Essential Strategies for Organizational and Systems Change: An Overview for Consultants (Fundamentals of Consulting Psychology Series)

This text provides conceptual and operational descriptions of the major theories in and strategic approaches to the field of organizational and systems change. Organizational and systems change, a primary focus for many consulting psychologists and other professional consultants, requires a subtle knowledge of human organizations, cultures, and societies. This book describes a variety of strategies and principles involved in O/SC, including general systems theory, chaos and complexity theory, organizational development and change management, organizational and personal learning, psychodynamics and covert processes, and emerging areas of interest including the integration of positive psychology, appreciative inquiry, behavioral theory, and neuropsychology into the practice of O/SC. Essential Strategies for Organizational and Systems Change offers a broad and comprehensive treatment of the research behind and challenges involved in motivating and effecting large‐scale human systems change. While the authors discuss interventions at the individual, group, and organizational/systems level, the outcome of these efforts is focused upon organization and system success, improvement, and survival. The authors provide a thorough overview of theories and strategic approaches in this area, how they developed, the evidence base for their use in practice, practical and effective mental models, examples of how the strategies and models can be applied, and references that will provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the concepts discussed. This book is an invaluable reference resource for anyone wanting to enter or progress in the field of organizational consulting. "Organizational and systems change, a primary focus for many consulting psychologists and other professional consultants, requires a subtle knowledge of human organizations, cultures, and societies. This text provides conceptual and operational descriptions of the major approaches to the field of organizational and systems change (O/SC). It describes a variety of strategies and principles involved in O/SC, including general systems theory, chaos and complexity theory, organizational development and change management, organizational and personal learning, psychodynamics and covert processes, and emerging areas of interest including the integration of positive psychology, appreciative inquiry, behavioral theory, and neuropsychology into the practice of O/SC. This book offers a broad and comprehensive treatment of the research behind and challenges involved in motivating and effecting large-scale human systems change. While the authors discuss interventions at the individual, group, and organizational/systems level, the outcome of these efforts is focused upon organization and system success, improvement, and survival. The authors provide a thorough overview of theories and strategic approaches in this area, how they developed, the evidence base for their use in practice, practical and effective mental models, examples of how the strategies and models can be applied, and references that will provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the concepts discussed. This book is an invaluable reference resource for anyone wanting to enter or progress in the field of organizational consulting. "-- Provided by publisher As for the book’s content, it aims to provide a broad overview of the theory and practice of organizational-level consulting. It introduces many concepts that apply primarily to organizational/systemic levels but also considers the role of groups and individuals to system-level consultation.The authors suggest, for example, that individual-level interventions with high-level executives can themselves be system-level interventions. Readers will find overviews of various topics that will orient them to the complexities that arise when assessing and intervening when consulting to organizations. The case material makes the theories and approaches come alive. The book provides a panoply of ideas and approaches useful to organizational consultants from many areas of specialization and levels of experience. Contents Series Editor’s Foreword Dedication and Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Philosophical and Historical Foundation of Organizational and Systems Change Chapter 2 Organizations as Systems Chapter 3 Lewinian, Organization Development, and Change Management Chapter 4 Leading and Managing Radical Change Chapter 5 Covert Processes in Human Affairs Chapter 6 Learning-Based Change Chapter 7 Positive Psychology, Behaviorism, and Neuropsychology and the Future of Organizational and Systems Change References Index About the Authors Preparing Consultants to Successfully Change Organizations and Systems -- Organizations as Systems -- Lewinian, Organization Development, and Change Management -- Leading and Managing Radical Change -- Covert Processes in Human Affairs -- Learning-Based Change -- Positive Psychology, Behaviorism, and Neuropsychology and the Future of Organizational and Systems Change