7.1 Nature of change
Change can take many forms and occur at any time. Some argue that change is so constant in organisations today that discussing and studying how to manage change will distract the student from the fact that it is ever-present and impacting on everything we do. Others argue the reverse; change has to be studied if it is to be appreciated and managers with an understanding of change can be specifically recruited by organisations that need these capabilities.
Aside from the fact that this debate keeps many academics, management practitioners, and consultants gainfully employed, the nature of the debate confirms both the complexity of change and the value of managers who understand its impact.
Just as with the very polarised views of the theorists, key aspects of change can be placed on a continuum.
Figure 1 - Dimension to change
The above figure sets dimensions that we will have to examine and understand. It suggests that a manager's role and activities will vary contingent upon the change dimensions.
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