Organizational development principles for retail business continuity after major employer relocation

¶ … OD Principles:

As the owner of a retail dry goods store with a workforce of 100 employees in an area where the main employer is an automotive support industry, the continual operation of the business is a critical factor because of the announcement of relocation by this employer. The application of organizational development principles is important to the sustenance of the operations of the retail dry goods store amid the relocation by the major employer to Mexico. Organizational development is a planned and systemic change which helps in increasing the well-being and effectiveness of an organization through deliberate interventions in its processes. The importance of the application of organization development principles is because it determines the long-term success of an organization.

Some of the most notable features regarding this application of organizational development principles are planned interventions, management from the top, and use of behavioral-science knowledge (Rouda & Kusy, n.d.). Since this process is used in the management of change within an organization, it results in enhanced profitability and competitiveness, improved problem-solving, and enhanced learning. Additionally, the application of organizational development principles is the process of advance organizational renewal. The best model for my retail dry goods store is the Action Research Model that involves planning, doing, checking, and acting cycle (Mclean, n.d.). In the midst of relocation of the major employer to Mexico, this model will enable the retail store to conduct research and act based on the outcomes of the study to sustain its operations.

The need for the use of organizational development principles emanates from the fact that it focuses on ensuring the profitable inter- and intra-unit relationships resulting in improved performance as groups accommodate expected change. Some of the major OD principles that will enable my retail store to maintain its operations include integrity, commitment, empowerment, versatility, integration, and renewal ('OD Synergy Principles', n.d.). When these principles are applied in strategic operations together with the right framework, tools and technology; they result in high performance and efficient systems in the organization.

To ensure the continual operations of the retail store, I will use the Integrity Principle to guide, emphasize, and maintain the business and workers. Since this principle is critical in maximize the performance of the business, it will be used to ensure that the store's employees feel like part of the organization. As the employees feel like part of the organization, they will be committed to the course of sustaining the operations of the business through the Commitment Principle. The application of this principle will involve the establishment of a planned communication strategy, co-operation of necessary resources, and profiling OD champions.

The Empowerment Principle will be applied through the development of programs and strategies that help in acceptance of people and the integrating systems. This will enable employees to maximize the internal capacity and drives them to work in a seamless flow in achieving objectives of the business. Given that the Renewal and Versatility principles are inter-connected, the retail store will use the regenerative function of auto renewal to ensure sustainable and high performance of people and systems. The Integration Principle is applied through the establishment of an efficient combination mechanism that helps in the ownership of success by people and the operating systems (Esmeral, 2011).