Modernisation in the corridors of power

Abstract

Local authorities are currently undergoing one of the biggest periods of organisational change in their entire history. The drivers are twofold; legislation from central government and a need to be more accountable to their electorate and what is more, the timescale is extremely aggressive. Change is one of the most disruptive processes that any organisation can go through and one of the biggest traps in managing change is underestimating the resistance of the people whom the change affects. Involving people in the planning and implementation process reduces the risk of resistance and offers them a sense of control over the transformation taking place. States recent research conducted with some of the UK's leading County Councils shows that implementing an effective change management strategy can dramatically reduce the time and cost of transition. It will also result in a stronger, more focussed and more cohesive organisation.

Citation

Owen, G.C. (2004), "Modernisation in the corridors of power", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 36 No. 5, pp. 200-202. https://doi.org/10.1108/00197850410548585