cameron and green making-sense-of-change-management

Cultural changedo these changes have to be communicated clearly, they also have tobe followed by the necessary skills development and induction.• Organizations do not change by themselves – not at the speed that isnormally required in this world of ever-increasing demands. Themomentum is generated first by leadership and then by followership.Leaders at all levels within the organization have to have clarity ofpurpose, the relevant leadership skills and knowledge to deploy andto see themselves as leading from the middle, with the organizationand its stakeholders all around them. Top team alignment is alsocrucial in times of change.Case study descriptionA large local authority was not functioning as efficiently or as effectivelyas it wanted. It was not being fully responsive to the needs of its citizensor its various communities of interest. We conducted an organizationalanalysis of the city council to find out what was helping the councilachieve its stated outcomes and what was getting in the way of this. Theanalysis consisted of interviews with directors and strategic managers,and focus groups with middle managers and front-line staff. Leadingpoliticians of all political persuasions were interviewed. A number of keystakeholders such as citizens’ panels, partnerships and the trade unionswere also involved. Our report highlighted six interrelated areas in whichthe council needed to significantly improve its overall effectiveness andthereby reduce internal and external pressure.The commitment, talent and effort of all those we met were impressive.Many people from front-line workers to the most senior politicians andofficers were enthusiastic about the city and what the council mightcontribute to its life and development. There were clearly many verygood services being offered to the city. However, at the same time therewas a strong feeling at all levels of untapped potential. The council’s energieswere being dissipated through not having a true focus.The emerging themes are outlined below and illustrated in Figure 7.1Continually increasing customer and citizen focusThe passion to deliver the best possible service to both external andinternal customers, colleagues and partners was variable, with many263