FREE online courses on Change Management - Change Management - Four Basic
Strategies - Factors in Selecting A Change Strategy
Generally speaking, there is no single change strategy. You
can adopt a general or what is called a "grand strategy" but, for any given
initiative, you are best served by some mix of strategies.
Which of the preceding strategies to use in your mix of
strategies is a decision affected by a number of factors. Some of the more
important ones follow.
Degree of Resistance:
Strong resistance argues for a coupling of power-coercive and
environmental-adaptive strategies. Weak resistance or concurrence argues for a
combination of rational-empirical and normative-re-educative strategies.
Target Population:
Large populations argue for a mix of all four strategies, something for everyone
so to speak.
The Stakes: High
stakes argue for a mix of all four strategies. When the stakes are high, nothing
can be left to chance.
The Time Frame:
Short time frames argue for a power-coercive strategy. Longer time frames argue
for a mix of rational-empirical, normative-re-educative, and
environmental-adaptive strategies.
Expertise: Having
available adequate expertise at making change argues for some mix of the
strategies outlined above. Not having it available argues for reliance on the
power-coercive strategy.
Dependency: This is a classic double-edged sword. If the
organization is dependent on its people, management's ability to command or
demand is limited. Conversely, if people are dependent upon the organization,
their ability to oppose or resist is limited. (Mutual dependency almost always
signals a requirement for some level of negotiation.)
