Science

Master of Organizational Development

The Master of Organizational Development is a postgraduate programme that trains professionals to become specialists in organisational change, development, and effectiveness. The programme prepares graduates to design and implement organisational development interventions, manage change processes, and enhance organisational performance in Kenya and beyond.

Core areas of study include organisational theory, change management, organisational behaviour, leadership development, human resource development, strategic management, organisational diagnosis, intervention design, evaluation methods, and research methods. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications in organisational settings.

The programme is offered by Kabarak University through its Nakuru City Campus. It is available in both campus-based and fully online modes, providing flexibility for working professionals. Kabarak University is the only institution offering this programme in Kenya.

Students develop competencies in organisational diagnosis, change management, intervention design, leadership development, team building, organisational culture assessment, performance improvement, strategic planning, and organisational research. The programme includes coursework, case studies, organisational projects, examinations, and a research thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time and online study options at Kabarak University. The programme follows a semester system with two semesters per academic year. The programme is designed for professionals seeking to advance their expertise in organisational development and change management.

Graduates pursue careers as organisational development consultants, change managers, human resource directors, leadership development specialists, organisational effectiveness managers, and management consultants in corporations, NGOs, government, and consulting firms.

Skills Required

Organisational Diagnosis and Assessment
Change Management and Implementation
Organisational Intervention Design
Leadership Development and Coaching
Strategic Planning and Alignment
Organisational Culture Assessment
Performance Improvement and Measurement
Team Building and Facilitation
Human Resource Development
Organisational Research and Evaluation

Key Subjects

Organisational Theory and Behaviour
Change Management
Organisational Diagnosis and Intervention
Leadership Development
Strategic Management
Human Resource Development
Organisational Culture and Climate
Performance Improvement
Evaluation Methods
Research Methods in Organisational Development

Certifications

ODN Organizational Development Certification
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)

Specializations

Change Management

Focuses on managing organisational change, designing change interventions, overcoming resistance, communicating change, and sustaining change initiatives in organisations.

Leadership Development

Examines leadership development, designing leadership programmes, coaching leaders, succession planning, and building leadership capacity in organisations.

Human Resource Development

Covers human resource development, training and development, talent management, performance management, and building human capital in organisations.

Organisational Effectiveness

Focuses on organisational effectiveness, improving performance, optimising processes, measuring outcomes, and enhancing organisational capability and productivity.

Strategic Organisation Development

Examines strategic organisation development, aligning organisational structure with strategy, strategic change, and designing organisations for competitive advantage.

Organisational Culture and Climate

Covers organisational culture assessment, culture change initiatives, improving workplace climate, employee engagement, and building positive organisational cultures.

Duration: 2 years
Private, up to: Ksh 130,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Organisational Theory and Behaviour
Change Management
Organisational Diagnosis and Intervention
Leadership Development
Strategic Management
Human Resource Development
Organisational Culture and Climate
Performance Improvement
Evaluation Methods
Research Methods in Organisational Development

Modules

10 in the programme

Organisational Theory and Behaviour
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines organisational theory, organisational behaviour, motivation, group dynamics, organisational structure, and understanding organisations as complex systems.
Change Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers change management theories, change models, overcoming resistance to change, communicating change, and sustaining change initiatives in organisations.
Organisational Diagnosis and Intervention
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines organisational diagnosis methods, assessing organisational health, identifying development needs, and designing appropriate OD interventions.
Leadership Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers leadership theories, leadership development programmes, coaching and mentoring, succession planning, and building leadership capacity in organisations.
Strategic Management and Planning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines strategic management, strategic planning processes, aligning organisational structure with strategy, and designing organisations for competitive advantage.
Human Resource Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human resource development, training and development, talent management, performance management, and building human capital in organisations.
Research Methods in Organisational Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines qualitative and quantitative research methods, action research, survey design, data analysis, and conducting organisational research.
Organisational Culture and Climate
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines organisational culture assessment, culture change initiatives, improving workplace climate, employee engagement, and building positive organisational cultures.
Performance Improvement and Evaluation
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers performance improvement methods, measuring organisational effectiveness, evaluating OD interventions, and using data to drive organisational improvement.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an organisational development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and OD knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Change Management
Focuses on managing organisational change, designing change interventions, overcoming resistance, communicating change, and sustaining change initiatives in organisations.
Leadership Development
Examines leadership development, designing leadership programmes, coaching leaders, succession planning, and building leadership capacity in organisations.
Human Resource Development
Covers human resource development, training and development, talent management, performance management, and building human capital in organisations.
Organisational Effectiveness
Focuses on organisational effectiveness, improving performance, optimising processes, measuring outcomes, and enhancing organisational capability and productivity.
Strategic Organisation Development
Examines strategic organisation development, aligning organisational structure with strategy, strategic change, and designing organisations for competitive advantage.
Organisational Culture and Climate
Covers organisational culture assessment, culture change initiatives, improving workplace climate, employee engagement, and building positive organisational cultures.

A day as a student

A typical day during the Master of Organizational Development programme begins with morning lectures on organisational theory, change management, or leadership development. Students engage in case study discussions analysing real organisational challenges and designing interventions. Group work involves conducting organisational diagnoses, assessing culture, and developing change management plans. Afternoon sessions may include practical projects where students work with actual organisations to diagnose issues and propose development interventions. Seminars feature guest speakers from industry sharing their organisational development experiences. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering qualitative and quantitative research methods. Online students participate through virtual classrooms, discussion forums, and digital collaboration tools. The programme emphasises practical application, with students expected to apply OD frameworks to real workplace challenges. Networking opportunities connect students with OD professionals and potential employers. The programme at Kabarak University is offered at the Nakuru City Campus with flexible scheduling for working professionals. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis defence.

The trade offs

In its favour

Organisational development skills are in high demand as Kenyan organisations navigate change, digital transformation, and performance improvement.
Programme offers both campus-based and fully online modes, providing flexibility for working professionals.
OD skills are transferable across sectors including corporate, NGO, government, and consulting, offering diverse career paths.
Two-year programme with practical focus on real organisational challenges provides immediate workplace applicability.

Against it

Only Kabarak University offers this programme in Kenya, limiting choice and comparison for prospective students.
Programme may be confused with general MBA or HR programmes, potentially limiting its distinct professional recognition.
Private university tuition fees may be higher than public university alternatives for similar management programmes.
OD roles in Kenya are often combined with HR or management positions, with few dedicated OD specialist roles in smaller organisations.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Private130k to 130k

130k at Kabarak University130k at Kabarak University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Kabarak 65K/sem=130K/yr (kabarak.ac.ke fee structure 2025-26). No public provider found.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Kabarak University offers financial aid for eligible students. Many students receive employer sponsorship as organisations invest in developing OD capabilities. The programme's professional focus attracts corporate and NGO funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Kabarak University Financial Aid
Employer Sponsorship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Kabarak University Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 130,000Kenyan
Kabarak University offers financial aid for eligible postgraduate students based on need and merit.
Employer Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 280,000Kenyan
Many employers sponsor employees pursuing organisational development qualifications to build internal OD capability.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is designed for professionals seeking to advance their expertise in organisational development. Two-year programme with campus-based and online study options at Kabarak University's Nakuru City Campus. Working professionals with relevant experience are particularly encouraged to apply.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case study analysis, organisational diagnosis projects, and class participation throughout the programme.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering organisational theory, change management, OD interventions, and strategic management, conducted at end of each semester.
Practical OD Project
Practical40% of the mark
Practical organisational development project involving diagnosis of a real organisation, intervention design, and presentation of recommendations.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an organisational development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and OD knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kabarak University's Master of Organizational Development is offered through its Nakuru City Campus with both campus-based and online modes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate management training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kabarak University's Master of Organizational Development is offered through its Nakuru City Campus with campus-based and online modes.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Organizational Development Consultant
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Consults with organisations on change management, organisational diagnosis, intervention design, and performance improvement, working independently or with consulting firms.
Change Manager
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 550,000
Leads organisational change initiatives, managing change processes, communicating with stakeholders, and ensuring successful implementation of change projects.
Human Resource Director
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 700,000
Directs human resource functions with OD expertise, managing talent, leadership development, culture change, and organisational effectiveness initiatives.
Leadership Development Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Designs and implements leadership development programmes, coaches leaders, manages succession planning, and builds leadership capacity in organisations.
Organizational Effectiveness Manager
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 520,000
Manages organisational effectiveness initiatives, improving processes, measuring performance, and enhancing organisational capability and productivity.
Management Consultant
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides management consulting services, diagnosing organisational issues, proposing solutions, and supporting implementation of improvement initiatives.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as organisational development consultants, change managers, HR directors, and leadership development specialists in corporations, NGOs, and consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Survey Tools (Qualtrics)
SoftwarePrimary
Survey and feedback platform for conducting organisational assessments, employee engagement surveys, and collecting data for organisational diagnosis.
Microsoft Project
SoftwarePrimary
Project management software for planning and tracking change management projects, OD interventions, and organisational development initiatives.
SWOT Analysis Framework
Framework
Strategic analysis framework for assessing organisational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in organisational diagnosis and planning.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for organisational research, analysing survey data, and conducting quantitative OD research studies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Organizational Development is just another name for human resources.
While related to HR, organisational development is a distinct field focused on systematic change, organisational effectiveness, and strategic interventions, encompassing broader organisational transformation.
Organizational Development is only relevant to large corporations.
OD principles apply to organisations of all sizes including NGOs, government agencies, SMEs, and community organisations, all of which face change and development challenges.
This programme is only useful for consultants.
OD skills are valuable for managers, HR professionals, project leaders, and anyone responsible for leading change or improving organisational effectiveness.
Organizational Development is a soft discipline with no measurable impact.
Modern OD emphasises evidence-based interventions, measurable outcomes, data-driven diagnosis, and rigorous evaluation of change initiatives.
Only one university offers this programme, making it less credible.
Kabarak University is CUE-accredited and offers both campus and online modes, with the programme meeting international OD standards through its comprehensive curriculum.
Organizational Development is becoming less relevant with digital transformation.
Digital transformation increases the need for OD professionals who can manage the human and cultural aspects of technological change in organisations.