Organization Development and Change
Chapter Eight :
Feeding Back
Diagnostic Information
Thomas G. Cummings
Christopher G. Worley
Learning Objectives
for Chapter Eight
To understand the importance of data feedback
in the OD process
 To describe the desired characteristics of feedback
content
 To describe the desired characteristics of the
feedback process

HS 8-2
Possible Effects of Feedback
Feedback occurs
No
Change
NO
Is the energy created
by the feedback?
YES
Energy
to deny or
fight data
Anxiety,
resistance,
no change
Energy to use
data to identify and
solve problems
What is the direction
of the feedback?
Failure,
frustration,
no change
NO
Do structures and
processes turn energy
into action?
YES
Change
HS 8-3
Determining the
Content of Feedback
 Relevant
 Limited
 Understandable
 Significant
 Descriptive
 Verifiable
 Timely
 Comparative
 Unfinalized
HS 8-4
Effective Feedback Meetings
People are motivated to work with the data
The meeting is appropriately structured
The right people are in attendance
knowledge
power and influence
Interest
The meeting is facilitated
HS 8-5
Survey Feedback Process
Members involved in designing the survey
 The survey is administered to the organization
 The data is analyzed and summarized
 The data is presented to the stakeholders
 The stakeholders work with the data to solve
problems or achieve vision

HS 8-6
Limitations of Survey Feedback
Ambiguity of Purpose
Distrust
Unacceptable Topics
Organizational Disturbances
HS 3-7
2-8