Page 1 Reference citation Beckhard, R. & Ha.docx

Reference citation:
Beckhard, R. & Harris, R. (1977). Organizational transitions:
Managing complex change. Boston:
Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
Note: The following are the directions about HOW to do a
Critical
Mass Analysis. The directions should NOT be included in your
Focus
Paper with Appendix.
Critical Mass
PART A
What is Critical Mass?
Critical Mass analysis addresses the involvement of key
stakeholders in a
project. It can be used at any time during the course of a

project. Critical
Mass can be particularly helpful during the start-up period of a
project when
the various relationships needed to make the project successful
are
beginning to take shape.
Doing a Critical Mass analysis requires explicit and conscious
identification of
the various organizational stakeholders who are already
connected to the
project in some way and identifying those who need to be
connected. Once
this has occurred the work shifts to carefully assessing each
actor’s current
level of involvement with the project. This assessment is based
on four
different ways of relating to the project that range from being
highly
influential to having nothing to do with it.
The labels for these different levels of influence and
involvement are: Make
it happen, Let it happen, Help it happen and Not Involved.

How is it done?
The analysis proceeds by completing a grid in which each
person’s current
level of involvement is identified by placing an “O” in the
appropriate cell. In
addition, the level of involvement that would help most to make
the project
successful is represented by placing an “X” in the relevant cell.
Then, the
work shifts to developing a strategy for each stakeholder whose
“O”, current
involvement, and “X”, desired involvement, are different.
What this amounts to is carefully considering the situation of
such a
stakeholder and formulating a negotiating strategy to create a
win/win
solution for the stakeholder and the project resulting in the
desired level of
involvement.

What is involved?
It is not unusual for someone who has never done a Critical
Mass analysis to
feel quite self-conscious and even worried that the purpose of
such an
analysis is manipulation. This is decidedly not the case.
Power and influence are, without exception, an omnipresent
dimension of
every organization. It takes power and influence to get anything
done,
including maintaining what is. Since everyone, including the
leader(s) of a
project, are embedded in the organizational system, exerting
some form of
influence is inescapable! Critical Mass makes the relationships
that are or will
influence a project explicit. And, it makes it possible to use
influence in a
way that is positive for the stakeholder and the project.

This is a far cry from self-centered influence seeking to create
conditions
that benefit only one side of the relationship. There is a large
body of
literature addressing how to negotiate in a way that is beneficial
to both
parties. Perhaps the most famous example of this form of
negotiations is
Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher, Bruce Patton and William Ury
(1992) and the
workbook that followed, Getting Ready to Negotiate by Roger
Fisher and
Danny Ertel (1995). Since then, many additional articles and
books have
been published on this topic.
Critical Mass analysis can be done by a single an individual or
by several. At
the beginning of a project it can be helpful in working through
how to launch
a project. Later, it can be used any time the project shifts to a
different
phase of work and the cast of stakeholders will, or needs to
change.

Directions for Completing a Critical Mass Grid
1. The first step is to think carefully about the time period you
want to use
for this analysis and then be sure you use it consistently
throughout this
Critical Mass analysis.
2. Specify the names and positions of the relevant stakeholders
in the first
and second column on the left side of the grid.
a. Think carefully about who should be included on this list.
These are the
people currently involved in the project or not yet involved but
need to
be.
b. List a single actor by name and position on each row.
Page 3
3. Identify the current involvement to each stakeholder by
placing a large

“O” in the cell representing one of the four levels of influence.
The four levels
of involvement and influence are:
—Is very involved in the project, influencing
the
evolution of it.
—Provides resources (ideas, time & effort,
equipment
or logistical support.)
—Is aware of and approves of the project
without being
directly involved or directing the course it takes.
t Involved—Does not influence the project.
4. Repeat the same process but this time place an “X” in the
appropriate cell
that represent the desired level of involvement of the particular
stakeholder.
a. You may find that the current level of involvement and the
desired
level are the same. If this happens simply put the “X” in the
middle of

the “O” to show this relationship.
5. In those cases where the “O” and the “X” are in different
cells, draw an
arrow that starts at the current level, the “O” and extends to the
“X”, the
desired level.
6. For every instance where there is an arrow, you will need to
develop a
win/win negotiating strategy to change the current level of
involvement
to the desired level. Record your strategies on the following
pages.
a. Rather than a highly detailed statement, put only the most
important
highlights of your win/win strategy in the form.
b. Although you may see some similarities, avoid lumping
stakeholders
together and develop a specific strategy for each.
Note: Complete Critical Mass Part B before continuing beyond
this
point.

Critical Mass
PART B
Project (or Function or Task):
__________________________________
Involvement
O = Current level
X = Desired level
Critical Mass Grid
ROLE:
Make it
Happen
Help it
Happen

Let it
Happen
Not
Involved
Name Position
There should be ONE “X” and ONE “O” per person.
You only need to complete the rest of this form if the “X” and
the “O” are not in the same box.
Page 5
Preparing to Negotiate: Key Ideas and Notes
Stakeholder: Name
Position:

Interests: (Clarify what the other’s obvious
and not so obvious interests are:
Options:(Create ways to meet interests and
maximize joint gains).
Alternatives if agreement is not
possible: (My best alternative resolution
and alternatives available to the other.).
Self-Preparation: (Question assumptions
about the other and identify what to listen
for.)

Relationship: (Separate the person from
the issues and build ways to restate
proposals to help other understand.)
Commitments: (Spell-out the issues to be
included in agreement and plan the steps
involved in the agreement.)
Stakeholder: Name
Position:

for.)

Stakeholder: Name
Position:

for.)
Stakeholder: Name
Position:

for.)

Page 7
Stakeholder: Name
Position:

for.)

Stakeholder: Name
Position:

for.)

Stakeholder: Name
Position:

for.)
Stakeholder: Name
Position:

for.)

CRITICAL MASS ANALYSIS
2
Critical Mass Analysis
Unit 2
Student Name
Kaplan University
GM505 Action Research and Consulting Skills
Professor Name
Date
Running head: CRITICAL MASS ANALYSIS
1
CRITICAL MASS ANALYSIS
8

Write one or two paragraphs introducing this phase of the action
research process. A critical mass analysis focuses the action
research facilitator on the process of building their inquiry team
by choosing the best participants (stakeholders) who are closest
to the problem that needs changing. Briefly summarize why we
must do a Critical Mass Analysis when we do an action research
project. APA formatting is required. Do not include the
assignment’s directions within the final submission.
Roles and Involvement
There are (spell out the number of) stakeholders involved in this
action research project as indicated in the Critical Mass Grid
(Appendix). Describe the inquiry team participants, their roles
and their current and desired levels of involvement in your
action research project.
Application of Cultural Literary
A key outcome of this course is to apply cultural literacy in a
professional environment. Write here, in one to two paragraphs,
a description of how your own cultural literacy in appreciating
the diversity of stakeholders would add value to the
professional environment in the action research process.
Reflection on Critical Mass Analysis Phase
Write here, in one to two paragraphs, what you learned from
completing this phase of the process.
Conclusion
Summarize the paper.
References
Stringer, E. T. (2014). Action research (4th ed.). Los Angeles,
CA: Sage Publications.
Appendix
Critical Mass Grid

Action Research Project: _____________________
Involvement
O = Current level
X = Desired level
Critical Mass Grid
ROLE:
Make it Happen
Help it Happen
Let it Happen
Not Involved
Name
Position

· Note: the Negotiation portion of this Form needs to be
completed for those Inquiry Team members whose Desired
Level is different from their Current Level (their “X” and their
“O” are in different boxes). If the X and the O are in the same
box, above, then you do not need to complete the negotiation
form because you have no need to negotiate a change in the
level of involvement in your action research project.
· Note: be sure that each and every person has one “X” and one
“O” and ONLY one “X” and one “O”. One X and One O per
person. Every person needs One X and One O.

Stakeholder: Name
Position:
Interests: (Clarify what the other’s obvious and not so obvious
interests are:
Options:(Create ways to meet interests and maximize joint
gains).
Alternatives if agreement is not possible: (My best alternative
resolution and alternatives available to the other.).
Self-Preparation: (Question assumptions about the other and
identify what to listen for.)
Relationship: (Separate the person from the issues and build
ways to restate proposals to help other understand.)
Commitments: (Spell-out the issues to be included in agreement

and plan the steps involved in the agreement.)
Stakeholder: Name
Position:
interests are:
gains).

Stakeholder: Name
Position:
interests are:
gains).

Unit 2 GM 505 Action Research and Consulting Skills
Page 1 of 3

Unit 2 Assignment 1: Details and Rubric
Action Research Project – Critical Mass Analysis
Stringer (2014) reminds us that, “the task of the community-
based action researcher is to develop a
context in which individuals and groups with divergent
perceptions and interpretations can formulate a
construction of their situation that makes sense to them all – a
joint construction” (p. 75). W ith this in
mind, you will have an opportunity to apply your own cultural
literacy in this assignment as you
demonstrate a professional way to bring people together.
In this Assignment, you are to complete a critical mass analysis.
Getting clear about who the
important actors are, at what level they need to be involved in
the Action Research project and what,
if anything, needs to be done to increase or reduce each
person’s involvement, especially when you
do not have the formal authority to require change, are
important considerations from the first to the
last moments of an AR project. Try to make your assessments as

accurate as possible.
You may find yourself feeling uncomfortable when you are
preparing your Critical Mass Analysis. Few
people take the time to consciously consider the roles that
various stakeholders have in the situation
they face. Instead, they proceed in a piecemeal way, trying to
minimize some people's involvement
and increase involvement of others, without ever looking at the
larger picture.
This Critical Mass Assignment asks you to look at the whole set
of key members of the organization
that will shape your action research project. It calls for you to
consider their present level of
involvement and the level of involvement that would be most
productive. In some cases this will mean
seeking to get a person more involved. In other cases you may
the person to be less involved. Or,
you may want to ensure the person maintains her or his current
level of involvement.
As a tool to help you increase the odds of your project being
successf ul, you will be completing a
Critical Mass Analysis form. By doing this, you will be
clarifying how you want key stakeholders to be
involved in your project and developing strategies to create the
conditions you need.
Your job is to review carefully the position of the key
stakeholders who are or will influence the course

of your action research project, brainstorm strategies to insure
they are effectively related to the
project.
In this Assignment, you will be assessed on the following
outcome:
GM505-5: Apply cultural literacy in personal and professional
environments.
Page 2 of 3
Assignment Requirements
The Critical Mass Analysis has two parts:
1. Part 1–The Critical Mass Grid and the Negotiation form. The
Critical Mass Grid should be
completed for all identified stakeholders in your action research
project. There needs to be an
X and O for each stakeholder. If a change of level is needed for
a stakeholder then you need
to complete the negotiation form for them. Refer to the “Critical
Mass Analysis Directions”
for further instructions and examples.

2. Part 2– Please use the “Critical Mass Analysis Assignment
Template” to complete a 2–
page APA formatted paper, describing your plan and the
commentary on what you learned
from the process. Do not include the directions on how to
complete a Critical Mass Analysis
within your final submission.
Assignment Checklist:
Your sources and content should
follow proper APA format. Refer to the Academic Tools tab to
gain information related to
Writing Support. The W riting Center will provide you with
helpful tips on using the APA style of
writing.
specific examples where asked.
ur paper should provide a clearly established and sustained
viewpoint and purpose.
well as original and insightful.

been captured in the paper.
Directions for Submitting Your Assignment
Submit your Assignment: [Focus Paper plus Critical Mass Grid
(and Negotiation Form if you have
people moving from a current to a desired level)] to the Unit 2:
Assignment 1: Action Research
Project – Critical Mass Analysis Dropbox by midnight ET
Tuesday of this unit.
GM505 Unit 2: Assignment 1: Action Research Project –
Content and Analysis
Possible
Points
Points
Earned
http://extmedia.kaplan.edu/business/GM505/1507D/Critical_Ma
ss_Analysis_Directions.pdf
http://extmedia.kaplan.edu/business/GM505/1507D/Critical_Ma
ss_Analysis_Assignment_Template.docx

of 3
Content: review of inquiry team participants and their
involvement in this
phase of the action research process.
15
Application of Cultural Literary: Describe how your own
cultural literacy
in appreciating the diversity of stakeholders would add value to
the
professional environment in the action research process.
15
Completion of Critical Mass Grid and/or Negotiation Form. 15
Writing Skills
Composition, grammar, clarity, and APA 6th style and
formatting. 10
LATE Paper Deduction -X
Total Points Earned 55
Grade/Percentage Earned 100%

Running head: ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT
6
Action Research Project Proposal
Richard K. Hairston
GM505
Action Research and Consulting Skills
7/18/2017
Dr. Heidi Gregory-Mina
Action Research project
Topic identification
The purpose of this paper is to make out the topic and receive
authorization from the professor. Doing my flexible open mind
research and brain storming on the background research of topic
discussion, I decided to discuss a major Problem within the
Montana Department of Veterans Affairs that has affected the
entire organization on a national level.. Veterans of this country
have continuously suffered from problems originating from the
department of veterans affairs (Miller, 2012). The veterans
during their time of service worked with diligence and
patriotism to the country. The action research system approach
will be utilized to gain information, data, and conduct
interviews to determine possible answers with solutions to the
research topic. veterans.
Research topic question
In the identification of the problem faced by veterans living in
Montana, I identified one question that continues to be the
number one problem: Why does it take so long to get an
appointment within the primary care clinics at Veterans Affairs

(VA) medical treatment facility in Helena Montana. I will
internal access to unlimted sources as I will be working in the
Veterans Affairs regional hospital in my new position with the
organization called a Medical Support Assistant. My inquiry
team will consist of the various Medical Support Assistants that
deal with the patients appointments, and I will facilitate the
interaction with the veterans, to the doctors, to upper
management.
Roles and involvement
The main stakeholder in the affairs of the veterans is not just
the government, but it’s the Veteran seeking treatment.. The
Veteran is suffering from not being able to seek medical
treatment in a timely manner, and its limited to healthcare
opinions due expensive expensive insurance plans.
Another stakeholder the personnel who are always in direct
contact with the veterans on a delay basis. That would be
people such as myself ( the patient reperesentive/ customer
service rep). Medical Support Assistants, Nurses, doctors and
community care coordinators will take a major in this action
research to collaborate on the question at hand, and also find
answers.
Last stakeholder would the external facilities and organizations,
such as local treatment clinics, hospitals, and healthcare billing
offices that will be affected by change of business practices.
Synthesizing Multiple Measures
Regarding the data collection method, the team decides to use a
range of information that would make us get relevant
information with patient waiting times to actual appointment,
Looking at Phyiscan to patient ratio, and the Cost effectiveness
of treating Veterans outside the spectrum of the Department of
Affairs.
Reference
Miller, T. W. (2012). The Praeger handbook of veterans' health:

History, challenges, issues, and developments. Santa Barbara,
Calif: Praeger.
.

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