[Return to ODN Oregon Home Page]
[Return to ODN Oregon Meeting Calendar]
February 9, 2005
Rand Schenk
Overview
This highly interactive session will focus on organizational culture. Most of the literature on organizational culture focuses on culture change. The operative assumption is that the organizations we are engaged to work with have “bad” cultures and a “better” or different culture is needed. We will turn that paradigm on its head and examine a culture that is assumed to be “good” or effective and where the concern is that the culture is at risk of “losing its edge.” The question then becomes, what can you as an OD Consultant do to strengthen that culture?
We will take a case study approach to this challenge. After a brief review of the case, participants will work in small groups to identify actions needed to strengthen this organization’s culture. We will then draw on the work of Edgar Schein, perhaps the preeminent expert in the field of organizational culture, to discuss and compare a range of possible interventions.
In the second half of this session we will use phase two of the case study to examine the shadow side of organizational culture. What can happen to a culture when its strengths are used to excess and become weaknesses? We will discuss the “Icarus Paradox” and a variety of organizational attributes that cast a “shadow” over the organization. Again, participants will work in small groups and develop strategies for working with the shadow of organizational culture. We will conclude by identifying some best practices for working with the shadow.
Speaker
Rand Schenk is a member of Oregon ODN. For the past nine years, Rand has served as a Sr. Organization Development Consultant with Intel. Much of his focus over those years has been in the areas of organizational culture, organization design, strategic planning, leadership development and coaching. Prior to joining Intel in Oregon, he lived in North Carolina, where he worked for Duke University and Burroughs Wellcome in an organization development role. Rand worked in a wide variety of settings prior to his OD focus including public education, outdoor recreation/education, and inpatient psychiatry. He has two graduate degrees in the behavioral sciences.
Monthly Book Exchange
Members have asked to host a book / materials exchange as part of the monthly program. There will be a table set up for this exchange beginning at 6 pm. Bring those dusty books and papers and trade them for another's favorite!
Details
The
Hayden Room
Hayden's Lakefrton Grill
8187 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd
Tualatin, OR 97062
Program is from 6:45 - 8:15 pm.
Networking is encouraged, so come early -- say 6 PM -- for some delightful conversation with colleagues!