THE SPIDER WEB EXERCISE (IMPACT OF THE EXERCISE AS AN OD TOOL)

WRITTEN BY: VITUS DONO (MSC OD, ODCC) DECEMBER 10, 2019

FIRST PUBLICATION: WWW.VITUSODCONSULT.COM

The Spider Web is an Organization Development (OD) tool used in the practice of OD as an institutional self-assessment tool to enhance organizational change.

The name is deduced from the visual imagery created in the application of the tool. The spider web was originally developed in the Himalayan city of Nepal in Asia, as a participatory method for monitoring the status over time of community-based organizations. The Spider web has since, been applied in several settings to facilitate participatory approaches to change and growth. The ideal Spider Web exercise incorporates people from all levels and capacities in an organization. Therefore, the tool can be a powerful way to build a common vision of what is needed to develop and strengthen an organization’s capacity to deliver quality, relevant and sustainable development

APPLICATION OF THE SPIDERWEB EXERCISE

The spider web exercise was recently used by the OD facilitators of St Vitus OD Consult as an Organization Development tool for Gastys Consult Ltd in Ghana, West Africa. The exercise brought to bear critical pivots of assessment, discovery, and consensus as was expected by the application of the tool

SUMMARY OF OUTCOMES FROM THE EXERCISE

INDIVIDUAL EFFECTS FROM EXERCISE AS RECORDED BY PARTICIPANTS

Some participants reported feeling like they were pulling along the experience of others as the facilitators controlled discussion points

Some participants reported excessive pressure on their fingers as participants executed a drag-out command of the exercise

Some persons reported feeling Little or No effect at all from the exercise

Some participants reported being patient and bearing with some pain associated with some of the parts of the exercise

Some participants reported anticipation and mental preparation to adjust to the exercise

Some Participants reported being relaxed and observant of how others were coping in the exercise

LEARNING POINTS FROM THE EXERCISE AS RECORDED BY THE PARTICIPANTS

Every Organization survives on an effective Networking

Information flow is critical to sustaining organizational growth

Tolerance is needed to hold the organization together

Endurance is an inevitable aspect of organizational growth

Teamwork is the key to organizational effectiveness

Connectivity keeps the framework or the organization intact

A platform is created for effective communication

Communication

Interdependence on each other keeps the web of the organization functional

Different levels in the organization constitute the working framework of the organization

Widening gaps occur as persons try to execute their personal gains in the organization

Unplanned Occurrences in the organization cause momentary discomfort and confusion but tolerance and patience overcomes the effects of sudden change

The web pattern breaks up as parts of the web pivotal points begin to fail which relates to a failing organization when individuals fail to perform accordingly

Every part of the organization is critical to the growth of the organization

Teamwork and Interdependence

Importance of Leadership (Center of the web)

What affects one affects all

An organization is one unit as a whole

HOW TO APPLY SPIDER WEB IN YOUR ORGANIZATION AS RECORDED BY THE PARTICIPANTS

Team development

Diversity

Emphasizing standards

Operating procedures

Conflict resolution

Enhancing internal controls

Respect for all

Synergy

Enhanced relations

Awareness of organization culture

Discipline & core values

OTHER APPLICATIONS OF THE SPIDER WEB TOOL IN ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT

Breaking Hierarchical communication

Organizational Retreat

Team Building

Enhancing Leadership

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

OD as a profession harnesses tools models and processes that drive organizations to sustainable change. A spiderweb is indeed a powerful tool that emphasizes the strength of a healthy organization and the ability to enhance effectiveness in the organization. OD is a scientific process and therein emphasizes that the Spider Web tool utilized in the OD process will always bring to bear key parameters for the transformation of any organization in the world

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