Case Study $8$

Chapter $12$: Whole Organization and Multiple Organization Interventions

Case Summary: The Future of the Crossroads Center

The Crossroads Center is a successful nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for adolescents and adults. Darrin Spoldi, the director for the past $3$ years, has led this success, evidenced by an increase in grant funding, increase in the number of patients served, and decrease in the return rate of patients. Patients, parents, teachers, and therapists all attest to the success of the center and the quality of the treatment.

Despite this success, the center faces a major challenge. New state legislation puts funding at risk unless certain measures are achieved, chief among them a need to have a certain percentage of the staff hold advanced medical degrees. Fortunately, the staff has shown a high level of morale and dedication to finding a successful outcome.

Lisa Rodriguez, the OD consultant working with Darrin, might propose one of the directional interventions listed in chapter $12$ to help the staff manage through this time. A future search conference, strategic planning session, or scenario planning engagement might each provide a useful look to the future to help the staff decide what options are available to them.

Critical Thinking Questions

$1.$ How would you summarize the current situation at the Crossroads Center?

$2.$ What is the client looking to accomplish?

$3.$ What challenges exist for the client in accomplishing his objectives?

$4.$ How would you design an engagement that uses dialogic OD practices to assist this client?