Managing At the Speed of Change (Hardcover)

by Daryl R. Conner (Author) "The mathematician and philosopher Alfred North Whitehead once observed that "the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the society in which..." (more)
Key Phrases: baseline resilience, seven support patterns, ethical ploy, United States, South Africa, Magic Johnson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this clinical study cum management guide, psychologist and business lecturer Conner discusses change as an inevitable, often disorienting element of the modern worker's business life. Citing the dysfunction likely to occur among employees facing corporate-merger upheavals or new high-tech equipment, he defines "resilience" as essential to viewing change as an "understandable and manageable process." Conner charts a system of "support patterns" for achieving transitions at "appropriate" speed. Also essential to successful navigation of change, he observes, is "interdependent synergy," exemplifed by the cooperation of a foxhole gunner and his ammo-toting partner, at every corporate level. In his book of wise counsel, Conner also points out that true resilience means "never being surprised that you are surprised." 25,000 first printing.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
In this world of impermanent governments and topsy-turvy businesses, Yeats's line "the centre cannot hold" comes to mind as an apt description of our times. Taking advantage of this whirlwind of change is a plethora of "change doctors" who aid executives with their hyperdynamic responsibilities. Conner presents a well-reasoned, original approach to change management, relevant for any organization. Based on his extensive consulting experience, Conner describes the patterns of change, his unique principles of resilience, and the imperative that the change process be actively led by managers. More functional than either Rosabeth Moss Kanter's The Change Master (Touchstone, 1985) or Tom Peters's Thriving on Chaos ( LJ 10/15/87), this is a useful guide to managing change, especially for stressed-out managers. Highly recommended.
- Dale Farris, Groves, Tex.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1 edition (January 19, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679406840
• ISBN-13: 978-0679406846
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #270,998 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Read" Book for IT Pros and Project Managers, May 23, 2001

By	J. Williamson "Go RTFM!" (Bucks County, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As an IT consultant and project manager, dealing with change management occurs on an almost daily basis. Sometimes change management works, and works well, but all too often it fails miserably. Here is an author who understands why this happens and how to remedy the problem.

Author Conner runs one of the foremost consulting firms devoted exclusively to change. He is experienced, and has an easy writing style, allowing you to completely focus on what he says rather than hammering through loads of hype, meaningless acronyms and technical gobbledygook. He explains clearly why change initiatives often don't seem to stay in place after the initial implementation of the change. He then offers sound recommendations on the roles and responsibilities required to execute changes, along with the various pros and cons of different infrastructures for those roles.

Conner illustrates that each of us moves through our lives at our own speed of change, and how we have the ability to enhance our skills by understanding the uniqueness of people who have effectively dealt with change. These people have a vast amount of flexibility, differentiated by being extremely focused, highly resilient, well organized, and very proactive. When people like this work within the configuration of change, leading others through the eight models in the organizational change process, constructive results are bound to happen.

This is definitely a powerful, five-star book, and one that I have no hesitation putting on my personal list of the top "must read" books for IT professionals and project managers at all levels.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice combination of some standard and some new concepts, March 19, 2000

By A Customer

Conner has introduced some interesting concepts in addition to a thorough treatment of how to increase personal and organizational "resilience" to change.

Conner explains why so many change initiatives don't seem to "stick" after the initial roll out of the change. He offers some concrete recommendations on the roles required to execute a change, and the pros and cons of different organizational structures for those roles.

Another interesting concept he introduces is that there is an extra cost associated with being "surprised that we are surprised." During the course of a change, unexpected events occur -- if we are expecting to be surprised, we are better able to absorb the events even if we don't know what they are in advance. This is a strong argument for communicating early and frequently to an organization before and during the change process, rather than holding off until every tiny detail of the change has been worked out.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and easy read on organizational change., July 30, 1999

By A Customer

As a Help Desk manager, I deal with change management on a daily basis. Managing at the Speed of Change put in one book everything I have learned in seminars and hard earned experience and more. The author has an easy writing style, allowing you to focus on what he says rather thatn hammering through loads of technical jargon. I would put this on my must read book for Help Desk managers and IT professionals at all levels.