ABSTRACT

This book explores the psychological and social dynamics of continuous, disruptive and discontinuous change. It examines the emotional strain and challenges of disruption, studies the nature of organisational transformation and examines what can be done to develop an organisation’s capacity to adapt and thrive in turbulent environments.

An organisation’s long-term survival increasingly rests on its adaptive capacity, ability to continuously change and transform itself. Yet, people experience ongoing and fundamental change to be disorientating and unsettling as it challenges accepted assumptions and identities. This book assists leaders and change practitioners understand these dynamics, help people to make sense of change and to create the conditions that enable people to self-organise and creatively adapt.

With case studies and personal accounts from individuals and companies, this is an ideal resource for practitioners and managers dealing with organisational change, as well as students, academics and researchers.

chapter 1|6 pages

Introduction

part 1|2 pages

Turbulent fields and organisation dynamics

chapter 2|11 pages

Dynamic complexity and disruption

chapter 3|13 pages

The transformation of organisational form

chapter 4|14 pages

Complexity, order and transformation

part 2|2 pages

Psycho-social dynamics in turbulent fields

chapter 7|19 pages

Sensemaking in turbulent fields

chapter 8|15 pages

Altered images

Identity construction and fragmentation

chapter 9|16 pages

Loss, mourning and the inability to mourn

chapter 10|18 pages

Alienation, anomie and anxiety

part 3|2 pages

Transformation, learning and adaptation

chapter 11|13 pages

Creativity, imagination and transformation

chapter 12|13 pages

Leading through disruption and change

chapter 13|3 pages

Concluding thoughts