My Comments on Built to Change

Posted in Uncategorized | Wednesday, June 6th, 2007 | Trackback

You may know the book Built to Change by Edward Lawler and Christopher Worley. (Jossey Bass, 2006) My friend, Sally DeWitt, highly recommended it to me last year. Well, it went on my stack of books and there it sat. I’m sorry I waited so long to read it. It is an important book on change in organizations.

Here are a few things that stand out:

In spite of all the books and attention change gets, organizations are not getting better at leading change.

Change tends to be viewed as a necessary evil. Most organizations are designed for stability – not change. This bias toward stability builds resistance to change into the system.

The authors believe that organizations should be “built to change.” Organizational change whether planned or by accident, is essential for continued success. .Organizations need to be willing to reexamine strategy and execution continually and adapt when needed. Change is part of who they are – and not some necessary evil. Change is the new status quo. . . They also argue that transformational change – moving from one type of business to another – usually fails. Even United Airlines’ attempt to create a discount carrier failed because the company is not built to do what discount airlines are set up to do.


Organizations often strategize to deal with the current environment,. They must be able to anticipate possible future states and plan for those as well.


They need to focus on the external environment and consider making adjustments as the norm.


In their words: “We think of an organization’s identity as something very stable. It is an important source of effectiveness and is potentially a primary reason why a b2change (built to change) organization can reorient itself easily.” So strategies need to change based on changing conditions, but they must be based on the underlying identity of the organization. They talk about Japanese auto makers. They started as low cost alternatives to “expensive” cars. And then for decades focused on quality. A few years ago US automakers began to catch up on quality. Consumers now take quality for granted and now focus on “intangibles such as design, customer experience, service, and image.” Once again, the Japanese lead in service, design, and social responsibility. They know how to change.


its competitors have also embraced quality they build on that base to


The book is provocative and sound. If you are interested in change in organizations be sure to read the first three chapters for an overview of their thinking and then the rest of the book to see how they suggest bringing these ideas to life.


4 Responses to “My Comments on Built to Change”
Terrence Seamon Says:
June 9th, 2007 at 9:45 am

It’s on my pile too. I will move it up.

Terry
Tom Stratton Says:
July 5th, 2007 at 10:46 am

I recently read an article where Toyota was reported to have said it is concerned about becoming the number one automaker in the US as it might breed a certain laziness and lack of focus and effort (suspect they have watched US leading companies face this same delima). For them it was am important part of their culture to provide someting “as opposed to”. You can insert “expensive”, “poor quality”, “ugly”, etc.. Now, if/when they become instead of number 2, 3 or 4 number 1 that will indeed test their ability to change and adapt. I certainly am not suggesting they cannot or will not. I am saying an anchor that holds us to our status quo is often our fundamental framing of who we are and what we are good at. Lots of effort and brainpower is invested in defining our “purpose”, “values”, “strategies”, etc.. They then become carved in stone in the psyche of the organization.

I am a Christian and have always been involved in churches as an active member. I find it very interesting to look at how change occurs in church. I don’t have an evolved opinion of how it is the same and how it is different compared to “business”. I would welcome insights others might offer.

Happy 4th (plus one),

Tom
rick maurer Says:
July 5th, 2007 at 11:12 am

Terry - Great. I think you’ll be pleased you did.
rick maurer Says:
July 5th, 2007 at 11:20 am

Tom -
A few years ago, many people afilaited with religious institutions started signing up for my newsletter on change. Since I don’t refer to religious institutions specifically, I assume that they must see some connection between their organizations and my thoughts on change. Either that, or they are taking pity on my soul:)
Rick