Inter-role exploration: an od intervention

Abstract

Role is the central concept in understanding the dynamics of an organization. The concepts of role space (relationship amongst all the roles an individual occupies) and role set (relationship of the role with other significant roles in the organization) are important in understanding role dynamics. Four stresses relating to the role space (self-role, distance, intrarole conflict, role growth stress, and inter-role conflict) and four stresses relating to the role set (role ambiguity, role overload, role-role distance, and role erosion) are stated as important role stresses. Functional strategies-confronting the stress to manage it - are distinguished from dysfunctional strategies avoiding the stress. An approach to promote functional strategies in an organization is described. The approach promotes mutuality, creativity, confrontation, and exploration. The following are involved in IRE: concept discussion, role set mapping, image sharing, role linkage, role expectation conflicts, role erosion, analysis of organizational climate and role negotiation.