Changing the essence

by Richard Beckhard

The rapidly changing conditions in today's business environment have made unprecedented demands on organizational leaders--demands that often require radical rethinking of purpose and priorities, visions of the future, and the very structure and functions of the organization. Changing the Essence uncovers the leadership behaviors necessary for initiating and managing fundamental change. Beckhard and Pritchard go beyond the basics, demonstrating strategies for securing organizationwide commitment to put vision into action. Beckhard and Pritchard confront the tension between short-term effectiveness (the quick fix) and the long-term health of the organization. They identify and explain each step to be taken during the transitional phase of the change process, including managing the work, creating an appropriate management structure, and developing a commitment strategy and plan.