ABSTRACT
To describe a representation of the transformation of institutions, the chapter leans on a biological metaphor, while remaining cautious with the use of such a process. A biological metaphor, while proving to be a useful framework in the demonstration, still remains somewhat limited. The chapter attempts to overcome those limits by drawing on the political and psychic dimensions of these processes, making links to the role that managers and consultants can take up in these transformations. Phases of progression and regression become better identified and it becomes possible to encourage progressions and to admit that regressions are often necessary for future progressions. The zig-zag trajectory of transformation and the other marks of resistance, affects, guilt, anxiety, and the mystery and opacity of the breakthrough, are so many manifestations of the part of chaos contained in the process.
