Effectiveness of the Organization Development Interventions in Changing the Institution's Culture: A Case of Institute of Social Work and Community Development in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of organization development interventions in changing the Institution's Culture in the Institute of Social work and Community Development (SWCD) in Nairobi, Kenya. It aimed at determining the degree of effectiveness of the interventions in improving the Institution's performance. This study also aimed to determine behavioral changes that can be seen after conducting the Organizational Development Interventions (ODI). This study utilized two research methods. The first was the Assessment and Evaluation which involve analysis of the Institutional problems and evaluation of the effects of the interventions. The second was descriptive research because the study involves establishing hypothesis and testing the effects of the evaluation. The questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. During the diagnosis the researcher administered the questionnaires to 10 respondents who were staff members of the SWCD institution to obtain the pre - intervention data. In April 2010 intervention activities were undertaken and in October, 2010 a post- intervention evaluation was done to test the effectiveness of the Organization Development interventions. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS program and the means were computed. The Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) questionnaire was used. It consists of six key aspects of Organizational Culture of four questions each in which respondents were to describe their impression of the Current and Desired Organizational Culture for a total of 48 responses. It was based on Current Status and Preferred Status of Organizational Culture. The 6 areas of Organizational Culture changed from Stability and Control to Flexibility and Discretion, from Hierarchy type of culture to Clan culture. The study found that the Organizational Development Interventions is successful in redirecting the Dominant Characteristics, Organizational Leadership, Management of Employees, Organization Glue, Strategic Emphases, and Criteria of Success within the Institute of Social Work and Community Development in Nairobi - Kenya. The study recommended that regular evaluation of Institution's Culture shall be conducted in order to keep abreast of the strategic changes in the Institutional performance, as well as in the economy.