Cases 1 and 2 have
introduced development models to address
the human element of their businesses in a
manner and to a degree that is apposite to
them: Case 1, the engineering company, is
implementing a quality system to enhance its
design innovation capability ± a critical
feature of its business; and Case 2 (security
and telecommunications) is developing an
appraisal system that facilitates direct
dialogue and a sharing of organizational
intelligence between the managing director
and his employees. What is to say that this
appraisal system is contextually any less
effective and motivational than the
performance management processes
prescribed by a variety of human resources
writers such as Armstrong (1994)? On
examination of the discussion of
organization development advanced by
French and Bell (1990), we might argue that
Case 2's managing director is applying a
crude form of action research with data
gathering and feedback seen as essential
ingredients; or even that he is strategically
utilizing the tension between the technical
and human theories of control (Argyris,
1992). There are many who advocate learning
through story telling and the use of metaphor