In recent years, we have seen well-established companies such as Kodak, Blockbuster, Nokia, and BlackBerry pushed to the brink by smart competitors and changes in their industries. In each case, there were opportunities to act before a crisis engulfed the organization. At Kodak, for example, CEO George Fisher attempted to move the company into the digital era in the 1990s. However, he was unable to change course quickly enough. Fisher had an opportunity; his successor had a crisis. What can leaders do before the depth and scope of their companies' crises come into focus? How can they initiate major transformations proactively? As researchers and managers who have been involved in numerous corporate transformations in recent years, we have learned that applying standard formulae to corporate transformations is, at best, ineffective and, at worst, dangerous. What's needed is a new approach that enables executives to transform organizations proactively without resorting to fear.
Keywords: Organizational Change and Adaptation;
Citation:
Binns, Andy, J. Bruce Harreld, Charles A. O'Reilly, and Michael L. Tushman. "The Art of Strategic Renewal." MIT Sloan Management Review 55, no. 2 (Winter 2014): 21–23. View Details