title: [Organization development of the public health system].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Changes in the German health care system require changes in health care institutions. Organizational development (OD) techniques can help them to cope successfully with their changing environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  OD is defined as a collective process of learning aiming to induce intended organizational change. OD is based on social science methods and conducted by process-oriented consultants. In contrast to techniques of organizational design, OD is characterized by employee participation. One of the most important elements of OD is the so-called "survey-feedback-technique".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five examples illustrate how the survey-feedback-technique can be used to facilitate organisational learning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OD technique supports necessary change in health care organizations. It should be used more frequently.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Medizinische Soziologie, Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin der Universität zu Köln. holger.pfaff@medizin.uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pfaff
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D005246:Feedback; D017144:Focus Groups; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration