What is the primary focus of organizational development?

The primary focus of organizational development is enhancing effectiveness and health through planned change. This approach involves assessing and improving the organization's capacity to adapt, grow, and thrive in a dynamic environment. By applying systematic interventions in the organization’s processes, structure, or culture, organizational development seeks to foster a healthier work environment, improve performance, and facilitate the organization's ability to achieve its goals. This can include strategies like team building, leadership development, and process reengineering which all aim to create a more effective and resilient organization.

The other options may support aspects of organizational health or performance but do not capture the core intent of organizational development. For instance, streamlining onboarding processes is an important operational aspect but is more focused on individual employee integration rather than the overall organizational capacity for growth. Reducing the workload of HR staff might improve efficiency but does not directly relate to the organization's overall effectiveness or health. Finally, increasing employee engagement through social activities can contribute positively to morale but is not a fundamental change strategy focused on systematic improvement.