An Introduction to Organizational Constellations

Organizational Constellations (OC) is a new OD tool that is having a profound impact on
executive decision making in Western Europe. The OC approach is based on the
phenomenological work of Bert Hellinger with family systems. Although OC is fairly well
known in Europe it is just beginning to be introduced in North America.

The foundation of the OC methodology is that organizations are systemic in nature.
The parts that make up the whole are all part of a system that has an inherent order and
balance. The performance or health of the system is enhanced when that inherent order
and balance is maintained or restored. The system itself can be represented physically
in a way that allows nonphysical information to become more visible. This approach of
physically representing nonphysical information enables the client to access new
information and insights. This in turn provides a new range of possibilities for bringing
the client’s system into greater harmony and balance.

Some examples of the application of OC include the following: In Holland the OC
approach assisted the executive team of an advertising agency in strategic decision
making. OC help define and test the organizational strategy and manage change and
conflict to implement that strategy. Closer to home in Washington DC, the process
helped provide new insights and clarify priorities for the Board of a nonprofit seeking
to institute a new growth strategy. In more of a coaching context, the approach was
used to help a young professional in clarify her options concerning a major career move.

The session at the CBODN conference will provide a brief overview of the theory and
conceptual framework of OC. The main focus will be on directly experiencing OC in
action. Participants are encouraged to bring an actual organizational challenge they
would be willing to work on in the group setting. Time permitting, one or two challenges
will be selected and facilitated in the group to demonstrate the OC methodology.

Harrison Snow, the presenter, has been an independent consultant in the field of
Organizational Development and training for nearly twenty years. He is the author of
three books on team building and management. His facilitation work for international
corporations and development agencies has taken him to 21 different countries.
Harrison has used OC in his practice in a variety of settings and believes it is one of
the most innovative, new approaches for facilitating groups or coaching individuals
that he has seen in his consulting career.