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This report presents a taxonomy and data collection methodology for assessing Army organizational effectiveness (OE) interventions. The authors reviewed the literature on organizational development classificatory schema and identified four variable dimensions that can be used to summarize this literature. These variable dimensions are: change agent characteristics, competencies and roles; client characteristics and problems; intervention methods and processes; and outcome objectives and results. Most descriptions of intervention methods were found to be too vague to permit a reviewer to determine exactly what change agents actually do to produce outcome results. It follows that research to identify: (1) the competencies of effective change agents, and (2) the design elements of successful interventions is likely to be most fruitful in advancing knowledge in this field. Three data collection methods designed to capture these variables are proposed for the development and analysis of Army OE intervention case studies. Behavioral event and structured interview protocols to be used to collect data from internal Army OE change agent and client subjects are presented with a classification system which can be use to summarize and code intervention variables.

Results show that the Army Organizational Effectiveness Training Center (OETC) has accomplished its mission with the graduation of a highly motivated group of OESO who have been very successful in implementing OE operations in the Army. Six major issues were identified for future consideration: Mission Accomplishment, Standards, Reality, Specialization, Management of OE office Length of OE course were cited for future development of OETC.

Development and analysis of the 10 Organizational Effectiveness (OE) case studies in the field research phase of this project produced findings about (1) the utility of the methodology, variable taxonomy, and data collection procedures developed for the study and (2) findings about OE intervention variables--outcomes, consultant and client characteristics, intervention method, and processes--associated with successful OE operations. Research findings relating successful and nonsuccessful OE operations and outcomes, consultant characteristics, intervention methods, and the intervention process are discussed in detail.