1st Edition

The Dynamics of Change Insights into Organisational Transition from the Natural World

By Francis Stickland Copyright 1998
    222 Pages
    by Routledge

    222 Pages
    by Routledge

    Giving a fascinating insight into the world of change and transition, this radical book, aimed at both organizational change practitioners and academics, tackles the fundamental question ‘what is change?’ The answers it seeks will significantly improve attempts to manage change more effectively.

    Innovative and absorbing, it charts a journey through a range of subjects including complexity science, nuclear physics, climatology, chemistry and chaos theory examining the change phenomena and the lessons it has to offer organizational and system thinkers. Key features include:

    * a review of the organisational change literature
    * an introduction to systems thinking
    * a change framework built up from key change building blocks
    * examples of change dynamics from the natural and physical sciences, and how they apply to our understanding of change within organisations
    * numerous summary tables and illustrative graphics

    This book, the first devoted entirely to exploring what change is as a phenomenon, has a uniquely rigorous scientific approach. It will be a valuable resource for students and professionals alike in the field of business and organizational change.

    Preface List of figures Glossary of Terms Acknowledgements
    Chapter 1: Managing Change - The Problem Redefined These Changing Times The Need for Something More Navigating Through the Book Summary
    Chapter 2: Moving Beyond the Conventional - Systems Thinkers Unite Introduction Visionaries in Search of Inspiration Theories of Everything: General Systems The Road to Exploring Change and Transition Escaping the Familiar: The Power of the Metaphor Examples of Cross-Discipline Based Organisational Thinking Summary
    Chapter 3: Organisational Change Thinking - A Look Back Introduction Change: Early Thinking Reviewed Organisation Change: Recent Developments Summary
    Chapter 4: Tentative Beginnings - Some Pioneers Reviewed Introduction Theoretical Foundations What is this thing called Change - The Right Question Asked Summary
    Chapter 5: Forsaking Pride and Prejudice - Multiple Perspectives on Change Introduction Reality: Real or Imagined? Knowledge: Acquired or Experienced? Change and the Outside World Problems of Definition Summary
    Chapter 6: Building Blocks of Change - Part 1: The Basics Introduction Sources and Causes of Change Source Examples Types of Transition: Did he Jump, Was he Pushed or Did he Fall? The Change Focus: What Actually Changes Summary
    Chapter 7: Building Blocks of Change - Part II: Embedded Dynamics Introduction Hidden Engines of Change: Embedded Dynamics Summary
    Chapter 8: Building Blocks of Change - Part III: From Levels to Labelling Introduction Levels and Layers: Looking for Change Attributes of Change Degrees of Change: The Labelling Dilemma Four Change Principles: Practitioners Skip at Your Peril Summary
    Chapter 9: Building Blocks of Change - Part IV: Resistance and Endings Explored Introduction Exploring Resistance to Change Outcomes and Endings Summary
    Chapter 10: Making it Work and Making a Difference Introduction A Framework for Thinking A Guide for Inquiry A Question of Metaphor Defining Successful Change Suggestions for Further Research Chapter Notes Bibliography

    Biography

    Francis Stickland