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Chapter 16

The contextual features of change

Balogun and Hope Hailey suggest that there are a number of contextual features that
should be considered before an implementation approach (for example a style of
leadership) for the change is determined:

Contextual feature E.g. participative vs coercive approaches

 time A coercive approach is needed when time is short (and vice
versa – which applies to all of these contextual features)

 scope A participative approach is best when the scope is small
and has little strategic impact

 preservation A participative approach is best when staff are hard to
replace

 diversity A participative approach is best suited to situations where
few staff types are impacted

 capability A participative approach can be used when staff are good
decision makers

 capacity If staff have had experience of successful past changes
then a participative approach can be used

 readiness If change is unexpected a more coercive approach may be
needed

 power If staff hold lot of power a participative approach will be
needed

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