Leadership and Strategic Change under Ambiguity

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Louis Denis ◽  
Ann Langley ◽  
Linda Cazale ◽  
Jean-Louis Denis ◽  
Linda Cazale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Change ◽  
Collaborative Leadership ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Linear Pattern ◽  
Effective Change ◽  
Leadership Group ◽  
Political Realignment ◽  
University Affiliation

This paper draws on a case study of a large public hospital to examine the processes of leadership and strategic change in organizations where goals are unclear and authority is fluid and ambiguous. The case history describes the evolution of leadership roles during a period of radical change in which a general hospital acquires a university affiliation while moving towards a more integrated form of management. The study traces the tactics used by members of the leadership group to stimulate change, and the corresponding impact of these tactics on both the progress of change and on leadership roles themselves. It is suggested that strategic change in these organizations requires collaborat ive leadership involving constellations of actors playing distinct but tightly-knit roles. Yet, collaborative leadership is fragile and can easily disintegrate due to intemal conflict or to discreditation associated with more unpopular (although potentially effective) change tactics. Thus, under ambiguity, radical trans formations may tend to occur in a cyclical non-linear pattern with periods of substantive change alternating with periods of political realignment. The paper concludes with a series of five propositions concerning the collaborative, cyc lical, interpretative, and entropic nature of leadership and strategic change pro cesses under ambiguity.

scholarly journals Leadership and change implementation in a Russian context

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Levene ◽  
Malcolm Higgs
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Style ◽  
Strategic Change ◽  
Change Leadership ◽  
Leadership Theory ◽  
Change Implementation ◽  
Relational Leadership ◽  
Effective Change ◽  
Directive Style ◽  
Leadership And Change

Leadership literature suggests that the transfer of leadership theory to non-US/Anglo-centric cultures may lead to findings that are different from current ones. Indeed, it is proposed that a dominant national culture will impact both the enacted leadership style and the followers’ expectations and acceptance of such a leadership style. Within the emerging literature on relational and change leadership, there is little consideration of the differing impact of leader behaviours in non-Western cultures. This study addresses both these gaps, through a case study that explores leadership styles and strategic change implementation within a Russian context that is seen as being directive and autocratic. The nature and impact of leadership in the context of change in Russian organizations is explored in this article, using a case-study design. Based on 20 interviews conducted in three organizations, we report findings which suggest, in a Russian context, that a more relational leadership style is more effective, and more likely to be accepted by followers, in implementing strategic change than a more ‘typical’ autocratic and directive style. The article contributes to leadership theory by providing clear empirical evidence of the value of a relational style in non-Western settings in ensuring effective change implementation.

scholarly journals GP leadership in clinical commissioning groups: a qualitative multi-case study approach across England

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (671) ◽  
pp. e427-e432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Marshall ◽  
Richard Holti ◽  
Jean Hartley ◽  
Tatum Matharu ◽  
John Storey
Keyword(s):  
Radical Change ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Case Study Approach ◽  
Clinical Leadership ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Service Areas ◽  
Formal Leadership

BackgroundClinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were established in England in 2013 to encourage GPs to exert greater influence over the processes of service improvement and redesign in the NHS. Little is known about the extent and the ways in which GPs have assumed these leadership roles.AimTo explore the nature of clinical leadership of GPs in CCGs, and to examine the enablers and barriers to implementing a policy of clinical leadership in the NHS.Design and settingA qualitative multi-case study approach in six localities across England. The case studies were purposefully sampled to represent different geographical localities and population demographics, and for their commitment to redesigning specified clinical or service areas.MethodData were collected from the case study CCGs and their partner organisations using a review of relevant documents, semi-structured individual or group interviews, and observations of key meetings. The data were analysed thematically and informed by relevant theories.ResultsGPs prefer a collaborative style of leadership that may be unlikely to produce rapid or radical change. Leadership activities are required at all levels in the system from strategy to frontline delivery, and the leadership behaviours of GPs who are not titular leaders are as important as formal leadership roles. A new alliance is emerging between clinicians and managers that draws on their different skillsets and creates new common interests. The uncertain policy environment in the English NHS is impacting on the willingness and the focus of GP leaders.ConclusionGPs are making an important contribution as leaders of health service improvement and redesign but there are significant professional and political barriers to them optimising a leadership role.

scholarly journals Improving change management: how communication nature influences resistance to change

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Matos Marques Simoes ◽  
Mark Esposito
Keyword(s):  
Change Process ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Communication Management ◽  
Dialogic Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Change Communication ◽  
Effective Change

Purpose – Little has been studied yet in terms of how communication nature influences change process. The purpose of this paper is to explore a case study that takes part in a broader research project, aimed to contribute in this direction. Design/methodology/approach – Mix methodology has been applied to the findings, to characterize resistance to change and communication nature within one organization under a radical change process. Findings – One main theoretical contribution is an instrumental grid to characterize dialogic communication nature. Originality/value – Findings of the case study originally indicate that resistance to change reduces under dialogic communication and by revealing how communication dimensions perform in time, practitioners may enhance guidelines to effective change communication management.

Transitioning Business for a Circular Economy

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan EVANS
Keyword(s):  
Professional Practice ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
Operational Model ◽  
New Vision ◽  
To Come ◽  
Space Requirements

This case study explores the strategic business opportunities, for Lane Crawford, an iconic luxury department store, to transition in a circular economy towards sustainability. A new experimentation framework was developed and conducted among cross departmental employees, during a Design Lab, with intention to co-create novel Circular Economy business concepts towards a new vision: the later was a reframe of the old system based on the principles of sustainability; to move beyond a linear operational model towards a circular economy that can contribute to a regenerative society. This work draws on both academic and professional experience and was conducted through professional practice. It was found that innovative co-created concepts, output from the Design Lab, can create radical change in a circular economy that is holistically beneficial and financially viable; looking forward to extract greater value a)Internal organization requires remodeling to transform towards a circular economy; b)Requirement for more horizonal teams across departments vs solely vertical; c)New language and relationships are required to be able to transition towards a circular economy; d)Some form of physical and virtual space requirements, for cross-disciplinary teams to come together to co-create; e)Ability to iterate, learn and evolve requires agency across the business

Exploring Effective Change Propagation in a Product Family Design

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inayat Ullah ◽  
Dunbing Tang ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
Leilei Yin
Keyword(s):  
Product Family ◽  
Design Structure Matrix ◽  
Change Propagation ◽  
Effective Change ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Requirements Change ◽  
Change Impact ◽  
Design Requirements

Product family (PF) design is a widely used strategy in the industry, as it allows meeting diverse design requirements. Change propagation in any PF is difficult to predict. Consequently, while numerous design change management methodologies presently exist, their application is restricted to a single artifact. This issue is overcome in the present study. The proposed framework explores effective change propagation paths (CPPs) by considering the risks associated with design changes in the PF with the aim of minimizing the overall redesign cost. The propagated risk, which would result in rework, is quantified in terms of change impact and propagation likelihood. Moreover, a design structure matrix (DSM) based mathematical model and an algorithm for its implementation are proposed to investigate the change propagation across the PF. Finally, to demonstrate their effectiveness, a PF of electric kettles is examined in a case study. The study findings confirm that the proposed technique is appropriate for evaluating different CPPs in PF.

scholarly journals Water ethics, justice, and equity in social-ecological systems conservation: lessons from the Queensland Wild Rivers Act

Water Policy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 933-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameer H. Shah ◽  
Lucy Rodina
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resource Management ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Water Ethics ◽  
Natural Rivers

Abstract The protection of natural rivers and watersheds face important concerns related to environmental (in)justice and (in)equity. Using the Queensland Wild Rivers Act as a case study, we advocate that ethical water governance attends to multiple and diverse values, specifically in ways that: (i) locate them within stakeholders' claims of inequality that emerge from a given or practiced water ethic; and (ii) historicize and understand them as resonating or reflecting natural resource management frameworks that have led to structural injustices. This approach, combined with adaptive co-governance, can contribute to more inclusive water ethics and even support reflexive spaces where radical change in social-ecological resource governance can be imagined.

scholarly journals What do Adolescents Know about Mental Health Illnesses? A Case Study based on Learning and Service in a Secondary School

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
Maria Lourdes Mila ◽  
Isabel Alvarez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Neutral Evolution ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
School Students ◽  
Service Project ◽  
Perceptions And Attitudes

The aim of this study is to show how the perceptions and attitudes of secondary school students towards mental health issues changed over the course of a Learning and Service project. The Learning and Service project was carried out by 58 students, together with the residents of a mental health institution during three months. Both students and residents shared several activities to bring them closer. Secondary school students did not have any previous experience with mental health residents before. The analysis took place during the course of the process, with the students responding to four questionnaires, each one after having done an activity together. The study demonstrates that through this Learning and Service project most of the students' perspectives changed for the better, some even viewed radical change while others were positive and finally few students only experienced neutral evolution of their ideas with respect to people with mental health disorders.

Toward a Model of Brand Creation for International Large-Scale Sporting Events: The Impact of Leadership, Context, and Nature of the Event

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 526-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena M. Parent ◽  
Benoit Séguin
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Initial Event ◽  
Leadership Group ◽  
Leadership Context ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Communication Paths ◽  
Brand Creation

The purpose of this study was to develop a model of brand creation for one-off large-scale sporting events. A case study of the 2005 Montreal FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) World Championships highlighted the importance of the leadership group (which must include individuals with political/networking, business/management, and sport/event skills), the context, and the nature of the event for creating the event’s brand. The importance of each aspect is suggested to vary depending on the situation. For example, the lack of an initial event brand will result in the leadership group having the greatest impact on the event’s brand creation process. Findings also highlighted differing communication paths for internal and external stakeholders. Thus, this study contributes to the literature by focusing on brand creation and its related factors instead of the management and outcomes of a brand.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document