Organization Systems International

What Organization Systems International does

Organization Systems International (OSI) is a privately held, founder-owned management and organizational development firm founded in 1980 by Bruce Griffiths and headquartered in Encinitas, California. The company builds and licenses the Polaris Competency Model — a 41-competency, 7-cluster leadership framework developed through 40+ years of validation research across 100+ client organizations and thousands of interviews with high performers. Its product portfolio includes Polaris-derived assessment instruments (Polaris 360° Survey, Polaris Global Leadership 360° Survey, TEAMx), reference and development tools (Executive Card Set, Development Guide, Proficiency Continuums, Global Leadership Competency Dictionary, Professional Development Platform), and branded programs (Star Select Interviewing, Compass Mentor Program, Paper Nation/$2 Billion Challenge business simulation, Power Source Indicator). Supporting services include assessment centers, competency modeling, competency-based interviewing, executive coaching, leadership seminars, strategic planning sessions, and team building.

OSI monetizes through four primary streams: physical and digital product sales via its e-commerce storefront, licensing of Polaris intellectual property for embedding in client talent management systems, professional services delivered by a globally distributed network of certified independent consultants, and certification programs that train internal and external practitioners in Polaris methodologies. It serves primarily enterprise and mid-market organizations — with named clients spanning Nike, Avery Dennison, State Auto Insurance, TSA, County of Orange, Apple, AT&T, GE, Siemens, Disney, Wendy's, PetSmart, UCSD, and others — across consumer products, manufacturing, financial services, government, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education. Additionally, OSI markets to academic institutions for competency-based curriculum integration.

The firm operates as a lean, founder-led boutique practice: only 1-10 employees are listed, while delivery is scaled through a network of senior consultants across the US, UK, Canada, Netherlands, and Australia, augmented by channel partners (BADER, BPG, DynamicSolutions, Global Coaches, GLO, Human Synergistics, LEXIDYNE, Think Wise, Promar Designs, GE/WIPFLI) and content partners (WholeWorks, qChange, PAN Testing, Touchstone Consulting). Marketing is conducted through thought leadership (OSI blog, Navigator Newsletter, SIOP conference participation, the co-authored book "Competencies at Work"), LinkedIn, and Polaris certification workshops, with public pricing not disclosed.

Name

Organization Systems International

Legal name

Organization Systems International

Website

https://orgsysint.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Organization Systems International is a founder-owned, 44-year-old Encinitas-based firm that develops and licenses the Polaris Competency Model — a proprietary 41-competency leadership framework — to enterprise and mid-market organizations worldwide via certified consultants and a global partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Consulting

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions) (BPAEANAC)

Keywords

• Leadership development
• Talent management
• Competency modeling
• Executive coaching
• Organizational development

Headquarters

HQ city

Encinitas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of physical and digital products including competency model card sets, development guides, proficiency continuums, and assessment tools. Products are available for purchase through the company's product storefront.
2. Licensing: Products are available for licensing, allowing organizations to customize and use research-based intellectual property to populate internal talent management systems. Includes Polaris certification workshops for internal practitioners.
3. Professional Services: Consulting services including assessment centers, competency modeling, 360-degree surveys, strategic planning sessions, team building, executive coaching, and leadership development workshops delivered by certified consultants.
4. Certification Programs: OSI certifies internal and external professionals in products and services including Polaris Universal 360, Assessment Centers, Simulation Exercises, Star Select Interviewing Program, Compass Mentor Program, and Full Business Simulation Facilitation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Organization Systems International is a boutique consulting firm that delivers research-based talent management and organizational development solutions built around its proprietary Polaris Competency Model. Its offerings include 360-degree leadership assessments, structured competency-based interviewing programs, business simulations, training and certification programs, assessment centers, mentoring programs, and executive coaching for enterprise clients globally.

Product overview

OSI offers a comprehensive suite of talent management solutions centered on the Polaris® Competency Model — a universal framework of 41 competencies across 7 clusters, now in Version 4.0, based on 40+ years of research. The portfolio includes assessment tools (Polaris® 360° Survey, Polaris® Global Leadership 360° Survey, Star Select™ Interviewing Program, Power Source Indicator, TEAMx Survey), development resources (Polaris® Development Guide, Proficiency Continuums, Global Leadership Competency Dictionary, Professional Development Platform), and programs (Compass™ Mentor Program). Supporting services include Assessment Centers, Competency-Based Interviewing, Business Simulations (Paper Nation/$2 Billion Challenge), Executive Coaching, Leadership Seminars, and Strategic Planning Sessions. All products and services are available for licensing and customization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Polaris: Universal competency model system including the Polaris 360 Survey, Polaris Competency Model Card Set, Polaris Development Guide, and Polaris Global Leadership offerings.
• Star Select
• Compass
• TEAMx
• Power Source Indicator (PSI)
• Paper Nation

Products and services

• Polaris Competency Model A research-validated, proprietary competency framework that defines the leadership and managerial competencies used across OSI's assessments, development programs, and licensing partnerships. It serves as the methodological backbone for clients seeking to standardize leadership expectations and development practices.
• Polaris 360 Survey Multi-rater 360-degree feedback assessment built on the Polaris Competency Model, providing leaders and managers with structured feedback from supervisors, peers, direct reports, and self. Designed for organizations and individual leaders participating in leadership development programs.
• Polaris Global Leadership 360 Survey Global leadership 360-degree feedback assessment built on the Polaris framework, designed for senior leaders operating across geographies and cultures. Suitable for multinational organizations standardizing leadership expectations.
• Polaris Professional Development Platform Online platform that lets individual professionals build and develop specific competencies identified through Polaris-based assessments, supporting self-directed leadership and managerial development.
• Polaris Executive Card Set Physical card set used as a structured development tool for leaders and managers working through Polaris-defined competencies in coaching, training, or self-development contexts.
• Polaris Development Guide Structured development guide built on Polaris competencies, used by leaders, managers, and facilitators to plan and execute competency-based development activities.
• Polaris Proficiency Continuums Structured proficiency continuums that describe levels of mastery across Polaris competencies, enabling assessment calibration and targeted development planning for leaders and managers.
• Polaris Global Leadership Competency Dictionary Reference resource that defines Polaris global leadership competencies and their behavioral indicators, supporting consistent interpretation of the framework across practitioners and client organizations.
• Star Select Interviewing Program Structured, competency-based interviewing program built on Polaris that enables organizations to standardize leadership and managerial selection decisions using validated interview questions tied to specific competencies.
• Compass Mentor Program Structured mentoring framework that enables organizations to design and run leadership mentoring programs aligned with Polaris competencies, supporting protégé development and knowledge transfer.
• TEAMx Survey Team-effectiveness survey used to diagnose leadership team dynamics and feed targeted team development interventions, suitable for intact teams undergoing change, integration, or performance improvement.
• Power Source Indicator (PSI) Assessment instrument that measures the sources of power leaders draw on in their roles, supporting executive development, coaching, and succession planning conversations.
• Managerial and Executive Coaching One-on-one coaching service delivered by OSI senior consultants to managers and executives, typically anchored in Polaris-based assessment data and targeted at specific development goals.
• Leadership and Management Seminars In-person training seminars for leaders and managers, built on Polaris content, designed to scale leadership development across cohorts within client organizations.
• Assessment Centers Direct delivery of assessment centers for selection and development of leaders and managers, using Polaris-based exercises and competency scoring to inform high-stakes talent decisions.
• Competency Modeling Services Custom consulting engagements in which OSI consultants build or tailor a competency model for a client organization, drawing on Polaris methodology to produce a fit-for-purpose leadership or managerial competency framework.
• Certification and Recertification Programs Formal certification programs that train and authorize external practitioners and partner firms to deliver Polaris-based assessments, development programs, and coaching under license, plus periodic recertification to maintain methodological consistency.
• Paper Nation ($2 Billion Challenge) Simulation Business simulation exercise used in leadership development programs to immerse participants in strategic decision-making and team leadership scenarios, typically deployed as part of Polaris-based development cohorts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research shows competency-based behavioral interviewing is the best method for selecting/promoting employees
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WholeWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholeWorks partnered with OSI to present the Leading the Sustainability Transformation Certificate Program, integrating OSI's leadership competency expertise with sustainability transformation content.
• qChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSI partnered with qChange (Headquartered in Bend, Oregon) for leadership development and coaching tools integration.
• PAN TestingcoreTechnology or IntegrationOSI partners with the world's largest online test vendor, PAN Testing, to provide a wide range of online measurements to evaluate leadership effectiveness and potential.
• Human SynergisticscoreTechnology or IntegrationOSI uses Human Synergistics' survival simulations (Desert Survival and others) as team building exercises and instruction in decision-making for leadership training programs.
• Touchstone Consulting (Bob Power)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouchstone Consulting in Vancouver, Canada, has been an OSI strategic partner for over 30 years, consulting for global clients in various parts of the world.
• Manjula BrayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in United Kingdom, business psychologist and coach focused on assessment, selection and development. Optimizes leadership and management capability for employers.
• Wendi BrownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in California with over 20 years of HR and recruiting experience, helping organizations improve hiring, selection, performance management, and learning practices.
• Winsor JenkinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in Idaho, former senior-level leader with three major publicly traded companies, passionate about collaborative leadership development.
• Jeff JohnsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in Oregon with over 20 years consulting in Leadership Assessment, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, and Strategic Talent Management.
• Julie JohnsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in Netherlands, among the most experienced coaches and facilitators in Europe working with thousands of leaders from over 50 countries across six continents.
• Matt MayberryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in Vermont, helping managers create effective solutions in strategy development, process improvement, leadership development, sustainability, and organizational transformation.
• Rick MoralesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in California specializing in executive development, organizational effectiveness, and transcultural leadership for 25 years.
• Curt MuddminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in Australia with over 35 years experience in strategic capability development, talent management strategies, and human resources.
• Deborah PettryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in California with over 25 years designing, managing, and facilitating leader development. Former positions at Center for Creative Leadership, Aerojet General, and Purdue University.
• Rhonda WeyerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Consultant based in Michigan with extensive talent management experience developing leaders and aligning HR processes with corporate strategy for over 30 years.
• BADERminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• BPGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• DynamicSolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• Global CoachesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• GLOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• Human SynergisticsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• LEXIDYNEminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• Think WiseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• Promar DesignsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• GE/WIPFLIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Business Partner displayed in strategic network logo section.
• Whitney Martin / Proactive ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhitney Martin of Proactive Consulting is a measurement strategist and guest blogger covering SIOP conference trends including skills-first hiring and assessment best practices.
• Bruce Griffiths / Enrique WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBruce Griffiths (OSI President) and Enrique Washington co-authored 'Competencies at Work: Providing a Common Language for Talent Management' published through Business Expert Press.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: Broad incumbent — Spencer Stuart is an executive search and leadership advisory firm with assessment, board advisory, and leadership development offerings overlapping OSI's enterprise leadership portfolio.
• Korn Ferry: Broad incumbent — Korn Ferry (including acquired Lominger/Hay Group) is a much larger talent management, leadership development, and assessment platform serving global enterprises with overlapping competency-modeling IP.
• Egon Zehnder: Broad incumbent — Egon Zehnder is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm with proprietary leadership assessment and development capabilities serving large enterprise clients akin to OSI's customer base.
• Right Management (Manpower Group): Broad incumbent — Right Management provides talent and career management consulting, assessment, and leadership development services to enterprise clients as part of Manpower Group, broadly comparable to OSI's OD consulting.

Direct peers

• Development Dimensions International (DDI): Direct peer — DDI offers competency-based leadership development, assessment centers, 360 surveys, executive coaching, and learning simulations for enterprise and mid-market, overlapping substantially with OSI's Polaris-led offering.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Direct peer — CCL is a research-driven leadership development provider offering assessment, executive coaching, and leadership programs built on proprietary competency research, directly comparable to OSI's Polaris methodology.
• Hogan Assessment Systems: Direct peer — Hogan provides personality-based leadership assessments and competency frameworks used in selection, development, and coaching for enterprise clients, overlapping with OSI's 360 and competency assessment products.
• SHL: Direct peer — SHL is a global talent assessment and competency modeling provider with enterprise assessment centers and 360 platforms, very comparable to OSI's Polaris 360 and assessment center offerings.

Emerging players

• Human Synergistics: Strategic partner and partial overlap — Human Synergistics is an OSI partner providing survival simulations (Desert Survival) used in OSI's team-building engagements, and competes in leadership/team development assessment with overlapping use cases.
• PDI (Personnel Decisions International): Emerging/specialized peer — PDI offers competency-based leadership development, simulations, and assessment solutions for enterprise clients, with narrower scale than OSI's Polaris licensing program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/bruceegriffithsosi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Organization Systems International