OMD:
Outdoor Management Development,
or Outdoor Personnel Development.
At Catalyst we believe that OMD as it is commonly called is something of a misnomer and should really be termed OPD or outdoor personnel development, as we are firmly convinced that all members of an organisation can benefit from this form of development.
What it is!
OPD is an experiential learning tool which takes account of participants own experiences. It prepares and moulds individuals and teams for a wide range of possible situations. It enables them to handle the new and the challenging aspects of their work and can better equip them to handle areas of their life outside work which may impinge upon it.
OPD also uses tasks and situations which although they are not the same as those at work are still real and have real consequences!
Therefore real solutions and techniques for delivering those solutions have to be found.
Lessons learned in a real situation remain in the memory that much longer and if the situation is different and challenging the retention level is that much greater.
What it is not!
OPD is not 'outward bound', that is in the original definition, of concentrating on will power, physical challenges and competition. .
Neither is it!
Neither is it about the playing of 'management games' or event or themed leisure activities, and it is not about action or adventure challenge, which emphasises the struggle of activity in the outdoors.
Some of these activities may be incorporated into some OPD courses and will require careful implementation if negative effects are to be avoided.
These 'management games' are not major training methods but certainly have value as a 'perk' or reward despite their limitations and no reputable provider will tell you otherwise.