Facilitating Organization Change: Lessons from Complexity Science

by Edwin E. Olson, Glenda H. Eoyang

Looking for a highly effective alternative to traditional change models?
Finally, an alternative to traditional change models-the science of complex adaptive systems (CAS). The authors explain how, rather than focusing on the macro "strategioc" level of the organization system, complexity theory suggests that the most powerful change processes occur at the micro level where relationship, interaction and simple rules shape emerging patterns.
* Details how the emerging paradigm of a CAS affects the role of change agents
* Tells how you can build the requisite skills to function in a CAS
* Provides tips for thriving in that new paradigm "Olson and Eoyang do a superb job of using complexity science to develop numerous methods and tools that practitioners can immediately use to make their organizations more effective."
--Kevin Dooley, Professor of Management and Industrial Engineering, Arizona State University

Genres: Management, Nonfiction, Business, Leadership

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2001

Reviews

[Gary Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice treatment of organizations as complex, adaptive systems and describing an approach to guiding organizational change consistent with how complex, adaptive systems operate. The book introduces the concepts of containers, significant differences, and transforming exchanges. These are the levers that create change under the CAS-based organizational model, and provides a means for understanding how change can be cultivated by change agents and organizational leaders.

My only critique is that a bit of the material at the end is repetitive, but I understand why putting it in one piece at the end as a reminder and summary makes sense.

[Robert Bogue]

Sometimes, the lines between disciplines swirl into a beautiful fractal dance, as some things from organizational development bleed into organizational change and vice-versa. Facilitating Organization Change: Lessons from Complexity Science seeks to share what we know about complexity and the relative futility of trying to control every aspect of every interaction and instead teach how to shape and harness the waves of change in the organization.

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[Vince Lammas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while I was new to thinking about organisations as complex adaptive systems - while I was still thinking about what the implications might be for working practically with people. At the time I found some of the recommendations for making adjustments to "containers" a bit abstract though many of the ideas and suggestions for supporting effective working we're both stimulating and effective when applied to a project I worked on at that time.

As I read more richly about the implications complexity and began to appreciate more the importance of self-organising behaviour, I returned to the book again - looking with new eyes and thinking about working practices with fresh insight. I can now appreciate the links to Donella Meadows' multi-layered concepts in her work "Thinking in Systems : A Primer" and some of the power and insightful ness of the ideas it proposes.

More importantly, I am now thinking about how to apply some of the approaches to influencing organisational change with a greater degree of clarity and impetus (I'm deliberately avoiding the word "certainty" because that is one thing people need to learn to live with less of).

If you want to think about the subtlety of a structured framework for approaching change agency in a way that recognises complexity this book is certainly worth a look. If you are looking for a simple menu of activities and prescriptions for delivering successful change, look elsewhere.

[Scott Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olson and Eoyang (authors) explain complex notions of what they term 'Complex Adaptive Systems' in messages that help the reader understand complexity within organizations and yet are not complicated themselves. Their approach to organizational theory rests in the science of complexity, and dovetails nicely with the more complicated articulation of Systems Centered Theory by Yvonne Agazarian and Anita Simon. This is a very handy reference, and one I'm glad will be in my tool-belt in the future.