Intuitively Leading Change: Completing a Kinesiology Department-to-School Transformation using Kotter’s 8-Stage Change Model

Abstract

Kinesiology is one of the fastest growing and expanding majors regarding student enrollment. As a result, Kinesiology academic units are having to implement organizational changes. This study describes the steps taken during a Kinesiology department-to-school academic unit transformation at a mid-sized public university located in Southwest United States. Qualitative research methodology included a walking interview with the change agent, an Associate Dean and Professor of Kinesiology. After transcribing the interview verbatim and conducting data analysis deductive coding,we found that the efforts made during the change process followed John Kotter"s Eight Stage Process for Change model. It is important to note that the change agent was unaware of the Kotter"s change management model prior to the current study. Therefore, this study is particularly important because it not only contributes to existing literature on Kotter"s model, but also reveals that Kotter"s change management process was in fact intuitive. This article concludes with a call for future research on the intuitiveness of Kotter"s change process and encourages Kinesiology leaders and change agents to look to change management models for theoretical and practical guidance.

Utilization of Kotter’s Stages and Statistical Process Control to Implement and Sustain Delirium Screening in PICU

“…Kotter’s principles can be adapted to different environments and are suitable for microsystem changes by frontline leaders like our project. 11 As seen with prior reports, 24 this project utilized Kotter’s principles as a guide map rather than a strict recipe. Kotter’s model provides limited guidance concerning influencing people with resistance to change or changing people’s behavior.…”

“…While there are multiple models of change management, 23 we utilized Kotter’s principles in this project as we find them intuitive and scholarly adaptive. 11,24 A recent systematic review identified 38 published QI projects on change management, 19 (50%) utilized Kotter’s principles. Kotter’s principles can be adapted to different environments and are suitable for microsystem changes by frontline leaders like our project.…”