OD and International Development: Insights from Afghanistan

Abstract

As OD practitioners struggle to find ways to add value in a complex and unstable world, this article about a consulting project in Afghanistan affirms the value of an OD orientation – the embodiment of OD beyond its culture-specific tools and methodologies.  Since the original publication of the article, the US has decreased its presence in Afghanistan and the field of OD has increased its presence in building capacity around the world. The rich dialogue continues about what approaches work across cultures, and what methods must be adjusted or discarded.  What remains is the vast potential that OD as a practice has in bringing wholeness to organizations and society.