According to Richard Beckhard, a pioneer in the field of organisational development, Organization development can be defined as:

1. A planned effort
2. organization-wide
3. managed from the top
4. to increase organization effectiveness and health
5. through planned interventions in the organization's 'processes', using behavioural science knowledge.

It is effectively two or more people with a shared vision working together towards that vision thereby creating systems, processes and a structure that will allow the organisation effectively service its customers.