Abstract
This paper suggests that an induction of change program leads to atemporary impairment of organizational performance. A System Dynamics Modelportrays the process of planned organizational change. A set of keyvariables that facilitate or impede change is identified, quantified, andintegrated into the model. Three data sets, reproduced by simulation,demonstrate that the model is internally consistent and empiricallyadequate. The paper discusses theoretical and practical implications of the‘initial dip’ phenomenon in processes of planned change.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bar-Nahor, R. (1996), Introducing an Information System as a Process of Directed Organizational Change, Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Beckhard, R. and W. Prichard (1992), Changing the Essence. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Cushman, D.P. and S.S. King (Eds.) (1995), Communicating Organizational Change: A Management Perspective. New York: State University of New York Press.
Cyert, R.M. and J.G. March (1963), A Behavioral Theory of the Firm. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Daft, R.H. (1995), Organization Theory and Design. 5th edition. St. Paul, MN: West.
Downs, A. (1967), Inside Bureaucracy. Boston: Brown, Little.
Eisenhardt, K.M. (1989), "Making Fast Strategic Decisions in High-Velocity Environments," Academy of Management Journal, 32, 543–576.
Forrester, J.W. (1961), Industrial Dynamics. Cambridge, MA: M.I.T. Press.
Galbraith, J. (1977), Organization Design. Reading, MA: Harvard University Press.
Greiner, L.E. (1992), "Resistance to Change During Restructuring," Journal of Management Inquiry, 1, 61–65.
Hannan, M.T. and J. Freeman (1984), "Structural Inertia and Organizational Change," American Sociological Review, 4, 149–164.
Hopwood, A.G. (1979), "Towards the Economic Assessment of New Forms of Work Organization," in C.L. Cooper and E. Manford (Eds.), The Quality of Working Life in Western and in Eastern Europe. Greenwood: New York.
Huber, G.P. and W.H. Glick (Eds.) (1995), Organizational Change and Redesign. New York: Oxford University Press.
Huber, G.P., K.M. Sutcliffe, C.C. Miller and W.H. Glick (1995), "Understanding and Predicting Organizational Change," in G.P. Huber and W.H. Glick (Eds.), Organizational Change and Redesign. New York: Oxford University Press.
Jacobsen, C. and R. Bronson (1985), Simulating Violators. Baltimore, MD: Operational Research Society of America.
Johnes, E.A. (1973), The Sociology of Organizational Change. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press.
Kimberely, J.R. (1984), Managing Organizational Transitions. Homewood, IL: Irwin.
Lant, T.K. (1992), "Aspiration Level Adaptation: An Empirical Exploration," Management Science, 38, 623–644.
Lant, T.K. and S.J. Mezias (1992), "An Organizational Learning Model of Convergence and Reorientation," Organization Science, 3, 47–71.
Lawler, L.L. (1986), High Involvement Management. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Lawrence, P.R. and J.W. Lorsch (1967), Organization and Environment. Boston, MA: Harvard University Press.
Levinthal, D. (1991), "Organizational Adaptation and Environmental Selection: Interrelated Processes of Change," Organization Science, 2, 140–145.
Levinthal, D. and J.G. March (1981), "A Model of Adaptive Organizational Search," Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization,2, 307–333.
Levitt, B. and J.G. March (1988), "Organizational Learning," Annual Review of Sociology, 14, 319–340.
Lin, Z. and K.M. Carley (1995), "DYCORP: A Computational Framework for Examining Organizational Performance Under Dynamic Conditions," Journal of Mathematical Sociology, 20, 193–218.
Lin, Z. and K.M. Carley (1997), "Organizational Response: The Cost of Performance Tradeoff," Management Science, 43, 217–234.
March, J.G. (1981), "Footnotes on Organizational Change," Administrative Science Quarterly, 26, 463–477.
March, J.G. and H.J. Simon (1958), Organizations. New York: Wiley & Sons.
Marrow, A.J., D.G. Bowers and S.E. Seashore (1967), Management by Participation. New York: Harper & Row.
McWinney, W. (1992), Paths of Change: Strategic Choices for Organizations and Societies. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Miller, D. and P. Friesen (1980), "Archetypes of Organizational Transition," Administrative Science Quarterly, 25, 463–477.
Mirvis, P.M. and B.A. Macy (1983), "Evaluating Programs Costs and Benefits," in S.E. Seashore et al. (Eds.) Assessing Organizational Change, New York: Wiley & Sons.
Quinn, R.E. and K.S. Cameron (Eds.) (1988), Paradox and Change: Toward a Theory of Change in Organization and Management. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger.
Tichy, N.M. (1983), Managing Strategic Change. New York: Wiley & Sons.
Tushman, M.L. and E. Romanelli (1985), "Organizational Evolution: A Metamorphosis Model of Convergence and Reorientation," in L.L. Cummings and B.M. Staw (Eds.), Research in Organizational Behavior, vol. 7. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Van de Ven, A.H. and S.M. Poole (1995), "Explaining Development and Change in Organizations," Academy of Management Review, 20, 510–540.
Weick, K.E. (1979), The Psychology of Organizing. 2nd edition. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Zaltman, G. and R. Duncan (1977), Strategies for Planned Change. New York: Wiley & Sons
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Samuel, Y., Jacobsen, C. A System Dynamics Model of Planned Organizational Change. Computational & Mathematical Organization Theory 3, 151–171 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009664618421
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009664618421