What are the fundamental origins and the future trajectory of organizational development as a professional discipline? Warren G. Bennis, a pioneer in the field of leadership studies, examines the historical emergence of organizational development (OD) as a response to the changing needs of modern institutions. The text provides a framework for understanding how planned change and humanistic values intersect within complex bureaucratic structures to improve organizational effectiveness.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text that captures the early intellectual climate of organizational development. Readers frequently note the concise nature of the prose, which provides a clear historical context for contemporary management practices.