Leading at the Edge of Chaos: How to Create the Nimble Organization [Unknown Binding]

Daryl R. Conner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 1998

Praise for Leading at the Edge of Chaos

"If your organization is facing any anticipated chaotic event in the next six months-and who isn't-you should read Daryl Conner. His tough-minded definitions of winners vs. losers will make you think twice." -Craig E. Weatherup, Chairman and CEO, The Pepsi-Cola Company

"Conner's new book is thoroughly original and useful on the mastery of leading change." -Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business Administration, University of Southern California, and author of Organizing Genius

"Daryl Conner has done it again! The leading authority on managing change has given us what we need right now. Leading at the Edge of Chaos offers prescriptive advice for leading in today's world, where the tempo and thrust of change has escalated. A must read for anyone who is still breathing and leading." -Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager(r)

"Delightful and thought-provoking . . . [links] deep organizational research with useable 'real world' advice . . . I would recommend this book to others-senior line leaders and their management teams." -Kenneth Schwenke, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Aramark Corporation

"In the new reality in which the human need for control is continuously assaulted by escalating change, Daryl Conner provides [organization leaders] . . . steps to take . . . in clear language and vivid images, with psychological insight and knowledge born out of broad hands-on experience." -Judy Bardwick, author of In Praise of Good Business and Danger in the Comfort Zone

"Every executive who is leading constant change in their organizations should read this book." -Don Beattie, Chief Executive, Personnel, The BOC Group (U.K.)

"Gone are the days when innovations and new ventures were incremental in scope and sequential in nature. In their place is 'perpetual unrest,' unending, fundamental changes . . . " -Daryl Conner

In his 1993 classic, Managing at the Speed of Change, Daryl Conner showed managers how to implement business innovations on time and under budget. In this groundbreaking new book, he shows them how to ride the whirlwind.

The tempo of change has sped up to a dizzying pace over the past few years. Globalization, rapid-fire technological innovation, and mounting pressure for shareholder value have pushed the markets into a state of ceaseless turmoil. What was cutting-edge change management theory just five years ago now seems naive. Success amidst such a maelstrom of change calls for much more than what change management models have to offer. It calls for a radically new kind of organization, nimble enough to adapt instantly to changing market conditions, and piloted by leaders versed in the art of Leading at the Edge of Chaos.

This book is not about decision making; it is about execution. It is not about predicting change; it is about adapting to it at a moment's notice. Internationally renowned "Change Doctor" Daryl Conner defines the new roles that all leaders must assume in order to direct the changes that are crucial to their organizations' survival. He schools them in all of the essential components of the change process. And, most importantly, he arms them with action steps for instilling their companies with the nimbleness and resilience needed to survive and thrive in today's supervolatile markets.

Conner also introduces the revolutionary concept of human due diligence-the human equivalent of financial due diligence and an indispensable tool for orchestrating major enterprisewide transitions. Strategic, results-oriented, and proactive, human due diligence focuses on people's capacity to absorb change as a limited resource, and offers tools for ensuring that there is sufficient capacity available to face the next challenge-and the many others sure to follow.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Conner heads ODR, Inc., an Atlanta-based consulting firm. For 25 years, he has been a leading expert in the field of preparing for and implementing change. Flexibility is a requirement as he touts "nimbleness." In an earlier book, Conner described the structure of change. He looked at how people respond to organizational transitions and suggested principles for managing the change process. Now he moves beyond the notion of change management to consider the problems faced in leading an organization during a period of turmoil. He addresses the key question of how to prepare individuals for changes that have yet to occur and that are still unknown. His answers are the "nimble organization" and "human due diligence." Conner defines "nimbleness" as the ability to succeed consistently in unpredictable environments, and warns that it requires not just flexibility but "speed, grace, dexterity, and resourcefulness." "Human due diligence" addresses the human element of change and refers to the "extensive and comprehensive investigation" required to lay the groundwork for change. David Rouse

From the Publisher

Leading at the Edge of Chaos reflects the next wave of management thinking, which is learning to operate in a state of "perpetual disturbance." This book moves beyond the question of managing change to instead illustrating action steps that organizations must take given that change is constant. The author, a consultant specializing in helping organizations through major changes initiatives, refers to the "nimble" organization as the only effective means to compete in today's turbulent times. The key to nimbleness, he argues, is learning how to adapt quickly to changing market conditions while at the same time conducting "human due diligence"--a measure of people's capacity to absorb change--so there is enough momentum to face the next change and the one after that.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Unknown Binding: 368 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 22, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471295574
• ISBN-13: 978-0471295570
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Business & Investing > Organizational Behavior > Organizational Change

More About the Author

An internationally recognized leader in the field of change management, Daryl Conner serves as a leading advisor and educator to senior executives across the globe. For more than 35 years, Mr. Conner's work with organizations has been built on a strong foundation of research and training in organizational consulting. He is the author of Managing at the Speed of Change and Leading at the Edge of Chaos: How to Create the Nimble Organization, and is a top authority on helping organizations achieve greater human resilience as they approach major transitions.

Using a highly disciplined approach, he helps managers deal with the human side of today's warp-speed cycle of change and gain competitive advantage. A prolific writer and speaker, Conner has written hundreds of articles for leading management publications and spoken to corporate audiences on almost every continent. He also posts regularly to his blog (http://changethinking.net). His clients include a blue-chip list of the world's best-known companies, along with government agencies, non-profit institutions, multinational firms, associations, and educational institutions.

Photo by Maureen Edwards (www.maureenedwards.com)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Capitalizing on the emotional edge-, April 25, 2001

By 

Denise Fink (Lagrangeville, New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leading at the Edge of Chaos: How to Create the Nimble Organization

The consideration of the human component of the organization should not be overlooked- nor it's importance be minimized. Anyone who has ever tried to lead the unwilling or otherwise disinterested can appreciate the value of the Human Due Diligence model. Recent focus on employee satisfaction polling and scores underline today's concern with the "happy" employee, assuming that he/she is also the more complient, resilient and productive one. This book is a melding of how humans function in transition and organizational change. It provides a formula and certainly a novel slant to a topic much written about. Daryl Connor has taken concern for employee's feelings about their work environment directly to the heads of corporations and their boards. He creates a replicable framework on which to build an organization that can recognize, adapt to, and recover from change faster than it's competition.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful!, August 14, 2001

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leading at the Edge of Chaos: How to Create the Nimble Organization

Daryl R. Conner's book operates under the assumption that the future of business will be steeped in chaos. Thus, it tries to prepare the leaders of the future for the kinds of challenges that result from chaos. These challenges will primarily involve employees, since every person reacts differently and usually unfavorably, to change. The companies that marshal an agile workforce and adapt quickly to unexpected circumstances will do the best in this unstable environment. This thoroughly researched book gives leaders a decisive look at what happens when the human psyche tries to navigate change. Conner documents the problems people have when they deal with change and offers a disciplined strategy for making your organization more limber. Even if you've heard many of the key concepts presented before, as you navigate the waters of change, this calm, lucid manual will keep your hands steady at the helm. Therefore, we [...] recommend it to everyone who is confronting change, and that is everyone.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Expert and heavy on theory, September 6, 2009

By 

1000Books "1000Books" (NY,NY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Leading at the Edge of Chaos: How to Create the Nimble Organization

I gave this book four stars, because it's heavy on theory at the expense of examples. If that is what you are specifically looking for, then definitely purchase this book.

Conner has done a fantastic job of laying out pieces of change management. The tables he uses are excellent summaries of the chapter and make for easy reference for anyone who is attempting to keep key take-aways nearby. It is also fantastic for those that are doing seminars and would like ideas or ready-made visuals to help guide discussion. I especially found the chart on P. 290 that goes through the different stages a person could be in as they experience change. It really helps to explain why and where people get stuck and how they can pursue personal improvement and growth.

The reason I couldn't give it absolute full marks, though is that you get the impression that Conner has significant experience, but is sharing with you the culled knowledge only. Perhaps he can not share too much given client relationships. However, I feel like the book at times reads too dry because the personal stories, successes and failures are left out. I would have preferred more illustrative examples. Particularly with people issues, which the book drills on, knowing what some people do that is wrong and contrasting this with the correct way to do it is key.

He gives a couple of fantastic examples of a phone conversation of someone who is stuck at the Antabuse stage would say. (i.e. chance meeting vs. proactive approach). I would have loved lots more of these. Clearly the guy is an expert though.