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Innovation Notes

Week 2 (chapter 4) – Classifying Theories of Organisational Change

Comment on the debates about whether we should view organisations as essentially stable or fluid entities

Change theories recognise thinking as a variance and as a process.

In variance, entities and structure exist in a state of stability (equal and opposing forces for the norm). Organisations are considered as properties that can be observed and compared. Processes in organisations involve viewing people as continually engaging in making sense and interpreting a dynamic and ongoing world as it is fluid.

The differences in views can be seen between qualitative and quantitative researchers

Understand the different assumptions that shape theoretical perspectives on organisational change

Philosophers from the past allow for the understanding of contemporary theories on continuity and change:

Greek philosopher Democritus pictured nature as composed of stable material or things changed only in their positioning through time and space.

Helps us understand the Punctuated equilibrium theory that views stability as the norm in organisations and recognises that business can experience major shocks that cause radical change until they go back into stability

Heraclitus asserts that we exist in a world that is in constant flux. (Dynamic and changing).

Be aware of the four foundational theories that are seen to underpin all change models and frameworks. (Van de Ven and Poole’s 1995)

Lifecycle Theory – Stages of development from start-up, maturity to decline. Each stage builds cumulatively. The progression of events is linear and irreversible through natural growth.

Teleological Theory – Specific goal drives purposeful change towards an envisioned end state, but not a prescribed sequence of events (adaptions and modifications occur). This focuses on purposeful collaboration through goal enactment.

Dialectical Theory – Oppositional forces exist, compete, collide and conflict with organisations and in the environment. When these forces are equally balanced the status quo prevails, but change occurs when power is gained by one entity over another. This follows and opposition based conflict.

Evolutionary Theory – A biological analogy that suggests new forms of organisations to emerge by chance or variation whereas others are by environmental selection. This focuses on competitive survival through natural selection

Recognise the convergence and fragmentation that arise in the movement from more conventional approaches to postmodern developments???????????? Historical Frame??????

The dominance of stability-based theories are being replaced by more process-based approaches. The movement from more conventional approaches to organisational change started in the 1980’s.

Prior to the 1980’s the dominant themes of concern of early concern with growth and development and whether there is a choice for change or environmental factors determine which organisations survive

The 1980’s brought on a focus from gradual change to more radical change

Recently a more processed view was adopted concerned with organisational renewal where change is an ongoing reality rather than an occasional disruptive event

Appreciate metaphorical approaches and the different images of managing change

The use of metaphors allows us to further understand organisational change. Morgan identifies organisations as a:

Political System: Views organisations as systems of power and political activity, dealing with different vested interests and conflicts

Brain: Organisations must process information, communicate and make decisions which represents the process of learning

Organism: that is in an environment that needs to adapt to survive, moving through life cycles

Summarise the main theorise and approaches to organisational change????????