2007 Summaries of Wildlife Research Findings - Minnesota State ...

changing conditions, it will be important to understand and accept that individuals are at
different stages along this continuum.
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Bryson (2004) advises that organizations need to respond to dramatic changes or
challenges in order to “survive, prosper and do good and important work.” Organizational
responses to challenges range from maintaining the status quo, maintaining previous approaches
but increasing the intensity or volume of work, to shifting focus and strategies, or a combination
of the latter 2. Organizational responses to dramatic and rapid changes can produce anxiety and
decrease effectiveness in accomplishing the organization’s mission. To be successful in
realizing its mission, vision, and goals, an organization must also be aware of and manage these
periods of transition.
Managing organizational change has been described as an 8-step process (Kotter 1996).
The initial 4 steps focus on revisiting the status quo and energizing the organization around a
new vision. The last 4 steps move the organization to the desired state, implements new
practices, and reinforces changes in the organizational culture (Figure 2). A first step for
Minnesota DNR was creating a Wildlife Climate Change Working Group to guide the Division
of Fish and Wildlife in describing climate change in Minnesota, its effects on wildlife species
and habitat, and the development of wildlife management and monitoring actions needed to
respond to this unprecedented wildlife management challenge. The recommendations in this
report begin to articulate a vision and strategies for conserving wildlife populations and habitats
in the face of changing climate conditions.
4.2. Vision statement
As presented in Kotter’s step 3 (Kotter 1996; Figure 2 here), creating a shared vision of a
desirable future is a critical aspect of organizational change. Costanza (2000) discussed the
importance of visioning in the context of conserving natural resources. The Wildlife Climate
Change Working Group believes that communicating a clear vision and establishing a shared
vision within the Section of Wildlife (or higher level within MNDNR) about climate change is
important. We suggest the following vision statement to help guide the Section of Wildlife’s
approach to climate change: