Saturday, March 16, 2013

HISTORICAL POINTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE

By Matt Stone
QHCusa.org 2013



Historical points of organizational change
The intent of this application is to select three historical perspectives that show case organizational change and compare the similarity and their differences.  A brief analysis will further define evolutionary and revolutionary change theories within an organizational culture. In support, a brief review of my professional or personal experience at an organization and whether or not a change in behaviors was accepted.  The three historical perspectives for this review for organizational change include, Historical Perspectives on Emotion Management, Status Competition and Power Play, Organizational Control and Historical Perspective on Nonprofit Organizations. Each of the personal development strategies will promote interpersonal beliefs which are needed to propel the organizations current and future initiatives.
Three historical perspectives from our first historical perspective is on organizations change and is derived from Mastenbroek (2013, para. 6, 8) theories on emotion management, status competition and power play that requires emotional intelligence when addressing the barriers that may remain unaddressed (para. 6).  This path of resistance may promote a causal ripple effect within a divided organization and thereby, threaten the intended cultural belief system that is cohesive to the vision for organization change.  
Our second choice is the Historical Perspective on Organizational Control theory by Dunbar and Statler (nd, p. 30) which support the process paradigm theory on logic and consequences. Together, fosters a belief system from the hierarchies of leadership engagement for the control of the organizations path for behavior change. This control is not about power as a way to lead others but, behavior change that is needed to manage over time such as, the organization on process improvement  at various levels that achieve on target efficiency and the approach to effective task performances within the organizations culture (p.30).
             Our third choice is the Historical Perspective on Nonprofit Organizations. Unlike for profit organizations the behaviors are a tad bit different of those who choose to seek a career in a not for profit environment versus a for profit career environment. The behaviors at the nonprofit sectors are unique in nature and are linked to behaviors on serving the communities best interest and not the organization or individualized best interests. This notion is true because of those who chose this career path are which are those who sacrifice individual career benefits such as, reduced wages which is a challenge to attract talent for the public good.
Dobkin (2004, p.18) advocate that in order for formal institutions such as, our government and local businesses to function together efficiently there must be an ongoing change in the political and culture environment that link education and citizenship that is now the causal relationship which is responsible for the 1.5 million types of not for profit organizations that serve our communities best interests (p.18). These not for profit areas include a diverse work group of tax exempt organizations for religious entities and private organizations that serve the public best interest such as, the Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS) and educational districts.
Similarities and differences between the Historical Perspective on Nonprofit Organizations and the Emotion Management, Status Competition and Power Play, and Organizational Control offer similar passion traits with regard to the success of individual cultural behaviors that include, leadership engagement behaviors that drive the organizations cultural beliefs, however, there is a sense of urgency among the not for profit consortium's which rely on various government grants and from both, the private donations from community support and donor partnerships which is the sole funding sources to run a not for profit cost centers. Other than a for profit organization that rely on a team of cohorts to sell a service or product for a profit to fund their cost centers, together, leadership engagement and personal development are one in the same and should encourage a positive approach to behavior change momentum.
Conclusions from comparison comes by way of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) (2011, para.4) which is one example of appreciation among the needed leadership and continuity among teams that is responsible for driving awareness to motivate a needed value from volunteers that will address the health disparities among the MS chronically ill populations, moreover, awareness for the overwhelming need for policy change, which is a behavior change theory needed for a positive health related quality of life environment of those who suffer from this MS disease which is an undiscovered cure and those family caregiver who support them (para. 4).  
             These behavior skills promote interpersonal momentum that is manifested through leadership and team building skill sets that enhance problem-solving and negotiating skills, coaching and support and empathy that is conducive to constructive feedback abilities for a balanced cultural belief system such as, emotion intelligence and the eradication of power play ideologies that promote behavior division (para. 8).
Example of evolutionary and revolutionary changeEvolutionary change is gradual,  steady behavior and occurs over time where revolutionary change involves, a transformation in major areas of organizational culture in a short period of time” (Walden, 2013). One example of both evolutionary and revolutionary change in an organization in which I have professional and personally experience is when I was employed at a local food distribution center that merged with a national food distributorship.
       The evolutionary example in which I was experienced to when the original hierarchies before the merger were being filtered out over time and were replaced by their new leadership personnel in key positions. This evolutionary example affected 22 staff upper staff members over a 14 month time line. At this cross road, this revolutionary movement changed the environment within a weeks’ time where there were daily staff meetings that covered their new vision that suddenly changed the cultural behaviors which transformed the current culture overnight.
Change accepted and adopted at the beginning was smooth when the merger took place even thou there were dozens of employees at the mid to lower levels that refused to change to the new direction when they rolled out their new vision. However, over this 14 month course, some had left the organization or were let go because of their lack of ability to conform to the new organizations directives. This revolutionary approach over night was a culture shock because, the original organization which by the way, employed over 600 employees and there were some who had been with the organization over 30 plus years and did not want conform.
     Reflecting back, I believe this revolutionary approach at the 14 month mark overnight was a mistake because, this approach caused tremendous conflict and trust barriers that promoted a culture of us against them attitude over a six month period. In my opinion, this was due to their inconsistent actions versus what the new organization was promising that no changes would take place. Suddenly, toward the end of the 14 month course of organizational change is where they started letting upper management go and were very aggressive with discipline, an autocratic culture this organization was no used to. Certainly, this was not a multifaceted approach to leadership engagement that is central to a culture of ongoing personal development strategies that promote a positive interpersonal beliefs system which is needed to propel the organizations current and future initiatives and especially, when dozens of staff members walked of the job leaving the rest to struggle with unrealistic performance expectations.


References:
Dobkin, H. P. (2004). Historical perspectives on Nonprofit Organizations in the United States. The Jossey-Bass Handbook of Nonprofit leadership and Management. p.7-28.

 Dunbar, R.L.M., Statler, M. (nd). A historical perspective on organizational control. New York University.

Mastenbroek, W. (2013). Organizational behavior in historical perspective. Retrieved from http://www.managementsite.com/content/articles/491/491.asp#Changing%20balances%20of%20power%20and%20informalization

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, NMSS. (2011). Donor appreciation. Retrieved from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/mig/annual-volunteer-awards/index.aspx


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