Transformational Leaderhip and Org Change
Transformational Leaderhip and Org Change
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the fact that change, by definition, requires creating a new system and then institutionalizing the
new approaches. While change management depends on leadership to be enacted, to date there
has been little integration of these two bodies of literature. Thus, the purpose of this article is to
draw parallels between the change literature and the leadership literature; specifically, the
transformational leadership literature that is primarily concerned with the capabilities required to
enact change successfully. This is done by describing areas of convergence between the two
literatures that point to the appropriateness of transformational leadership in enacting change.
Finally, the papers in the special issue are previewed by identifying their underlying themes.
What it takes to be a leader in the 1990s and beyond is really handling change (Roberto
Goizueta, late Chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company).
Change oriented models of leadership have sustained the interest of managers
and scholars alike because of their promise of extraordinary individual and
organizational outcomes. As we move closer to the new millennium, models of
outstanding leadership such as transformational, charismatic, and visionary
leadership, which focus on organizational transformation, are likely to become
even more important to organizations because of the breathtaking changes
foreseen in the business and political environment. These include workforces
with a greater degree of demographic diversity, technological change, and
increased international competition which will place new demands on the
leaders of tomorrow (House, 1995). The importance of leadership to the change
management process is underscored by the fact that change, by definition,
requires creating a new system and then institutionalizing the new approaches
(Kotter, 1995).
While change management depends on leadership to be enacted, to date
there has been little integration of these two bodies of literature. The key role
leaders play in the change process has been noted by change theorists, yet there
is no conclusive research that focuses on this relationship between leadership
and change (Almaraz, 1994). Recent theoretical research has attempted to
integrate change as a contextual variable influencing transformational
leadership (Pawar and Eastman, 1997). Such research focuses on determining
Journal of Organizational Change
when organizations will be more receptive to transformational leadership and
Management, Vol. 12 No. 2, 1999,
pp. 80-88. # MCB University Press,
the match between receptivity level and the actual transformational leadership
0953-4814 process. However, Pawar and Eastman (1997) do not address the issue of the
capabilities of transformational leaders required to carry out the pertinent Transformational
change process. leadership
Thus, the purpose of this article is to draw parallels between the change
literature and the leadership literature; specifically, the transformational
leadership literature that is primarily concerned with the capabilities required
to enact change successfully. First, we will describe the latest literature relating
to change management. Next, we will review theories of change oriented 81
leadership. Finally, we will integrate these literatures and link them to the
articles that comprise this special issue.
Enacting change
Ford and Ford (1994) use models of logic to provide different understandings of
the change process. They argue that our understanding of organization change
will vary depending on the logic that is deployed. The logic of dialectics
emphasizes conflict or struggle as the basis for change. The conflict between
the forces for and against change are two opposing actions that ``work at each
other'' until one dominates and the resulting outcome is a synthesis that is
distinct but contains elements of the forces for and against change. This model
assumes that dissatisfaction with the status quo is necessary before change can
occur. In contrast, the logic of trialectics proposes that change occurs through
attraction. Changes do not result from ``pushes'' or pressure to move away from
the present situation, but instead result from being ``pulled'' toward or attracted
to different possibilities.
In addition to developing these models of logic, change researchers have
sought to describe other aspects involved in implementing successful change.
Brown and Eisenhardt (1997) identified three key characteristics of successful
managers in continuously changing organizations. Successful managers
provided clear responsibility and priorities with extensive communication and
freedom to improvise. Analogous to jazz improvisation, these managers created
an environment that supports intensive communication in real time, within a
structure of a few, very specific rules. The limited structure provides
framework without which there are too many degrees of freedom. Yet, these
fundamentals provide a firm backdrop against which individual members can
be creative.
A second characteristic of successful managers is exploration of the future
by experimenting with a wide variety of low-cost probes. They argue that low-
cost probes enhance learning about future possibilities. This learning
opportunity is critical because, while the future is uncertain, it is possible to Transformational
learn something about it. Learning makes it easier for leaders to anticipate and leadership
even create the future (Brown and Eisenhardt, 1997).
Third, effective managers link current projects to the future with predictable
(time-paced rather than event-paced) intervals and choreographed transition
procedures. Familiar routines are created by predictable timing and by
transition procedures that link the present to the future. They use the term 83
``links in time'' to portray explicit organizational practices that address past,
present and future time horizons and the transitions between them. Rhythms
are created that enable people to pace their work and synchronize their energies
with one another, creating a focussed flow of attention that enhances
performance. Consistent with Gersick (1991), performance is further enhanced
if the rhythm created by the transition process becomes synchronized with the
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