Orange Theories
Kim Lewin
(1951) set out the need for this tniderstanding attic arganintion in its
COVill:MIAIIMAL, He argued that any single event was the result
A multiple factors, and these were interdependent An organization and its environment makes up a field - Events on the boundary of the field, as well as within the field, are crucial and linked factors, The ineimal ClIti can be sparked off by individuals, groups, sneirileoesal, political, governmental, technological, economic or educational developments, and conflicts. The forces of change are therefore external and internal. Field theory SAMS that phenomena should be ettainined in their entirety. Innovation is seen as the result of the action of a number of forces within the organization's systems, and calla fiat an 'Jade/standing of the organization as a whole. Lewin also propounded some ideas of value in any consideration of the change process and models, and NM
Ate dealt with in Chapters 5 and b. Gestalt philosophy also offers something to our understanding of the theory behind change management, Wertheimer ( I 959)1, an early protagonist of the theory, had much to say about problem -solving. This techniqwe is itself part of change management, andhis problem -solving process is a goad general guide in
change =magma.* procedures. By developing a holistic view, Wertheimer argued that:
A new, deeper stmetwral Niew of ibe situation develops, „ Directed by what is required by
the structure of a situation for a crucial region, one is led to a reasonable prediction, which
like the other pans a the structure, calls for 1.erificationi, direct or indirect. Two directions
are involved: getting a whale consistent pietism, and seeing whim the sinsetare of the whole requires for the parts Gestalt theory advocates:
• Adopting a problem -solving approach to change
• Identifying the real issum beneath the surface
• Working to develop insights
• Establishing new ways of thinking about change, and shout specific problems
•Treating change management as a learning process.
This approach is related to the question of open and closed
change projects discussed earlier in this chapti-r. The project to introduce e -books into a library was treated closed project. A problem -solving approach would have turned it into art open project,and asked questi,on% about what would be the best way to deliver digital information to users. It would have raised issues which were below the surface, for example to do with the hybrid nature of libraries and consequently the beat way of organizing
servioes. To make the proposed change productive would have required LA broad
environmental knowledge, an awareness of related issues, and the involvement of a
larger group of staff than was needed merely to implement an e -hooks serviee. in the
literature this process is sometimes called framing. Ellis (1938) provides more