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Unit 4: Power, Politics and Ethics in OD

process they occur. This may be due in part to lack of systematic approach to the study and Notes
analysis of the ethical dilemmas faced by the interventionist and client systems.
Ethical problems and dilemmas faced by OD practitioners may leave OD’s scientific and
professional progression in a disadvantageous position unless agreement can be reached as to
the types of ethical dilemmas and the points at which they are likely to be encountered. “ Ethical
dilemmas” are the results of behaviors and inappropriate actions or roles on the part of both
change agents and client systems. Ethical problems and dilemmas are therefore a mutual
responsibility of change agents and client systems, dependent largely on the nature of their
specific relationship.

Ethical dilemmas, as approached from the perspective that such problems are caused largely by
the nature of the relationships between the change agent and the client system, is a term that
requires fuller elaboration. Previous approaches to the problems of ethical dilemma (Benne,
1959; Walton and Warwick, 1973) have centred around the various values held by change agents,
and how these values have influenced their actions. Operationally then, an ethical dilemmas can
be defined as any choice situation encountered by a change agent or client system that has the
potential to result in a breach of acceptable behaviour. A dilemma therefore is different from a
breach of ethics. A breach of ethics is a verifiable act or conduct on the part of a professional that
breaches a law, role, standard or established norm.

4.3.1 Major Categories of Ethical Dilemma

Although a number of authors have addressed the area of professional ethics in organisational
development, the literature is sparse concerning the types and specification of types of ethical
dilemmas that occur. However, a review of the available literature from works in organisation
development, management consultancy, and training and development does yield some
consistency in thought and form. Although ranging considerably in terminology, the dilemmas
categories described coincide remarkably. These are the major types of ethical dilemmas in OD
practice which tend to be observed and described by practitioners and scholars alike.
1. Choice of Intervention: Critical to the success of any OD program is the selection of an
appropriate intervention, which depends, in turn, on a careful diagnosis of the organisation
or department. Selection of an intervention is closely related to a practitioners own values,
beliefs, and norms. In solving organisational problems, many OD practitioners tend to
emphasise a favourite intervention or technique, such as team building, survey feedback,
or job enrichment. They let their own values and beliefs dictate the change method,
(Slocum, 1978). This may have disastrous consequences both for the organisation and
practitioner. The intervention chosen must be appropriate not only to the problem, but
also to the context in which it exists. This context is influenced in parts by the political
climate within the organisation, and by the organization’s perceived readiness for change.
The intervention selected also depends upon the practitioners beliefs about OD. Unless all
these factors are considered in the diagnosis of the problem and subsequent choice of an
intervention, the change effort is likely to be unsuccessful.
2. Use of Information: A key issue concerns the large amount of information practitioners
invariably obtains. Although most practitioners value openness, trust, and leveling, it is
important that they be aware of how such data are used. A human tendency can exist to use
the data to enhance a power position. Openness is one thing but leaking information can
be harmful to individuals and to the organisations as well.
This dilemmas or choice situation requires the change agent or client system to decide
what information is used and how it is used. Misuse of data in OD occurs when the
voluntary consent or confidentiality of the client system is violated or abridged. Misuse of

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