Generative Scholarship Through Prospective Theorizing: Appreciating the Roots and Legacy of Organization Development and Change to Build a Bright Future
Date
2021
Type:
Article
item.page.extent
item.page.accessRights
item.contributor.advisor
ORCID:
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
item.page.isbn
item.page.issn
item.page.issne
item.page.doiurl
item.page.other
item.page.references
Abstract
How can Organization Development and Change (ODC) research and practice help
create healthy, vibrant, and humane organizations and communities? This has been a
guiding question for the field of ODC throughout a year-long series of activities
(e.g., design meetings, webinars, and informal dialogues) linked to the 50th anniversary
celebration of the ODC Division of the Academy of Management. In this paper,
we provide our own reflections on this unfolding dialogue by proposing that
ODC’s future can be bolstered by leveraging its legacy and historical strengths
as the basis to engage in a systematic approach for doing prospective theory-building
(Cooperrider, 2021), particularly on grand challenges like the transition to the
Anthropocene. That is, we advocate for building theory that focuses on intentionally
co-creating a better future rather than take it for granted or merely describing (and
projecting) the past. In doing so, we believe ODC scholars and practitioners will be
better equipped to create what we refer to as generative scholarship and write the
next chapter for ODC as a revitalizing force in the world.
Description
item.page.coverage.spatial
item.page.sponsorship
Citation
Pavez, I., Godwin, L., & Spreitzer, G. (2021). Generative Scholarship Through Prospective Theorizing: Appreciating the Roots and Legacy of Organization Development and Change to Build a Bright Future. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, Vol. 57, No. 4, 459-470. DOI: 10.1177/00218863211049836.
Keywords
Organization development, Change management, Appreciative Inquiry, Positive organizational scholarship, Grand challenges