Change - use it to your advantage

-- a university of arizona course on methods and approaches for studying the future

Change always occurs. Some take advantage of it in their strategic planning or their every day happenings. Others are victims of change because they either have no idea of why the change is happening or the ability to do anything about it. Some people move with the change and others resist it. In general, if the change underway is comfortable to you and you have incentives to change (e.g., desire, money) you will change. However, if you represent the "old" way of doing things, you will feel threatened by change. Accordingly you resist the change. While there has been a lot of study on "change" of various types (individual, organizational, community), there is no consensus on the necessary ingredients for a successful change. This is likely because each situation (the actual case and the participants) are different. By knowing the general process of change and some common problems people have in trying to make change, you can become a better change agent yourself.

Change Links

Resistance to Change (George Odiorne book review - excellent book but out of print)

Resistance to Change (changing minds.org)

Change Codes (35 short hints on dealing with change)

The Change Project (lots of information by Joe Flower)

Change Management 101 - A Primer

Change Management (themanager.org)

New Rules for the New Economy (Kevin Kelly)

Navigating Change (Summary)

Managing Change in Organizations (a portal for many links- focused on non-profits)

Change Management (from Wikipedia)

Managing Change (focus on resource efficiency and corporate responsibility)

Change Management (highlights with links to more detailed information)

 

Lifecycle of Memes

Change Management (the Columbo Theory)

Appreciative Inquiry Commons (a portal for the discipline of positive change)