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

ISBN-13: 9780415184168 / Angielski / Miękka / 1998 / 224 str.

Francis Stickland

Opis

This text gives an insight into the world of change and transition. Aimed at both organizational change practitioners and academics, it tackles the fundamental question what is change? - in the belief that any answers will significantly improve our attempts to manage it more effectively. The book charts a journey through a range of subjects including complexity science, nuclear physics, climatology, chemistry and chaos theory, examining many change phenomena and the lessons they have to offer organizational and system thinkers. Key features include: a review of the organizational 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 organizations; and summary tables and illustrative graphics.

Spis treści

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

O autorze

Francis Stickland