Changeability

Description

Are you falling behind your competitors? Are you too slow getting your products to market? Are your overheads too high? These are just some of the challenges that companies face. However, initiating successful change strategies is far from easy. 70% of all change programmes fail. This book shows how you can make sure that when change happens (and it frequently does) your company is ready for it.

Shareholders want to see change take effect immediately, as each day’s delay can cost them money or lose them market share, while staff are often suspicious of change, wondering what’s in it for them. How do you make sure the change you want happens successfully, that it has everyone’s support, and how do you make it stick? The only way to walk this tightrope without falling off is to leave behind the old models and adapt a new practice of change management.

Michael Jarrett draws on established research, case examples and his own wide consulting experience to illustrate that current models of step change are largely doomed to failure and proposes a new framework that aligns both the internal and external dynamics of change. In a refreshingly clear and practical approach, Changeability points to a new route to successful change which uses a balanced approach taking account of the four key levers of change.

First, take the online diagnostic test to benchmark your organisation against others in terms of your ability to change and to assess your relative strengths and weaknesses. Then use the tools, methods and techniques outlined by Jarrett to develop winning change strategies customised for your company. There are four main groups of strategies, depending upon your situation - so choose the one that’s right for you and open the door to accelerated and sustainable change.

Contents

Publisher's acknowledgements

Author's acknowledgements

Preface: What do we mean by change and changeability?

PART I: The challenge of change

1.  Making change work

2.  The hard truths

3.  Are you ready to change?

PART II: Understanding your changeability index

4. Why does the external environment matter?

5. Does leadership make a difference?

6. How do you get people on board?

7. How do you restructure for change?

PART III: Developing strategies for change

8. Reap from steady state

9. Turnaround in the risk zone

10. Beware the ‘comfort zone’

11. Exploring the ‘Zen zone’

Part IV: Leading change

12. Personal mastery

Epilogue

Appendix 1: Research note

Appendix 2: Does your organisation have changeability?

Appendix 3: What is the nature of your environment?

Appendix 4: Personal action plan

Appendix 5: Strategies for organisational change

Index

Author

Michael Jarrett is Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School. His primary research interest is in the dynamics of top teams and the critical success factors for strategic organisational change. Michael is also an experienced practitioner: he advises several management teams on leading accelerated change and sustainable performance based on his extensive consulting experience and current research.

His recent publications include

‘What is the Difference and What Makes a Difference in Executive Coaching’ (with V Roberts, Karnac Books, 2006); Tuning into the Emotional Drama of Change: Extending the Consultant’s Bandwidth, Journal of Change Management (2005); and ‘The Seven Myths of Change, Business and Strategy Review' (2003).

Reviews
"the need to come to terms with change and turn it into a positive force is arguably greater than ever." Financial Times 22 January 2009 (readership 318,000)