Organizational Change Theories

Christiane Demers is a Professor in the Department of Management at HEC Montreal, where she has been teaching courses on organizational change theories, strategic change management and strategy for more than 15 years. She holds a Ph.D. in administration from HEC Montreal and received her M.Sc. in communication from University of Montreal. Her research focuses on organizational transformation, with particular emphasis on its links with strategic dynamics and communication processes. Another topic of interest is the evolution of the field of organizational change. She has published, both individually and collaboratively, a number of books and journal articles on these subjects, mostly in French, and has presented her work at conferences such as the Academy of Management and the Strategic Management Society.

Introduction The Field of organizational Change: An Historical Account Focus of the book Organization of the book Part I Adaptation or Selection? Do Organizations Really Change? Chapter 1 - Adaptation and Growth Perspective Rational Adaptation Approaches Organic Adaptation Approach Life Cycle Approach Chapter 2 - Selection and Imitation Perspective Population Ecology The "New" Institutionalism A Look for the Outside Part II - Transformation or Evolution? Is Transformation Always Revolutionary? Chapter 3 - the Configuration Approach Momentum and Revolution: The Punctuated Equilibrium Model Design Archetypes: From Punctuated Equilibrium to Theories of Stability and Change Chapter 4 - The Cognitive Approach Organizational Change as Reframing Reframing as a Change of Knowledge Stucture Reframing as a Social Interaction Process Chapter 5 - The Cultural Approach Culture and Change: Functionalist and Interpretive Perspectives Cultural Change Processes Differentiation Studies Fragmentation Studies Chapter 6 - The Political Approach Power and Change: From Resistance to Renewal A Look From Above Part III - Natural Evolution or Social Dynamics? How do Organizations Renew Themselves? Chapter 7 - The Natural Evolution Perspective The Behavioural Learning Approach The Evolutionary Approach The Complexity Approach Chapter 8 - The Social Dynamics Perspective The Radical and Postmodern Approaches Discourse About Change Discourse Changing Over Time Change as Practical and Social Performance Looking to Change From the Inside Conclusion Looking for an Elusive Object Culmination or Dissolution?

"Demers gives a unique guided tour of the field of organisational change providing readers with a historically framed, comprehensive synthesis of organisational change thoeries." -- Times of India * Times of India * "Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through faculty collections." -- M.L. Nathan * Choice * "An outstanding review and synthesis of The Theoretical and empirical literature." -- Thomas M. Young, Ph.D.