In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris and LACE CEO Cathy Acratopulo are joined by Lucinda Carney, CEO and Founder of Actus and host of the HR Uprising podcast. They explore how organisational development (OD) reaches beyond structure to drive leadership development, talent management, culture, and continuous improvement—all aligning with broader business strategy.
Lucinda frames OD as a strategic, people-focused approach designed to boost organisational performance. Rather than just ensuring operational efficiency, OD’s ultimate goal is to achieve impactful business results through the power of people and culture.
What does effective OD look like in practice?
One example Lucinda shares involves how companies increase engagement and retention to stay competitive. Here, OD plays a dual role: building employee engagement and equipping the workforce with essential skills. Leadership training, performance management, and targeted recruiting all help retain talent and build capacity, enabling businesses to respond effectively to market changes.
Where should OD sit in the organisation?
Lucinda suggests that OD should take a central role in HR, serving as a guiding framework for functions like recruitment, learning, and talent management. This positioning allows HR to stay proactive, aligning initiatives more closely with OD’s strategic goals.
Listen now to learn how organisation design can drive business transformation with people-focused solutions that meet your organisation’s objectives.
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