Organizational Development: A Manual for Managers and ... - FPDL

Corresponding training of main personnel should follow training of top leadership. Then it is
better to do in a way, which would ensure that critical number of fellows are trained in the
same programme and are prepared for effective co-operation in implementing certain new
ideas.
4.3. POLITICAL ATTITUDES. In spite of common suspiciousness, concerning possibility to have
representatives of different political parties trained in the same group (since they may be very
hostile in everyday contacts), often it is not actually a treat, but rather an opportunity. Usually
they work very well together and theirs relations usually being improved up to the extent very
surprising for themselves. However, it takes time and may happen actually on the third or forth
day of training. In one-day training, a ‘storming’ period may happen for the account of the
training success.
4.4. GENDER. In post-socialist countries, there are usually more male politicians and local
leaders. It may cause additional difficulties for training in some groups, if there are none at all,
or very few women.
The groups composed exclusively from men are very heavy. Men without women are lazy,
tend to relax, and never do their best. They change drastically, if there are some interesting
women in a group. They do all the best and tend demonstrate excellence. Group becomes
dynamic and workable.
When there are only women in a group (e.g. culture or social workers), they usually
demonstrate a great disappointment on absence of men from the very beginning and stay in a
comparably bad mood up to the end of the course.
Women and men have significantly different perceptions of a variety of issues relevant to local
government. Women are direct recipients of most services and have much dipper concern of
some of community affairs. Men focused on others. All together in mixed balanced groups they
more effective, and more enthusiastic.
Concerning the program – there may be some activities, which go better, if there are men and
women. Some basic psychological differences between men and women also give additional
advantages to the mixed groups. Therefore, to compose groups from both men and women - is
not just political ‘gender agenda’. It is a technical necessity, which is important to ensure the
success of the training event.
5. Course content
5.1. TOPICS. The actual content of training event often can not coincide with the declared
theme of the course (e.g. in term of skills to be acquired or improved). Many particular
topics would require certain background, which should be built up before the target topic
may be processed.
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