Janine Waclawski

Understanding the management of change

Reviews important contemporary theoretical approaches to the understanding and management of change in organizations, and then proposes an alternative framework for integrating the major themes encountered in organizational change management. Reports on results from an assessment instrument measuring agreement with key principles and concepts from this framework. Analyses results for trends indicating differences according to gender, culture, function, level, industry and other demographic and organizational variables. Discusses implications for change agents and human resources professionals.

The Right Relationship Is Everything: Linking Personality Preferences to Managerial Behaviors.

Individual differences and personality factors have reemerged as some of the more important research topics in the applied organizational sciences. With the increasing prevalence of executive coaching and the use of personality assessments, more research needs to be done on the impact of personality variables on managerial behaviors in the workplace. The following study provides an applied analysis of personality preferences and behavioral ratings collected for a developmental multirater feedback intervention based on 343 senior managers and others in a research-driven global health services organization. Results revealed modest personality-behavior relationships, many of which were consistent with Myers-Briggs Type Indicator theory and research; differences by observer perspective were also evident. Implications for HRD practice are discussed.

Managing organizational change: what you don’t know might hurt you

Managers and executives need to have a better framework for thinking about and understanding organizational change. Presents a summary of research, based on data from 1,840 managers and executives worldwide on the Managing Change Questionnaire (MCQ), regarding participants’ understanding of important issues inherent in change management. Overall, the average score on the 25‐item MCQ was 71.2 per cent, i.e. roughly a grade of “C” in the subject of change management. Presents additional findings with respect to formal education, age and length of service, nationality, job function, industry, gender and level of management.

OD Practitioners as Facilitators of Change An Analysis of Survey Results

A study was undertaken to determine the degree of knowledge and understanding that organization development (OD) practitioners have regarding key issues in the management of change in organizations. Other variables of interest included the preferred mode of influence or consulting style based on a transformational versus transactional framework and the degree of tolerance for ambiguous situations. Data were collected using two survey instruments, the Managing Change Questionnaire (MCQ) and the Change Agent Questionnaire (CAQ), which were mailed to 1,500 OD practitioners randomly selected from the membership rosters of three professional associations. Of the sample, 24% returned completed questionnaires. Responses were compared with previous findings from managers and executives and then analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and multiple regression techniques to identify differences among categories of practitioners. Overall, OD practitioners were found to be quite knowledgeable about the concepts covered in the MCQ, more likely to be transformational than transactional in their consulting approach, and relatively tolerant of ambiguous situations. Formal educational background and nonacademic training experiences were identified as contributing factors in these trends, as well.

What Do OD Practitioners Know About Managing Change

Suggests that change is inherent in contemporary organizational experience, and its management is not only critical to organizational success but it is also at the centre of the field of organization development (OD). Describes the results of a survey of 357 OD practitioners regarding their knowledge and understanding of important aspects of organizational change. Based on a comparison of the survey data collected with previous research, demonstrates that this group of presumed “change experts” is, in fact, more knowledgeable in most areas about the application and process of organizational change than their managerial and executive counterparts. Presents further analyses that serve to highlight different areas of knowledge and application of change management techniques with respect to various respondent characteristics, e.g. internal versus external status, number of years of experience in the field, etc. Concludes with a call for reflection regarding the results obtained and continued research in this ...

Women in organization development

Focuses on women in the field of organization development (OD), their consulting practices, motivators, values, and intended directions for the future. Reviews the current state of the field – focusing on both the inherent tension in values that is endemic to the practice of OD today and the increasing presence of women doing OD. Presents the results from a recent survey of 148 contemporary women OD practitioners. Discusses intervention preferences, perceptions of primary motivators and values in the field today, and idealized motivators and values for the future of OD. Also addresses implications of these results for the field.