Organization Transformation Theorists and Practitioners: Profiles and Themes (Media and Communications; 20)

Beverly Fletcher takes an inside out look at Organization Transformation (OT). OT is a new area of theory and practice which effectively helps organizations make large-scale changes in purpose, structure, culture, and strategy. The past decade has seen rapidly changing environmental conditions which have made previously successful organizational practices ineffective. Economic, cultural, social, and political trends have combined to create a critical need for theories and practices that aid transformative changes in organizations. Fletcher's book explores this topic by studying fourteen selected theorists and practitioners of Organization Transformation. This study has implications not only for organizational behaviorists but for business firms; government agencies; and community, human services, and educational organizations who need assistance with their own transformations.

Fletcher has gathered extensive data through in-depth interviewing. She explores this new field by studying the motives and philosophical assumptions of current OT theorists and practitioners. What do they have in common that makes them an identifiable group? On what points do they differ? What do they consider as important contributions of OT? What are their predictions of OT's future impact on organizations? Fletcher focuses on her participants' organizational concepts, beliefs, values, and practices to create a fascinating profile of great use to any agency or organization.

BEVERLY R. FLETCHER is an Assistant Professor of Human Relations at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. She specializes in practical self and organization transformation and development concepts, processes, and applications. Currently, she is a member of the Western New England Organization Development Network (ODN), The Organization Transformation Network (OTN), and the National Training Laboratories (NTL).