Internal or External Change Leaders

Assessment 1, Topic 1:

Analyse the issue of whether change leaders should be internal or external to the organization. Consider the circumstances under which you would recommend internal verses external leadership

Introduction

There are varying views and opinions on whether external or internal consultants should be used in an organisation. Though the objective of having a consultant is the same, what each have to provide for the organisation differs vastly from

Although external and internal consultants have much in common, their different experiences and positioning in relation to the organisation results in unique strengths and contrasting perceptions by their clients. Their contributions and value differ according to the needs and viewpoints of the clients, and their authority and credibility derive from different sources.
The author addresses the special challenges of working with large consulting firms, the requirements for productive partnering between external and internal, and offer advice to managers for maximising the success of consulting projects.

Summary

What is Organisational Development

Before analysing the issue of choosing internal or external change agents, we need to understand the reason for hiring one. Firstly we need to understand what organisational development is before understanding a change agents role in the company.

There are many definitions to what organisational development is. (Beckhard, 1969, p. 2) best defines it as, "an effort, planned organisation wide, managed from the top, to increase organisation effectiveness and health through planned interventions in the organisation's process, using behavioural-science knowledge." Through his definition, we can see the few key features of what organisational development is.

Organisation wide - Unlike other approach to change, OD's main differentiating factor is that it applies to the whole organisation and not specific departments, individuals