International Organization Development Association OD World Summit coming to Accra, Ghana, in September 2025: The Practice of OD in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Swim or Sink?

My guest this episode is Noble Kumawu from Accra, Ghana.  Noble is the current president of the International Organization Development Association (IODA). Noble shares with us some of the exciting details about the upcoming Organization Development World Summit. This conference is held every four years and will be held next September 2025, in Accra, Ghana. 

The conference will be an opportunity to explore how the field of Organization Development (OD) is rapidly evolving to help organizations meet the demands of constant change and innovation. Emerging trends like artificial intelligence (AI), automation, hybrid work, and the gig economy are reshaping how organizations operate, learn, and grow. According to the World Economic Forum, AI and automation are expected to create 97 million new jobs by 2025, introducing new business models and fundamentally changing many roles. While these advancements present exciting opportunities, they also raise uncertainty and resistance among employees navigating a tech-driven future.

In this shifting landscape, OD plays a critical role in guiding organizations through digital transformation while maintaining a human-centered approach. 

Key themes of the conference include:

• OD in the Digital Age – Examine how trends like remote work and automation are shaping OD practice and the future of work.
• Fostering an OD Digital Culture – Learn how to build cultures of innovation, adaptability, and continuous learning.
• Human-Centeredness & OD in Digitalization – Discover how to design digital tools that support meaningful, effective OD interventions.
• Overcoming Resistance to Digital OD – Explore strategies to manage change and engage employees in digital transformation.

Noble is the President of the Organization Development Institute and Chief Executive Officer of the Organization Development (OD) Consultancy firm, Organization Capacity Improvement Consultants (OCIC).  Noble established the first African educational graduate program in Organization Development.  He is the author of two books, “Global OD: A Model for Africa and the World” (2007) and “The Father of Organization Development in Africa: The Journey, The Struggles and The Career” (2020).   

https://www.iodanet.org/2025-ioda-conference/

Join us in Ghana, and together, we’ll explore how OD can thrive in a world driven by rapid technological change.