EPIC Change: How to Lead Change in the Global Age [Hardcover]

Timothy R. Clark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 21, 2007

"More than ever, leaders are expected to be the change agents of their organizations. Yet CEO turnover continues to rise and organizations continue to struggle in their efforts to confront the fearsome adaptive challenges of the global age. Epic Change is a path-breaking contribution to the study of leadership and organizational change. Based on a landmark study of 53 cases of large-scale organizational change in business, healthcare, government, education, and the non-profit sector, acclaimed thought leader and researcher, Dr. Timothy R. Clark unveils the "Power Curve of Change" framework and EPIC system for change management (Evaluate, Prepare, Implement, Consolidate) for leaders who are charged to lead high-stakes change initiatives in their organizations. Epic Change presents a strategic-level road map, along with tactical level tools, for the every-day needs of leaders who must respond to all types of adaptive challenge to remain competitive. It represents a comprehensive, research-based program for leaders who want to develop the indispensable competency of leading change in a permanently and profoundly different age.

Change rarely fails for lack of strategy—Clark shows that only the discretionary efforts of people can make change happen—and this requires leadership and energy management. The Epic Change approach has been successfully field-tested with leaders at all levels and in organizations around the world. This important resource provides leaders new research-based tools to increase and sustain the energy of any change effort."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Timothy Clark notes that change should be welcomed, not feared. He offers practical tips in his book on how to avoid the risks associated with standing still." (AM New York, 2/18/2008)

"Once in a while, a great book comes along that provides a unique, actionable and powerful viewpoint in business. EPIC Change is such a book. It extends the discussion for change management in new and insightful ways that we just haven't seen before." (CubeRules.com, 1/23/2008)

"New books on leadership seem to appear almost daily and many of them have useful insights, but EPIC Change: How to Lead Change in the Global Age by Timothy Clark is one of the best I've read." (Leadership Turn.com, 1/4/2008)

"Clark delves into 'more than 50 casts of large-scale change' and isolates 'six remarkably consistent patterns' of success…. Recommended as an urgent pick!" (The Hindu, 12/29/2007)

"This mind-bending book will be a real asset to my daily work in change…and sits on a shelf I can reach easily for reference." (BrainBasedBusiness.com, 12/17/2007)

From the Inside Flap

EPIC Change

Accelerated change and relentless competition have become permanent characteristics of the global age. The need for all organizations to respond to adaptive challenge is unprecedented. However, leading change, especially large-scale change, is the most formidable challenge in all of leadership.

Any organization's ability to adapt and adjust to shifting demands is really a function of its leaders' capacity to summon and redirect institutional will. EPIC Change is the hands-on resource written for any leader who is charged to lead change in a turbulent environment. Based on a landmark study of fifty-three cases of large-scale organizational change, international thought leader and business consultant Timothy R. Clark outlines his path-breaking EPIC Change approach, which has been successfully field-tested by leaders around the world. Clark provides a road map for leaders to learn how to pull energy out of an organization in order to respond to disruptive outside forces. The approach combines both strategic and tactical tools to help leaders at all levels get comfortable with uncertainty, live on the edge of chaos, and sustain competitive advantage in the face of endless dynamic changes.

The EPIC (Evaluate, Prepare, Implement, and Consolidate) approach for change management draws on the research-based "power curve of change." As Clark explains, change fails less often for poor strategy or technical difficulty. Rather, it is a leader's inability to draw out the discretionary efforts of people that usually signals failure. The EPIC approach teaches leaders the critical points of leverage for energy management within an organization and offers a comprehensive guide to change leadership—arguably the most critical competency of the twenty-first century.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (December 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470182555
• ISBN-13: 978-0470182550
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #668,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Timothy R. Clark is considered a leading expert on leadership, change, and employee engagement. He brings to his writing an unusual combination of Oxford training and shop-floor experience in the steel industry and as a two-time CEO. He possesses an extraordinary ability to simplify and communicate complex concepts in meaningful and memorable ways.

After earning a triple degree and first-team Academic All-America honors as a football player at Brigham Young University, Dr. Clark spent time in industry and then went back to school with a plan to teach. He completed a doctorate from Oxford University and was a Fulbright and British Research Scholar.

As fate would have it, there were no teaching jobs when he finished his graduate work. So of course he traded his chinos and Birkenstocks for a hard hat and metatarsal boots, and went to work in a large steel mill. At Geneva Steel Company, he was soon elevated to vice president and plant manager and oversaw all plant operations for five years. He then became CEO of two consulting and training organization for several years. In 2006, Dr. Clark founded TRCLARK LLC, a consulting and training organization. He advises, coaches, and speaks to leaders and organizations in industry, government, healthcare, education, and the non-profit sector.

In addition to his books, Dr. Clark is the author of numerous articles and writes the column "On Leadership" for the Deseret News.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone dealing with change February 27, 2008

By Dr. D

Format:Hardcover

Having been involved in small and large change efforts with startup and global organizations, and having read dozens of books and articles on the topic, this is the best I have seen. In fact, this is one of the few books I have on my "keeper" bookshelf - it has displaced a few of what I have called "keepers" before that I have had on my shelf for a very long time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read! February 5, 2008

By R. Kendall Lyman

Format:Hardcover

This is a must read business book. If you don't believe change is required in today's global environment, read chapter one of Dr. Clark's book Epic Change. Not only will you believe your role as a leader is to guide the organization through change, but you'll want to read on to discover how to do it. Dr. Clark has a brilliant mix of academic research and hands-on application. I found myself underlining complete sections because of the great prose and usefulness of the content. Buy the book--you won't be disappointed. Like me, you'll want to share this one with your friends and leaders of your firm.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Epic Change is the NEXT BEST THING February 1, 2008

By J. Hebdon

Format:Hardcover

Sound and practical advice on leading effectively, based on science and business experience, from the new leader in the field of change management. This powerful book freshly imagines a new and necessary kind of leadership where people have equal significance with the business environment.