Managing Change and Transition [Paperback]

Richard Luecke (Author), Harvard Business School Press (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Harvard Business Essentials | Publication Date: January 2, 2003

Harvard Business Essentials are comprehensive, solution-oriented paperbacks for business readers of all levels of experience. Managing through change and crisis is difficult in any business environment, let alone one as turbulent as managers face today. This timely guide offers authoritative advice on how to recognize the need for organizational change, communicate the vision, prepare for structural change such as M&A, and address emotional responses to downsizing. With tools for managing stress levels and advice on gathering and sharing information during a transition, Managing Change and Transition is an indispensable guide for managers at any level of the organization.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Harvard Business Essentials The Reliable Source for Busy Managers The Harvard Business Essentials series is designed to provide comprehensive advice, personal coaching, background information, and guidance on the most relevant topics in business. Drawing on rich content from Harvard Business School Publishing and other sources, these concise guides are carefully crafted to provide a highly practical resource for readers with all levels of experience. To assure quality and accuracy, each volume is closely reviewed by a specialized content adviser from a world class business school. Whether you are a new manager interested in expanding your skills or an experienced executive looking for a personal resource, these solution-oriented books offer reliable answers at your fingertips.

Product Details

• Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press; 1 edition (January 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578518741
• ISBN-13: 978-1578518746
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Consolidation & Merger

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable "Essentials", September 24, 2003

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Managing Change and Transition (Paperback)

This is one of several paperbacks in the "Essentials" series, each of which offers "cutting edge" thinking on a major business subject. Mike Beer served as the adviser to Richard Luecke while he wrote this volume. Brief information about both is provided. There are seven chapters following an Introduction in which Luecke observes that "Accepting the necessity and inevitability of change enables [all companies and their decision-makers] to see times of transition not as threats but as opportunities -- opportunities for reinventing the company and its culture." Indicators include a merger, acquisition, or divestiture; the launch of a new product or service; a new leader; or a new technology. "In this book you will learn how to manage change constructively, and how to help your company, division, and people deal with the upheavals of change. You'll also learn practical things you can do to make change initiatives more successful and less painful for the people you manage."

Each of the seven chapters (which are arranged in a logical sequence) focuses on a separate but related component of effective management of change and transition. For example, in Chapter 2, Luecke explains why leaders must be respected and effective for change to happen, the role of motivation in change-readiness, the importance of a nonhierarchical culture in implementing change, and then offers several "tips" on how to become "change ready." To me, one of the most valuable chapters is the sixth (in which Luecke examines the four stages of reaction to change (i.e. shock, defensive retreat, acknowledgment, and acceptance and adaptation), how individuals can help themselves navigate change, how managers can help employees cope with change, and alternative ways for managers to think about change registers.

At the conclusion of each of the seven chapters, Luecke offers an especially useful "Summing Up" section which facilitates a periodic review of key points. I also appreciate the provision of Appendix A ("Useful Implementation Tools") and Appendix B ("How to Choose and Work with Consultants"), both of which provide basic but sound information to supplement material covered in the previous chapters.

Those who share my high regard for this volume are urged to check out Jim O'Toole's Leading Change, William Bridges' Transitions and Managing Transitions and Jon Katzenbach's Real Change Leaders, all of which are available in paperback editions.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great summary of organizational change management aspects, January 10, 2009

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XYZ - See all my reviews

This review is from: Managing Change and Transition (Paperback)

This is the best summary of organizational change management aspects I have come across so far.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fundamental guidebook for managing change, January 10, 2008

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Managing Change and Transition (Paperback)

Institutional change can be scary, but this Harvard Business Essentials entry does a solid job of demystifying it. The book provides immediately applicable conceptual tools, from broad theoretical frameworks to specific tables and checklists you can use during the change process. It pushes readers to take action, but only action they have planned, tested and researched. Its suggestions have all been shown to work in many situations. The book's brevity makes it easy to use, but it also means that a number of complex issues are only sketched out, leaving the reader to figure out how to best apply them. We, therefore, recommend this competent starting text to managers who are just beginning to think about guiding change, and to experienced change managers who can extrapolate its ideas and will welcome it as a focused reference.