)
to be recognized as a legitimate candidate for paradigm status, one from which
research that extends, elaborates, tests, and applies the framework follows
naturally.
Along the way he sets out clearly and succinctly his theories of:
-Power and Love -Tops, Middles and Bottoms -How whole systems individuate,
integrate, differentiate and homogenize... (so this is the shortest and
clearest account, yet, of these established and well-researched theories.)
Finally, Oshry outlines the many areas of further research that would
inevitably emerge if his Organic Systems Framework were to achieve paradigm
status.
"Despite the obligatory references to
Thomas Kuhn’s work, there is probably no field that talks more about – yet
knows less about – scientific paradigms and paradigm shifts (as Kuhn uses the
terms) than the field of management, management theory, organization
development, systems thinking and so forth.
In this field, paradigm is most often used
to refer to some new way (generally the author’s) of looking at management,
leadership or other aspects of organization life; and proposals for paradigm
shifts – from hierarchy to self-directed, from patriarchy to matriarchy – seem
to be based less in science than in theology or politics. My intention here is
not to denigrate such contributions, which I believe are extremely valuable in
stimulating thinking about organizational life… but to distinguish them from
science."
