This document discusses different levels of organizational change, including individual, organizational, and societal change. It notes that all change starts with the individual, as organizational change can only occur if people voluntarily change their own behavior and ways of coordinating. Societal change then happens as people and organizations change. The levels of change are interconnected, as organizational change requires individuals making personal decisions to join in, and social evolution is impacted as organizations and individuals transform their missions and actions. Collective action through individuals each doing what they can within their sphere of influence is key to driving major change.

1. 8/9/2017
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Overview of
Organizational Change
Levels (scale)
of Change
(individual, organization,
societal)
Dr. Ross Wirth
8/9/2017
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Levels (scale) of Change
• Personal Change
–all change starts with the individual
• Organizational Change
–only if people voluntarily change
their behavior and their coordinating
structure
• Societal Change
–as people and organizations change
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Fractal aspect of change
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Putting change into perspective
All change begins with one person
Virtually all good ideas build on ideas of
others
BIG things tend to be undoable.
However, great change arises from collective
action, individually doing what we can within
our area of influence.
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Dr. Ross Wirth, Professor,
www.OrgChangeDoctor.com
Building the
Future
by what you do
Today
Levels (scale) of Change – Summary
• Each of these levels of change - individual,
organizational, and social - is interconnected.
• Organizations don't change without people
making an individual decision to join the
collective change movement.
• People are changed by their daily activities and
how they see themselves creating value for the
organization.
• Society itself evolves as people and the
organizations they inhabit change in mission and
action.
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Dr. Ross Wirth
6/18/2016