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ISE Managing Organizational Change: A Multiple Perspectives Approach
Managing Organizational A Multiple Perspectives Approach , 4e, by Palmer, Dunford, and Buchanan, offers managers a multiple perspectives approach to managing change, which recognizes the variety of ways to facilitate change and reinforces the need for a tailored and creative approach to fit different contexts. The fourth edition offers timely updates to previous content, while introducing new and emerging trends, developments, themes, debates, and practices.
- GenresBusiness
928 pages, Paperback
Published March 8, 2021
3 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Ian Palmer
74 booksIan Palmer is a highly experienced digital artist. A graduate in 3D design, he currently works as Art Director for a leading UK games developer.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 27, 2025
The book Managing Organizational Change: A Multiple Perspectives Approach by Ian Palmer, Richard Dunford, and David A. Buchanan is a widely used graduate-level textbook that explores the complexities of organizational change through a variety of theoretical lenses. I recently completed reading this as it was our required textbook for a course on strategy implementation that is part of the Professional MBA program I am currently pursuing.
For a textbook, it is an above average read, and for me, that is relatively high praise. The book is structured around the premise that no single approach to change management fits all situations which earns its overall credibility. (Which is the best approach? Well . . . the one that works.) Instead, it presents multiple perspectives to help managers and students understand and navigate change in diverse organizational contexts. These perspectives include:
1. Director Perspective – Change is a controllable process; managers are in charge of driving it.
2. Navigator Perspective – Managers steer change but must adapt to organizational dynamics.
3. Caretaker Perspective – Change is largely shaped by external forces; managers have limited control.
4. Coach Perspective – Focuses on shaping values and culture to enable change.
5. Interpreter Perspective – Managers help others make sense of change.
6. Nurturer Perspective – Change emerges unpredictably; managers foster conditions for it to evolve.
Each chapter applies these perspectives to different aspects of change, such as diagnosing change, implementing strategies, managing resistance, and sustaining momentum. I like how the authors have been keeping the book updated regularly including content on digital transformation, agile methods, and post-pandemic organizational shifts.
I can see why the book is well-regarded in graduate business and management programs for its:
• Analytical depth: It encourages critical thinking by comparing and contrasting different change models.
• Practical relevance: Real-world examples and case studies make it applicable to current organizational challenges.
• Pedagogical support: It includes instructor resources, test banks, and interactive tools for classroom use.
As a student and a professional, it helps me move beyond a one-size-fits-all mindset and equips me with a flexible toolkit for managing change.
Originally published here: https://executingorder66.wordpress.co...
For a textbook, it is an above average read, and for me, that is relatively high praise. The book is structured around the premise that no single approach to change management fits all situations which earns its overall credibility. (Which is the best approach? Well . . . the one that works.) Instead, it presents multiple perspectives to help managers and students understand and navigate change in diverse organizational contexts. These perspectives include:
1. Director Perspective – Change is a controllable process; managers are in charge of driving it.
2. Navigator Perspective – Managers steer change but must adapt to organizational dynamics.
3. Caretaker Perspective – Change is largely shaped by external forces; managers have limited control.
4. Coach Perspective – Focuses on shaping values and culture to enable change.
5. Interpreter Perspective – Managers help others make sense of change.
6. Nurturer Perspective – Change emerges unpredictably; managers foster conditions for it to evolve.
Each chapter applies these perspectives to different aspects of change, such as diagnosing change, implementing strategies, managing resistance, and sustaining momentum. I like how the authors have been keeping the book updated regularly including content on digital transformation, agile methods, and post-pandemic organizational shifts.
I can see why the book is well-regarded in graduate business and management programs for its:
• Analytical depth: It encourages critical thinking by comparing and contrasting different change models.
• Practical relevance: Real-world examples and case studies make it applicable to current organizational challenges.
• Pedagogical support: It includes instructor resources, test banks, and interactive tools for classroom use.
As a student and a professional, it helps me move beyond a one-size-fits-all mindset and equips me with a flexible toolkit for managing change.
Originally published here: https://executingorder66.wordpress.co...
Displaying 1 of 1 review