Seeking Continuity Amidst Organizational Change A Storytelling Approach

摘要

Organizational change often focuses on present problems or on future goals and aspirations. The expe- rience described here reminded me of the danger of separating the present and future from the past and of the potency of discovering organizational continuity. A focus and infatuation with "newness" can lead managers and consultants to deny the organizational past. But organizational members don't forget the past, and as humans we all need some connection between the realities of past, present, and future. In many organizations, change has become so taken for granted that managing it no longer requires substantial courage or leadership. In contrast, managing continuity―linking the past, present, and future to help others make sense of current changes and/or future aspirations―requires patient, insightful, and enlightened leadership. My belief is that when faced with risk and uncertainty, it is no longer sufficient for leaders, managers, and change agents to proclaim the need for change, but rather they must foster and develop continuity in an ever-changing world.