Agent of Change: My Life, My Practice

For nearly fifty years Richard Beckhard has worked to help organizations function in a more humane and high-performing manner and to empower people to be agents of change. A pioneer in organization development (OD), human relations training, and large systems change, he has both witnessed and personally influenced the evolution of the organization development field. Here, in his professional memoirs, Beckhard articulates his principles of practice, reflecting on how they affected his work and how the next generation of OD practitioners can build on them. In recounting his vast and varied experience as a top consultant, Beckhard provides a personal yet broad and enlightening perspective on the history and theory of organizational change. Readers will gain new insights from this first-hand account of Beckhard's career, which parallels the establishment and growth of the OD field itself. Beckhard relates his experience in creating one of the first professional training programs for OD practitioners, his work as a consultant and leadership trainer throughout the U.S. and abroad, and his development of models and tools that help people become better students and learners. To those grappling with the developments impacting today's business environments, this book offers a personal and incisive historical perspective on consulting and change management. Academics and practitioners in consulting and human resources management can use Beckhard's solid guidelines and conceptual models to hone their own expertise and benefit from his wisdom and unique experience.