Changing the Way Organizations Change: A Revolution of Common Sense

This article describes the history, practical applications, and possible future of a unique and powerful technology for changing the way that organizations change: whole systems changing themselves in real time. This technology addresses several key challenges to bringing about change in large and complex organizations: (a) increased ownership of and commitment to change efforts by all interested and affected parties, (b) faster implementation of plans rather than merely leaving more "binders on shelves" at the end of the day, and (c) ongoing decisions made by organization members aligned behind the organization's overall strategic direction, thereby creating significant leverage for change. This article illustrates how groups of up to 600 people working interactively can collaborate in creating their own and their organization `s future. Two case studies demonstrate the successful application of this technology to implementing strategy and total quality management.