Taxonomies of Organizational Change: Literature Review and Analysis

In 1988, personality and effectiveness data were collected from a sample of 105 organisational development consultants. A model was developed of the relationship between OD consultants′ personality characteristics and their effectiveness as change agents. The present study provides validation for that model by studying the same personality characteristics in a sample with slightly differing demographics. The question was tested statistically by using the regression equation from the sample used in 1988 to predict the dependent variable (consultant effectiveness) in this study′s sample.

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The Facilitation of Organizational Change: An Empirical Study of Factors Predicting Change Agents' Effectiveness

Hamilton

1988

The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science

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This article presents the results of an investigation of whether the personality characteristics and behavioral tendencies of effective organization development (OD) consultants differ significantly from those of less effective ones. From an extensive review of the literature by the author and a panel of three judges, three categories of characteristics were derived for testing: openness and responsiveness to others' needs and concerns, comfort with ambiguity and the ability to make sense of it, and comfort with oneself in relation to others. The study subjects, 105 OD consultants in the U.S. Navy, completed three personality instruments. Peers, fellow consulting team members, and superiors of these consultants (also OD consultants) also rated the subjects' consulting effectiveness. Multivariate analyses showed a strong, significant relationship between consultant effectiveness and the characteristics assigned to the three categories. The results strongly support the hypotheses that the personality characteristics and individual tendencies of effective OD consultants differ significantly from those of less effective consultants.

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Taxonomies of Organizational Change: Literature Review and Analysis

Cited by 4 publications

References 65 publications

Organizational Change in Human Service Organizations: A Review and Content Analysis

Organizational Change in Human Service Organizations: A Review and Content Analysis

A Test of the Validity of a Model of the Prerequisites of Effective Organisational Consulting

The Facilitation of Organizational Change: An Empirical Study of Factors Predicting Change Agents' Effectiveness

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