Traditional approaches to organizational change generally follow a linear, rational
model in which the focus is on controllability under the stewardship of a strong
leader or ‘guiding coalition’. The underlying assumption of this classical
approach, ever popular among change consultants, is that organizational change
involves a series of predictable, reducible steps that can be planned and
managed (Collins, 1998). The evidence from case studies of failed change
implementations indicates, however, that this uni-dimensional, rational focus is limited because it treats change as a single, momentary disturbance that must be
stabilized and controlled. Such a view fails not only to appreciate that change is a
natural phenomenon which is intimately entwined with continuity but, also, that
the change-continuity continuum is what defines organizations and their ability
both to exploit and explore. Change and continuity represent competing but complementary
narratives, bringing in ambiguity and novelty to destabilize as well as
validate existing organizational routines.