skip navigation links
USGS - science for a changing world

Human Capital Services and Support

We Are USGS!

Organizational Development (OD) Network

Welcome to the USGS Organization Development Web site! The Organization Development (OD) Office is equipped to assist leaders and managers in their efforts to improve the USGS as an organization. OD is a systemic learning and development strategy deliberately planned to lead to a desirable positive impact to the USGS science mission and its employees.

What is Organization Development?

"Organization development is a system-wide application of behavioral science to the planned development and reinforcement of organizational strategies, structures, and processes for improving an organization's effectiveness." *

OD focuses on the human side of an organization by collaborating with key leaders, groups, and individuals to create systemic change that improves productivity and increases employee engagement.

Similar to how an individual will consult a doctor for check-ups and ailments, ideally leaders contact an OD consultant when they want to focus on their organizational health.

Comparable to your body being a system where there are methods to diagnose its well-being; Organization Development uses models, theories, and checklists to diagnose organizational vitality. Diagnosis can be qualitative and quantitative.

Leaders and managers contact the Organization Development office when encountering:

  • bullet New challenges, responsibilities, and possibilities
  • bullet The need for customer or stakeholder feedback
  • bullet An opportunity for planning and teambuilding
  • bullet Ongoing issues among group members
  • bullet Lack of clarity in goals or roles
  • bullet The transition of managers or employees
  • bullet Communication challenges

The Organization Development Professional works with leaders and managers by:

  • bullet Gathering data
  • bullet Defining issues
  • bullet Determining suitable course of action
  • bullet Assessing outcomes of activities or interventions
  • bullet Evaluating the impact on the organization/team

What to expect:

An Organization Development Professional can work with you to evaluate and develop a customized plan of action for your organization in a timely, cost-effective and ethical manner.

Contact Us Today.


*Cummings and Worley, "Organization Development and Change,” Sixth Edition, South-Western Publishing, 1997, p.2.



  When to contact OD:
  • Process Challenges
  • Processing Customer or Stakeholder Feedback
  • Teambuilding
  • Discord Among Group Members
  • Lack of Clarity in Goals or Roles
  • Change Management
  • Communication Challenges
  Services provided:
  • Team Building and Development
  • Organization Assessment and Action
  • Planning Sessions (vision and mission clarity, strategic and operational)
  • Meeting Facilitation (effective and productive meetings)
  • Process Consultation (agenda design to maximize outcomes and engagement)
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Interpersonal Communication
  For more information:

Please contact a member of the USGS OD Network:

Peggy Gardiner 703-648-6824
Pam Marsters 703-648-6703
Laura Rech 303-445-4684
Heather Robertson 703-648-6825

We help you have the conversations that really matter!


Conflict Management | Employee & Career Development | Human Resources |
Organization Development | Pay & Benefits | Performance & Conduct | Staffing & Workforce

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.usgs.gov/humancapital/od/index.html
Page Contact Information: hcweb@usgs.gov
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 24-Jul-2012 11:00:34 EDT