New Strategies of Systems Change: Reclaiming Nonsynoptic Methods

Ill-defined, complex problems often require systematic change in behavior and values. However, the uncertainty of such issues polarizes different stakeholders and impedes collaborative solutions. Traditional approaches to managing change are unable to deal with these situations, where both complexity and conflict are intensified. A new category of planning and change methods, nonsynoptic systems change, is emerging that better deals with such conditions. Despite its haphazard appearance, an underlying order exists within this type of systems change. Normative incrementalism, one specific change strategy within this type, is examined in detail. A variety of applications for the nonsynoptic approach is also considered.

[1]  R E Miles,et al.  Organizational strategy, structure, and process. , 1978, Academy of management review. Academy of Management.

[2]  G. Vickers,et al.  The art of judgment , 1965 .

[3]  Donald A. Schön.  Beyond the stable state , 1971 .

[4]  Einar Thorsrud,et al.  Democracy at Work: The Report of the Norwegian Industrial Democracy Program , 1976 .

[5]  Michael X Cohen,et al.  A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice. , 1972 .

[6]  J. Friedmann.  Retracking America;: A theory of transactive planning , 1973 .

[7]  Kenneth J. Arrow,et al.  A Strategy of Decision, Policy Evaluation as a Social Process. , 1964 .

[8]  Johannes U. Stoelwinder,et al.  Hospital Organization Development: Changing the Focus from "Better Managenment" to "Better Patient Cared , 1978, Journal of Applied Behavioral Science.

[9]  Mancur Olson,et al.  The Rise and Decline of Nations: Economic Growth, Stagflation, and Social Rigidities. , 1983 .

[10]  S. Martin,et al.  “Redesigning the future” , 1987, Journal of General Internal Medicine.

[11]  Fred Emery,et al.  Futures we are in , 1977 .

[12]  Barry M. Staw,et al.  New Directions in Organizational Behavior , 1976 .

[13]  I. Mangham,et al.  Organization development in transition: Evidence of an evolving profession , 1982 .

[14]  John Marcus Power,et al.  Public Planning: The inter-corporate dimension , 1974 .

[15]  Eric Trist,et al.  Referent Organizations and the Development of Inter-Organizational Domains , 1983 .