PAPod 516 - New Ideas for Old Problems: Navigating Sustainable Change
Sep 28, 2024
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Edgar Schein, an expert in organizational culture, and Eve, a contributor to sustainable change, join the discussion on navigating complex transformations. They delve into the intricacies of implementing sustainable change and the essential role of leadership. The conversation highlights the need for tailored strategies that consider different organizational dynamics. Additionally, there’s a fresh look into risk management, inspired by experiences from a recent festival, enhancing understanding of safety culture and continuous improvement.
The podcast highlights the challenges of organizational change, emphasizing that successful implementation depends on individual willingness to embrace new ideas.
Conklin discusses Everett Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory, illustrating how different responses within an organization influence change strategies and outcomes.
Deep dives
The Impact of Weather on Festival Experience
Attendees at the Winfield Bluegrass Festival faced extreme weather conditions that alternated between intense heat and dangerous storms. This led to discussions among festival-goers about the concepts of risk and chance, particularly in relation to lightning safety. It was noted that while individuals can make choices to mitigate certain risks, such as avoiding open fields in storms, other factors often remain outside their control. The incidents highlighted served as both a cautionary tale and an opportunity to explore deeper conversations about how people perceive and manage risk in their daily lives.
Exploring Sustainable Change in Organizations
The podcast introduces a new book focused on sustainable change within organizations, outlining the challenges leaders face in facilitating this process. It emphasizes that change is inherently difficult and requires more than just strategic planning; it depends significantly on the willingness of individuals within an organization to embrace new ideas. The book, titled 'New Ideas for Old Problems,' relies on lists and summaries of researched theories rather than case studies, aiming to trigger curiosity about effective change management. A key point made is that organizations have various components that evolve at different rates, making uniform change throughout the organization unrealistic.
The Diffusion of Innovation Framework
A significant aspect of the discussion revolves around Everett Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation, which categorizes individuals in an organization based on their response to new ideas. The framework identifies innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards, providing insight into the timing and strategies needed to facilitate change effectively. Strategies suggested for managing these differing responses to new ideas include understanding that change will occur at varied speeds across a collective organization. The recognition of these distinct groups allows leaders to tailor their approaches to change initiatives, thereby enhancing the likelihood of overall acceptance and successful integration.
In this episode of the Pre-Accident Investigation Podcast, host Todd Conklin shares his recent experiences at the Winfield Bluegrass Festival, discussing the highs and lows of the event and an insightful conversation on risk and chance.
Conklin then dives into an exciting new topic: his latest book, "New Ideas for Old Problems: A Human Performance Approach to Sustainable Change." He outlines the book's unique format, focusing on practical lists and insights from experts like Edgar Schein and Everett Rogers.
The episode explores the complexities of organizational change, the importance of continuous improvement, and the role of leadership in fostering sustainable change. Conklin emphasizes the necessity of adapting strategies to different groups within an organization, from innovators to laggards, using Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory.
Join Conklin as he offers a sneak peek into his book and discusses the ongoing journey of making meaningful and lasting improvements in organizations.
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