Supporting Cultural Change in Organizations

Organizational change is rampant today and when it affects the culture, chaos, diminished productivity, and poor morale are often the result. This book provides a "how to" guide for developing a customized cultural change education and support program. It was written for leaders and change agents who are faced with implementing a large-scale initiative that will affect its members. Its content synthesizes practical recommendations following accepted change management premises and practices with knowledge from experts and pioneers in the fields of management, science, psychology, and spirituality about what cultural transformation efforts require to be successful. In short, these experts all agree that a strong culture is formed and sustained by its people. Consequently, for a culture to change, it's people must change. However, it requires members to not only change what they do but also to determine what the change personally means for them. The proposed program is focused on three main essentials for successful cultural change in organizations. They include expanding (1) Information to all affected leaders and members about the facts related to the impending change as well as the impacts, (2) Awareness of leaders and members alike about how changing the culture will affect them collectively and personally, and (3) Motivation by developing and implementing a cultural change education and support program with actions that ensure that member morale stays high. Each chapter in the book illustrates concepts with case study vignettes and concludes with exercises that enable change agents to apply the material to their specific project. The book concludes with a step-by-step plan for designing and implementing the proposed program. The program may be customized to whatever breadth and depth an organization needs to go with transformation. It is applicable to all who are seeking to simultaneously support the needs of the organization and the needs of its people.