ABSTRACT
Completing the cycle of assessment and improvement, which an organization must do to fully realize the benefits of the process, requires the organization to apply the information obtained. This chapter examines the way an assessment process, by examining the organization, its people, and practices, and provides both the information needed and the motivation to initiate the change necessary to carry out improvement efforts. It discusses how organizational change takes place and the role of individuals and teams in change processes. Change is a complex process, and there are many potential barriers to change in public sector organizations. The inherent resistance of individuals to change is a commonly accepted belief in the field of organizational development and change management. While the primary focus in looking at organizational assessment is the internal development of improvement opportunities, many of the change "initiators" in government are external.
