Challenge of Organizational Change: How Companies Experience It And Leaders Guide It

In an era of increased global competition of takeovers downsizing restructuring and even outright failure managing intelligent organizational change is the most difficult challenge facing business. Kanter Stein and Jick present here a comprehensive overview and an authoritative model for how to and in some cases how not to institute change in organizations.Building upon their Big Three model of change the authors focus on internal and external forces that set events in motion; the major kinds of change that correspond to external and internal change pressures; and the principal tasks involved in managing the change process. Several portraits of companies undergoing different types of change coupled with the authors own expert analyses prove that no one person or group can make change happen alone. Instead the authors assert that it is the delicate balance among key players that makes organizational change a success.The authors analyze the forces for change by examining Banc One Apple Computer and Lehman Brothers among others to illustrate environmental and cyclical change as businesses grow. Then they turn to forms of change drawing on the Western-Delta merger strategy change at Bell Atlantic and takeover turmoil at Lucky Stores to show how companies change their structures and cultures. The section on execution of change shows change masters to use Kanters own famous term at work at Motorola General Electric and other leading firms as well as the difficulties of implementing change at General Motors and Microswitch.Fundamental organizational change they argue is exemplified by identity change involving much more than the transfer of tangible assets. Managing the feelings fears and hopes of people must be the central strategy during such transitions. In this essential volume for managers and analysts of change Kanter Stein and Jick offer powerful insights practical new directions for action prospects for the future of deliberate organizational change and advice on where to begin the change process and when: NOW!